We'd like to acknowledge all of the parents and grandparents who have done what parents are supposed to do and continued to love and support their children after they came out as LGBTQ+. While we hope that one day accepting one's children regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity will be a universal norm, we acknowledge that society still has a ways to go. Perhaps by taking a moment to celebrate these parents, we can encourage a more loving and accepting world. Scroll on for some examples of truly great parenting.
Flying High
A parent on Reddit shared this photo of their teenage daughter on her way to a Pride event with the caption "It is Pride and I am proud." We think the photo speaks for itself. The pink, white and orange striped flag represents the "L" in LGBTQ+, which stands for "lesbian," and looks striking next to her long, red hair. The way it's waving looks like she's about to take flight.
There's so much hope in this image. It's almost like she's a superhero. We can only imagine the joy she must have been feeling as she ran to meet her friends.
Mother & Son
Society today may be more accepting of LGBTQ+ identities than it once was, but some parents have been on board with their children's sexuality for decades. This mom showed love and support for her son at a Pride walk in 1985, sporting a t-shirt mentioning that he's bisexual but she doesn't need to know why. His shirt acknowledges that his straight mother "don't hate," implying anyone can be an ally.
There are tons of ways that straight people can support the LGBTQ+ community, and accepting people as they are without feeling the need to ask why is a great start.
Trans Pride Pen
Some parents wear supportive t-shirts or take their LGBTQ+ children to Pride parades. Others show support by turning custom wooden pens. This parent made one for their transgender teenage son designed to resemble the trans flag with blue, pink, and white stripes. We can imagine how validating this must have been for him; a pen is something he can use often and at the same time be reminded of his parents' support.
To make this pen, the parent used sugar maple wood and dyed resin. We think they could definitely make a line of them in honor of each Pride flag and sell them online.
The Proud Family
These kids are lucky to have a loving parent, but they're also lucky to have each other. Their dad shared this photo with the caption "My trans son and lesbian daughter at Pride in the Park, with backs turned to the bigots. I'm so proud of both!" It's probably comforting to know that not only does your father accept you as you are, but you've also got a sibling who can relate to your experience.
While families with both trans and gay members are not super common, they're not unheard of. Dad explained in the post that they have several LGBTQ+ relatives "across the spectrum."
Puppy Pride
Not everyone is comfortable expressing love through words, so when one son came out to his parents, he wasn't sure whether his introverted dad was on board. His mom took him to a Pride parade, and when they returned home, they discovered that Dad had dressed up the family dog Lumen in this adorable rainbow costume. There are plenty of ways to show children love, and we think Lumen looks great.
Some Pride festivals are dog-friendly, so whether you're a quiet supporter or loud and proud, you can bring your furry friends along to share in the festivities dressed to the nines.
1973 Pride
Pride parades date back to the 1970s, and some parents have been showing support for their LGBTQ+ children since the beginning. These parents were considered quite radical back in the day. Even in more progressive cities like New York, consensual same-sex activity between adults was not yet legal at this time, and being "out" was a rarity. They must have faced a lot of scrutiny for being so outspoken in their support.
It's hard to go against societal norms, so as much as we think that loving one's children regardless of their sexuality should be the rule rather than the exception, we have to commend these parents.
Supportive Grandma
As much as we love to see supportive parents, it warms our hearts even more to see grandparents who love and accept their LGBTQ+ grandchildren. "They're from a different generation," is a common defense used when someone is looking to excuse bigotry, but some grandparents are proof that this does have to be the case. This person told their grandma that they were bisexual, and she responded by knitting them a sweater.
Like the wooden pen one parent made for their transgender son, it's a great example of using whatever skills and resources one has to show support. That sweater is awesome.
Pride Jersey
This parent didn't actually mention whether their son is gay but did share that he had designed a jersey for his favorite football (that's football as in soccer, to Americans) team the Tottenham Hotspurs in honor of Pride month. The parent took the picture and created three different versions of what it would look like in real-life using an online design app. We think it's a great way to encourage acceptance.
If teams wanted to show support, they could offer designs like these for fans to purchase during Pride month and then donate some of the proceeds to organizations that help the LGBTQ+ community.
Grandma's Getting Down
Another great example of age being no barrier to acceptance, this grandmother not only enjoyed attending a Pride parade herself but also made a point of encouraging her family to attend together in the future. It's a beautiful way to send the message to her children and grandchildren that she will love and accept them as they are should any of them come out later on. We love to see it.
Our only question is, how did she accidentally end up in the middle of such a big parade on the way to the movies? We're going to need more details.
A Straight Bisexual Pride Flag
Lexi may not be straight, but her grandmother made darn sure that her flag would be. The pink, purple, and blue striped flag represents bisexuality, and when one bisexual woman took hers out to get ready for the DC Pride parade, her grandma couldn't help but do what grandmas do and make sure that it was neatly pressed. After all, what kind of person lets their grandchild out with a wrinkly flag?
It's a sweet way to show that she accepts her granddaughter for who she is but also cares enough to make sure that she looks her best when leaving the house.
Lesbian Cake
You don't need to wait for Pride month to celebrate the people in your life for who they are, take it from this parent who got their daughter a cake decorated to look like the lesbian flag for her 13th birthday in January. The parent later wrote that the daughter "almost cried happy tears when she saw it. She felt super special and all her friends wanted a pic of the cake too."
The parent also wrote, "About half of them aren’t out to their parents but at my house, I get a rundown of all their pronouns." It's amazing that they've created such a safe environment!
Protective Mama
Unfortunately, some parents are more accepting than others. When this woman's father tried to kick her out of the house after she came out as transgender, her mother pulled an Uno reverse card and said "If you can't love her, I can't love you." That mom has the stare of someone who'd do anything for her daughter. She's a fierce mama bear and definitely not someone who should be messed with.
The world would be a different place if all parents were so loving and accepting toward their children, but this goes to show that family is about more than just who you're related to.
Bi Birthday
Another example of one parent showing love and acceptance toward their child while the other shows some serious room for improvement, this girl's mother tries to ignore and deny the fact that her daughter is bisexual, so her father made a point to pick out the "gayest" card and wrapping paper he could find. Rainbows and unicorns definitely seem like a fun, lighthearted way to say "I see and support you."
The father acknowledged in his post that he himself is pansexual, so not only does this girl have an incredibly supportive parent, but she's also got someone who can relate to her experience.
Coming Out With Art
Everyone comes out in their own way in their own time, and some people are clear about their sexuality from a young age. This girl recognized that she was pansexual at age 10 and decided to use artwork as a way to come out to her parents. Her mother wrote, "We are so proud of her and thankful she is happy with and accepting of herself, and that she trusts us."
The mother asked for resources on how best to support her daughter, and said for now her identity is "about who she has crushes on and the idea of who she might love in the future."
A Gentle Reminder
One of the main (and, might we say, best) characters on the NBC sitcom The Good Place is Janet, a personal assistant, and source of information and knowledge for all of the Good Place residents. Played by actress D'Arcy Carden, Janet is often mistaken for a robot and sometimes referred to as "girl" by some of the other characters, to which she always replies with her catchphrase, "Not a girl."
This non-binary person's aunt had been misgendering them by referring to them with female pronouns, so their mom took action into her own hands and bought them this t-shirt to make things clear.
Supportive Moms
The Indy Pride festival in Indianapolis, Indiana, is much more than just a parade. It offers more than twenty events throughout the months of May and June designed to celebrate LGBTQ+ community members. Some of the events included are 5K walks, art exhibits, and even a carnival. During one event, a group of moms gathered to show support for not just their own children but all LGBTQ+ kids in the community.
Parents should always support their children, and while unfortunately there are still many that don't, we can imagine it's somewhat of a comfort for kids struggling with their identities to see signs like this.
Rainbow Tree
Even parents who don't completely approve of their LGBTQ+ kids can show love and support to them. One lesbian girl was disappointed about not being able to attend the Pride parade in her town because of her work schedule. She shared on Twitter that her mom didn't really approve of her lifestyle, but after seeing her daughter's disappointment, surprised her on the morning of Pride with this lovely rainbow tree painting.
The girl called the painting "the best gift ever," and we have to agree. It's beautiful and thoughtful, and receiving such a gesture of support like this had to feel great.
Keep Them Safe
If it ain't broke don't fix it, right? Frances Goldin has been showing love for her daughters at Pride events since the beginning. The mother of two has held up the same sign, which reads, "I adore my lesbian daughters. Keep them safe," at New York City's Pride since the parade started in the 1970s. We "adore" the sign and think it sends an important message in an incredibly wholesome way.
One of Goldin's daughters, Reeni, told Buzzfeed in a 2016 interview that her mother "believes in equality and fairness and what's right." Goldin passed away in 2020 at 95 years old.
Free Dad Hugs
We've never seen an image so heartwarming and yet so heartbreaking at the same time. Sadly, some children are born into families that are unable to accept them for who they are, and we can't even imagine the pain this must bring. While nothing can replace the love of a parent, one man at the Pride parade in Pittsburgh certainly tried, giving out hugs to over 700 kids rejected by their parents.
The man, Howie Dittman, wrote that one person "cried on my shoulder. Sobbed. Squeezed me with everything he had. I felt a tiny bit of that pain that he carries with him every minute of every day."
Proud Dad
We love to see dads who not only support their LGBTQ+ children but will proudly sport Pride stripes in public. From the looks of it, this father and son are quite different, but dad still showed up, rocking the rainbow with style. The boy's mother posted this photo with the caption, "My awesome son with my husband at our first march. What a wonderful day to share with him 🌈❤️💛💚💙💜🌈."
It's hard to make out what most of their buttons read clearly, but we can definitely say that we're here for the buttons, rainbow suspenders, and the boy's purple lipstick.
What's In A Name?
One parent of a transgender son shared an image of the trans flag on Imgur with the caption, "For my son I love, who when he realized he was trans asked me “Mom what would my name have been if I were born your son? I told him, Seth. That is now the name he goes by. A good kid is a good kid. When raised to be respectful, they are. Love this kiddo unconditionally."
Most often, people who come out as transgender choose a new name for themselves. We love that this boy felt safe enough with his mom to ask for her to choose.
Loud and Proud
The Dusty Rebel is a street photographer known for "documenting the creatively rebellious side of urbanity,' and while we don't think that celebrating one's love for their LGBTQ+ child should be considered "rebellious," we have to admit that this is an amazing picture. This mother is so proud to celebrate her daughter. You can tell not just from her the words on her sign but by the look on her face.
We also love the outfit she put together. That tutu is a mood and her tank top reads "I love and support my gay daughter." It's hard to be much clearer than that.
Pride Hair
Some parents show love for their LGBTQ+ children by sporting t-shirts, carrying signs, or giving out free hugs at Pride events. This parent showed their daughter they care by helping her to dye her hair rainbow for Pride in 2017. They're all great ways of extending support, and we think her hair came out fantastic. It looks super edgy and futuristic and kind of reminds us of the Northern Lights.
It must have taken some serious skill to color her hair so well, and it's something she can continue to enjoy for weeks when Pride ends until the color washes out.
Crocheted With Love
We have to commend any parent who uses the skills they already have to find fun ways to support their children. In this case, one mother spends her Saturdays knitting and crocheting in public and decided to use the time to make a Pride top for her daughter. When someone commented with appreciation for her support, the mother wrote, "She is my daughter and thus a product of my upbringing and love."
She continued, writing "I feel that if you don't love and support your children then you are the one that failed." We have to agree, and we kind of want that top.
Who's Got The Button?
While you can't be certain of anything based on one picture posted online, from the looks of it, this mom is a good one. In one screenshot we can see that she compliments her daughter, tells her she's a good girl and shows support for her LGBTQ+ identity. For whatever reason, the mother went to the Pride parade in Washington, DC without her daughter but made a point of bringing her a souvenir.
The daughter shared the screenshot on Twitter and explained with a caption that included a happy crying emoji, suggesting she was touched by the gesture. If only all parents were so caring.
Make the Yuletide Gay
We've all heard of Christmas trees, but this grandparent decided to go all out for Pride month and decorate and put up a rainbow tree in their living room. They shared pictures of the tree from every angle on Imgur with the title "Dedicated to my grandkid and my housemate!" and explanations of their process for creating the tree between each photo. They wrote that green flowers in particular were difficult to find.
The plastic hearts used for ornaments were made by hand, as was the rainbow star tree topper, which was crafted using plastic jewels. They even bedazzled the rainbow heart tablecloth.
Coming Out Party
If we're going to make a point of celebrating people every year just for being born (and, for the record, we love birthday parties), we might as well celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends when they come out. After all, we don't really have much say in being born, but to admit the truth of who you are in a world that isn't always very accepting takes a great deal of bravery.
This family threw their child a surprise party after they came out and we think that this is how it should be. Families should support one another and celebrate each other's differences.
Love Thy Neighbor (And Thy Child)
The state of Texas passes some of the most anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the United States, but that doesn't stop its residents from taking to the streets to show their love and support for the community. This woman shared how proud she was of her gay child through a sign and a smile while taking part in the Dallas Pride parade, where over 60,000 LBGTQ+ people and allies gathered to celebrate.
If you look closely, you'll see that she's wearing a cross necklace. Anti-LGBTQ+ groups often use religion as an excuse to spew hate, so it's nice to see faith represented with such love.
Mama's First Pride
Brian Webb is the creator of thehomoculture.com, a gay culture website dedicated to "increasing awareness of the interests and values of the LGBT community." He's an activist, photographer, and winner of the Mr. Gay Canada – People’s Choice award. He certainly has a lot to be proud of in himself, and his mother has a lot to be proud of in her son. This year, he brought her to her first Pride event.
He shared this photo of their time at the event with the caption, "She proudly held our Pride flag high for all to see." You wave that flag, mama. We love to see it.
Dad's First Pride
Showing unconditional love doesn't mean thinking that our children are perfect but rather accepting them as they are and supporting them whatever their sexuality or gender expression may be. This dad's shirt acknowledges that his son may have a tendency to be a little cheeky, but he's proud of him regardless and happily attended the Los Angeles Pride Festival to show support. Our kids are still our kids no matter who they love.
The son posted this photo to his Instagram account with the caption "I love my dad :) his first Pride!" His smile says it all - the support of a parent means the world.
Showing Support Through Social Media
Parents get a bad rap for not understanding how to use social media, but we'd say this mother has a pretty good handle on things. Her desire to show love and support for her daughter was enough to get her to add a "Happy Pride" border to her Facebook profile picture, and the gesture did not go unnoticed. She even found another version of the border with a more conspicuous rainbow.
We especially love how the mom's profile picture features her with a man. It shows that this mom understands that anyone, and especially straight parents, can show support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Cole's Grandparents
We love to see supportive grandparents, and these two deserve an award for helping their transgender grandson feel supported. He was nervous about telling some of his extended family members during a trip, and when his grandparents picked him up from the airport, they were rocking t-shirts that proudly displayed their grandson's new chosen name. Grandparents wearing your name on a t-shirt is almost a right of passage. This must have been so comforting.
It's also a great way to make sure no one else in the family tries to use age as an excuse for bigotry. If gramps and granny can get on board, so can everyone else.
Pride Haul
Some parents have a difficult time accepting their child as LGBTQ+, and entering a state of denial is not uncommon. They'll say it's a phase or claim that the child won't understand their sexuality until they are older. One mother denied that her child was bisexual and non-binary for years, claiming that they were too young to know for sure, but then surprised them for their birthday with tons of rainbow swag.
We spot some earrings, a phone case, pins, and several pairs of socks and thigh highs. It's great to see that this mother came around. The child must have been so excited.
Deadname Jar
When a transgender person adopts a new name, the name they were given at birth is referred to as their "deadname" and something that people should make every effort to refrain from calling them. For parents who've spent years or even decades raising a child, this adjustment can take time even if the parents mean well. These parents created a "deadname jar," and put a quarter in whenever they called their child by their deadname.
Once the parents are used to the new name, they plan to donate the money to The Trevor Project, an organization that aims to prevent suicides within the LGBTQ+ community.
A Sweet Moment
"Rainbow capitalism" as it's sometimes called, involves the commercialization of Pride month and LGBTQ+ movements by corporations as a means of making more money without actually doing anything of much significance. Some companies are guiltier than others - there are a number that at least give money to meaningful causes. Ironically, Skittles chose to recognize Pride month by turning its iconic rainbow candy white and donating some of the profits to GLAAD.
This dad chose to support his daughter in a totally "sweet" way. Nothing is more important than accepting your child for who they are, and buying them candy is a nice way to show your love.