All posts by Abigail Garner

Finding support in a small town.

Q:

I would like some information on how I can start a support group for LGBT parents and children. There seems to be a major lack of support where we live. We are in a little town and we do not have many resources that we can turn to. That is very sad to me. I would love to see my community get more involved and offer more to the gay community. Continue reading Finding support in a small town.

Dad wants to come out to his 11-year-old son. Mom doesn’t think he should.

Q:

My son is 11 years old. His father and I are divorced. My ex-husband has a life partner and is pretty stable in his relationship. Father and son are close as well.

My son does not know his father is gay. I have been talking to my son about acceptance of gays, but he still thinks it is “gross.” I have tried to put a positive slant on same-sex relationships with no success. Continue reading Dad wants to come out to his 11-year-old son. Mom doesn’t think he should.

Gay father seeks to end decade of silence with his daughter.

Q:

I came out when my daughter was in high school. She has terminated all contact with me since that time. It has now been ten years since we have had any real substantive conversation. Do you suppose that she will ever come to terms with this issue and move on in her life?

— Gay Dad with Lingering Pain Continue reading Gay father seeks to end decade of silence with his daughter.

Should a gay uncle come out?

Q:

I have a friend who is married with four kids. He is planning to tell his gay brother that he doesn’t want his kids knowing that their uncle is gay. Isn’t it better to tell them instead of hiding it from them? Kids are very accepting of this these days, aren’t they? Does it confuse the kids? I love both of these guys like my own brothers and I want to intelligently help them. Continue reading Should a gay uncle come out?

Should I shelter my children from their lesbian mother?

Q:

My wife has decided after 17 years of marriage, that she wants a divorce. She would not admit the reason for her wanting a divorce and came up with various excuses. Finally her attorney admitted in court that my wife is a lesbian. Since then she reluctantly admitted it to me, but not to our three teenagers.

Do I push her to admit her new lifestyle to the children? Do I fight for custody to shelter the children from this? Continue reading Should I shelter my children from their lesbian mother?