Raising LGBTQ Allies

"[A] powerful treatise on creating a more accepting world." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review • The first book to focus on the prevention of homophobia, transphobia, and bullying before they begin. It encourages families to have open and authentic conversations in a practical, timely, and inclusive way.

"[A] powerful treatise on creating a more accepting world." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

No matter who we are or where we come from, we all play on the same playground. There are certain collective societal messages we hear growing up that we either consciously or subconsciously believe. As a result, we develop certain belief systems from which we operate our lives.

Raising LGBTQ Allies sheds light on the deeper, multi-faceted layers of homophobia. It opens up a conversation with parents around the possibility they may have an LGBTQ child, and shows how heteronormativity can be harmful if not addressed clearly and early. Although not every parent will have an LGBTQ child, their child will jump rope or play tag with a child who is LGBTQ.

By showing readers the importance of having open and authentic conversations with children at a young age, Chris Tompkins walks parents through the many ways they can prevent new generations from adopting homophobic and transphobic beliefs, while helping them explore their own subconscious biases.

Offering specific actions parents, family members, and caregivers can take to help navigate conversations, address heteronormativity, and challenge societal beliefs, Raising LGBTQ Allies serves as a guide to help normalize being LGBTQ from a young age. Creating allies and a world where closets don’t exist happens one child at a time. And it begins with each of us and what we say, as much as what we choose not to say.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Section I: Awareness

1: MFTP Part 1: We All Play on the Same Playground: What We Believe and Why

2: MFTP Part 2: Language Matters: The Meaning Behind Our Words

3: MFTP Part 3: Change Our Beliefs, Change Their Story

Section II: Willingness

4: Gender, Sexuality, and Santa Claus: An Easy Approach

5: Benign Neglect: Not Communicating Is Still Communicating

6: Shame: Prevention vs Treatment

7: Trauma, Resilience, and Human Dignity: Raising a New Generation

Section III: Change

8: Building a New Playground: 6 Simple and Effective Steps

9: New Messages, New Playground, New World: A Mother’s Faith

10: New Toys: Instructional and Interactive Exercises

11: Uncle Chris: The Journey of a Soul

Bibliography

Index

About the Author