For Parents & Caregivers
Often the journey toward acceptance can be very difficult for a parent. After a child “comes out” to us as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or when we first guess that our child is not heterosexual or does not fit comfortably in his or her assigned gender, we may face many difficult and intense emotions:
- Our heads say that we accept our child no matter what, but our hearts are devastated.
- We might cry and mourn.
- We may feel guilty.
- Some of us feel embarrassingly ignorant.
- Many of us fear for our child’s welfare.
- We often feel alone.
- We wonder how to reconcile this new reality with our religious beliefs.
- We may wonder whether and how to share this information with friends and family.
- We might even want to do whatever we can to make the world a safer place for our child.
Members of our group understand all of these feelings, for we have experienced them. We can help!
LGBT Parent Forum, Howard County, for parents and caregivers of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children:
–Third Monday of each month, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
–Contact: Judy Gaver, 410.848.5705 or judygaver@hotmail.com
Trans Parents Forum, Howard County, for parents and caregivers of transgender children:
–Fourth Tuesday of each month, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
–Contact: Catherine V. Hyde, 410,493.3443 or cvhyde@gmail.com
Trans Parents Forum, Baltimore County, for parents and caregivers of transgender children:
–Second Tuesday of each month, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
–Contact: Elizabeth McNeilly at condronea@aol.com or 410.370.6812
Location for Howard County:
Owen Brown Interfaith Center
7246 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21044
Check the bulletin board in the lobby for our location. If you have any problems finding us, ask the custodian, or call the contact for the forum.
Location for Baltimore County:
Towson Unitarian Universalist Church
Room #7
1710 Dulaney Valley Road
Luterville, MD 21093
The groups are facilitated by a long-time PFLAG parent and there are usually several long-time PFLAG parents at each meeting. Attendance is on a drop-in basis, though some parents attend every month.
