You don’t have to have all the answers
An online meet-up for parents and caregivers navigating their relationship with a queer, trans, or questioning child.
Maybe your child came out to you last week, and you're still turning the conversation over in your head, wondering if you said the right things. Maybe they came out years ago, and things still feel strained in ways you can't quite name. Maybe you're not even sure "coming out" is the right word for what's happening; it’s just that something has shifted, and you're trying to catch up.
Whatever brought you here, we want to say something clearly: loving your child and feeling completely unsure how to support them are not in conflict. You can hold both at once.
The feelings nobody prepares you for
Parenting doesn't come with a manual, and parenting a queer, trans, or questioning child comes with even less of one, especially if it wasn't part of your own experience growing up. It's common to feel:
Confusion about language, about what's changed, about what questions are okay to ask.
Grief for an imagined future that looked different, even while loving the child in front of you exactly as they are.
Fear for their safety, their happiness, how the world will treat them.
Guilt over an awkward reaction, a slow adjustment, or wishing you'd handled a moment differently.
Isolation like you can't fully talk about this with your usual circle of family or friends.
Love that doesn't always know where to land… wanting desperately to get this right, without always knowing what "right" looks like.
None of these feelings make you a bad parent. They make you a parent who's paying attention.
Why this matters so much
Research consistently points to one of the most protective factors in a queer teen’s mental health: whether they feel accepted and supported at home. Family connection doesn't just make things easier; it can be one of the strongest buffers against anxiety, depression, and isolation that queer kids are statistically more likely to face.
In other words: showing up for this, even imperfectly, matters more than getting every word right.
Our support group for parents
Step Forward is offering a free online support group specifically for parents and caregivers of Queer youth under 25. It’s a space to process what you're feeling, ask the questions you're not sure are okay to ask, and connect with other parents figuring this out alongside you.
This group isn't about having the "correct" reaction to your child's identity. It's about giving you somewhere to bring your real feelings—love, worry, confusion—without judgement, so you can keep showing up for your child from a place of steadiness and support rather than uncertainty.
You'll find:
A confidential space among other parents navigating similar relationships;
Guidance on supportive language and communication, without pressure to have it all figured out;
Room to process your own emotions, separate from what your child needs from you;
Practical support for the everyday moments like conversations, family gatherings, or questions from relatives that can feel harder to navigate than the "big" moments.
This runs alongside our North Delta after-school program, which offers a supportive space for queer, trans, and questioning teens themselves, so support is available on both sides of the relationship, at the same time.
You're allowed to be a work in progress
You don't need to have this all figured out before you show up. You don't need to already know the right words, or have resolved every complicated feeling, or be the parent you imagine you're supposed to be by now. You just need to be willing to keep showing up for your kid (and for yourself) as you learn how.
Get in touch to learn more about the group, ask questions, and get your link to this free session.
Your child doesn't need a parent with perfect answers. They need a parent who stays in the room.