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Below you'll find links to helpful resources that can help you navigate conversations with your child about their sexual orientations and gender identities.
Glossary of LGBTQ+ Terms
Glossary of LGBTQ+ Terms
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather a list of common words educators might hear in school. The list has been compiled from various sources, including The Trevor Project and GLSEN.
Advocate – (Noun) A person who works to end intolerance, educate others, and support social equity for a marginalized group.
Ally – (Noun) A (typically straight- or cis-identified) person who supports, and respects for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Asexual – (Adj.) A person who does not experience sexual attraction, but may experience other forms of attraction
Bisexual – (Adj.) A person who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to two genders
(Cis)gender – (Adj.; pronounced “siss-jendur”) A person whose gender identity and expression are aligned with the gender they were assigned at birth
Coming Out – The process by which one shares one’s sexuality or gender identity with others (to “Come Out” to friends, etc.).
Gender Fluid – (Adj.) Gender fluid is a gender identity best described as a dynamic mix of boy and girl.
Homophobia – (Noun) Term for a range of negative attitudes towards members of LGBTQ community.
Homosexual – (Adj.) A person who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to some members of the same gender. Many people prefer the terms “lesbian” or “gay,” instead.
Lesbian – (Noun/Adj.) A person who is female-identified and who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to some other females.
LGBTQ+ - Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer and/or Questioning (sometimes people add a + symbol at the end in an effort to be more inclusive).
Outing - (Verb) Involuntary or unwanted disclosure of another person’s sexual orientation, gender identity.
Pansexual – (Adj.) A person who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to some people, regardless of their gender identity.
Queer - (Adj.) An adjective used by some people, particularly younger people, whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual. Typically, for those who identify as queer, the terms lesbian, gay, and bisexual are perceived to be too limiting and/or fraught with cultural connotations they feel don’t apply to them. Some people may use queer, or more commonly genderqueer, to describe their gender identity and/or gender expression. Once considered a pejorative term, queer has been reclaimed by some LGBT people to describe themselves; however, it is not a universally accepted term even within the LGBT community.
Questioning – (Verb/Adj.) A person who is in the process of understanding and exploring what their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and gender expression might be.
Transgender – (Adj.) A person whose gender identity and/or expression are not aligned with the gender they were assigned at birth.
Transphobia – (Noun) The fear of, discrimination against, or hatred of trans people, the trans community, or gender ambiguity.
Know the Difference: Gender Identity vs. Sexual Orientation
Know the Difference: Gender Identity vs. Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity – (Noun) An individual’s internal perception of gender, and how they label themselves, based on how much they align or don’t align with what they understand their options for gender to be. Common identity labels include man, woman, genderqueer, trans, and more.
Sexual Orientation – (Noun) The type of sexual, romantic, emotional/spiritual attraction one feels for others, often labeled based on the gender relationship between the person and the people they are attracted to (often mistakenly referred to as sexual preference).
l parents want what's best for their kids. But providing support isn't always easy — especially if you are the parent of a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) child. In many ways no different from their peers, LGBTQ youth face some unique challenges that parents often feel unprepared to tackle. To help, Johns Hopkins pediatricians and adolescent medicine specialists Renata Arrington Sanders and Errol Fields share steps you can take to keep your kid happy and healthy.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays of North Jersey: a group of people who meet regularly in the Montclair area and are dedicated to providing support, education, and advocacy to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, their families and their friends.
From a parent of a CHS student:
This is a support group for those who are in the LGBTQ+ community, but it’s not just for the individual person, it also has parent support.
Parents who are currently confused, looking to vent, or ask for resources to better understand what they are experiencing either as a family or individual will benefit from attending this group.
Finding this group has really opened my eyes and helped me understand that as a parent I am not alone. There are other parents who have also experienced what I am feeling and felt the same way I do. The support and resources provided are really helpful. We do meet monthly via zoom, all together.
"Coming out" is a lifelong journey of understanding, acknowledging and sharing one's gender identity and/or sexual orientation with others. It may be quick and easy for some, or longer and more difficult for others.
It is important for parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) teens to remember each child is unique and will have their own experiences and feelings along the way.
Gender identity is an important part of who you are. Learning more about gender identity can help you understand yourself and the people around you.
Information about gender identity, in general, and the label "nonbinary."
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