Effective Interventions Can Help Families Adjust to a Gay or Lesbian Child
Discovering that a child is gay or lesbian can send shockwaves throughout a family as long-held views about sexuality and relationships are upended, resulting in anger, resentment, and concern for safety and acceptance. However, in some families, learning that a child is gay can improve familial relationships—even if a parent initially reacts negatively.

In describing the findings and practice implications of a qualitative, multicultural study of 65 gay and lesbian children and their parents, Professor LaSala illustrates how reciprocal family interactions play a role in parental adjustment and demonstrates how effective interventions can aid adjustment and strengthen these families.

Course Content

A. Special Challenges That Coming Out LGBT Youths Must Face
  1. History of stigma
  2. Parental disapproval and possible rejection
B. Considerations for Coming Out Youths
  1. Physical dependence
  2. Emotional dependence
C. Five Stages of Family Adjustment
  1. Family sensitization
  2. Pre-coming out
  3. Family discovery
  4. Family recovery
  5. Family renewal
D. What Helps or Hinders?
  1. Support of nonjudgmental others
  2. Child’s adjustment
  3. Child’s cross-gender behaviors
  4. Pushing acceptance
E. Challenges for Various Ethnic/Racial Groups
  1. Double stigma
  2. Exaggerated, rigid sex roles
  3. “Don’t’ Ask, Don’t Tell.”
F. Interventions
  1. Individual versus family therapy
  2. Joining
  3. Enactment
  4. Reframing