It has been a tremendous time supporting parents of #LGBTQ children, and being supported ourselves, over the past 14 months. Yesterday was our second group meeting where we had the opportunity to chat about our different, but surprisingly very similar, journeys with our children. Contrary to the statistics suggesting that the vast minority of those who identify as #LGBTQ are transgender, only approximately 1 in 10,000 identify as transgender, the vast majority of our parents have transgender children! Regardless of the reasons for this we are here to unconditionally support them all.
Although through information on the website, and via telephone calls and emails, we can aid the process of journeying with our children, we value extremely highly the personal contact: that initial meeting with the parents, one-to-one, to show that this is a group that truly cares about every member of the family. Hence we also greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet up together - it is all about 'connections'. We want to connect up people from all across our great county so that they can help each other. We chose our venue for the meeting so it is central to all who could attend, and so this may alter as we develop further. Uncle Henry's supported us magnificently!
Although through information on the website, and via telephone calls and emails, we can aid the process of journeying with our children, we value extremely highly the personal contact: that initial meeting with the parents, one-to-one, to show that this is a group that truly cares about every member of the family. Hence we also greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet up together - it is all about 'connections'. We want to connect up people from all across our great county so that they can help each other. We chose our venue for the meeting so it is central to all who could attend, and so this may alter as we develop further. Uncle Henry's supported us magnificently!
For the first time we had children with us so that we could hear their perspective, of how they have conquered issues and, so wonderful to hear, them giving supportive advice to other children. So powerful! Wes Shelbourne, (seen to the right) the General Manager of Just Lincolnshire, the counties diversity group, was with us to give all a greater understanding of their commitment to all things relating to diversity and equality, but also to emphasise the support given specifically to our group. We believe that it is important for the parents to know: (1) they are totally supported, unconditionally and (2) we have the support of large agencies who are, in turn, supported by the Lincolnshire CCC. |
The parents wanted to also express their concern for all within the #LGBTQ community and took the picture (seen at the top of the blog) to show solidarity and to show their love.
It is difficult to summarise just what a wonderful time was had meeting up with all of the parents (although some were ill and couldn't attend - we delivered cake to those we could!) we felt that we should leave you with this quote from a parent:
It is difficult to summarise just what a wonderful time was had meeting up with all of the parents (although some were ill and couldn't attend - we delivered cake to those we could!) we felt that we should leave you with this quote from a parent:
"I think today, as parents, we felt hope. Today we saw that there is acceptance too and the world for our child is not as as scary as we maybe thought"
says it all really....
If you'd like to join please contact us via the website contact page. If you have a question email us here. We'd be glad to help!
Otherwise if you'd like to leave us a message here on the blog we would love to hear from you!
If you'd like to join please contact us via the website contact page. If you have a question email us here. We'd be glad to help!
Otherwise if you'd like to leave us a message here on the blog we would love to hear from you!