ACCEPTANCE Begins At Home

In a world that is still learning to be inclusive, loving an LGBTQIA+ child must begin at home, writes Kayal Arivalan

- Kayal Arivalan

A casual chat with a friend – both of us mothers to young children – turned into something deeper.

We spoke about how Gen Bold is fearless and unapologetic in its choices. Individuals are unafraid to carve out their own paths. Whether it’s choosing unconventional careers, deciding to remain single, or adopting a pet as a companion, they move through life on their own terms. But then the conversation became even more serious. What if, someday, our children choose a gender identity or express a sexual orientation different from what we've expected? Do we, as parents, have a say in that choice? The answer was clear – no, we do not. And, when it comes to how we respond, we realised the answer is equally uncomplicated – we would choose acceptance.

While society can be unkind, our children should never have to wonder where their parents stand. Our role is not to judge or change them, but to stand firmly by their side.

To help make this process more informed and compassionate, we reached out to experts to guide us to make things easier for both parents and children.

MAKE HOME THE FIRST SAFE SPACE