Information and resources for parents & families with LGBTQ+ loved ones
* Are you a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt or uncle of a family member who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or nonbinary (LGBTQ+)?
* Are you trying to understand what's going on?
* Are you feeling alone, or looking for support for yourself or your family?
* Or maybe just looking to meet with other families with similar experiences?
If you answered yes to any of the above, we invite you to get in touch by filling in the contact form below:
Finding out that your beloved child is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) can be challenging. As a parent, you may experience many emotions, have lots of worries and concerns, and might find yourself asking lots of questions.
Please know that you are not alone. See list of resources below.
resources for parents & loved ones with LGBTQ+ family members:
1. Local community resources
2. Mainstream media articles
3. Resources in Singapore’s other official languages (Chinese, Malay & Tamil)
4. Book titles
5. Local videos
6. Regional organisations (East, South & South-East Asia)
7. International videos
Please Note: The resources on this page are more relevant for parents & loved ones with LGBTQ+ family members. If you are a parent who is LGBTQ+ yourself, you can refer to this page instead.
1. LOCAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES
The following local community resources may be useful if your child identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning or gender-diverse (LGBTQ+).
I’ll Walk With You is a guide for parents of transgender children to answer their frequently asked questions about what it means to be transgender, and to transition. Translated versions are also available: 伴您同行 (Mandarin), Sentiasa Bersamamu (Malay), and உன்னோடு நான் வருவேன் (Tamil).
Oogachaga is Singapore’s most established community-based, professional non-profit organisation working with LGBTQ+ individuals, couples and families since 1999. Services include professional counselling, youth programme and family support.
SAFE Singapore (Supporting, Affirming & Empowering our LGBTQ family and friends) Support group for parents, families and friends of LGBTQ persons, who believe in a society that accepts, affirms and empowers everyone to participate fully in it, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
Pelangi Pride Centre LGBTQ library, community space and resource centre run entirely by volunteers. Their collection includes titles for parents of LGBTQ+ children.
Rainbow Families Singapore is an online photography exhibition where at least one member of the family is queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Same But Different: A Legal Guidebook for LGBT Couples and Families in Singapore Volunteer-run non-profit project to bring easily understandable, sustained, free legal advice on some issues faced by LGBT couples & families in Singapore.
2. MAINSTREAM MEDIA ARTICLES
Honeykids Asia (March 2023) How to be an LGBTQ+ Ally?
Sassy Mama (March 2019) Parenting a transgender child
South China Morning Post (8 January 2018) Where to go? What to do?
The Straits Times (21 November 2015) Coming Out: How parents react is crucial
The Straits Times (2 December 2015) Family rejection contributes to negative outcomes
3. RESOURCES IN SINGAPORE'S OTHER OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
多聆听 少批判 用爱接纳出柜儿 (Chinese)
当你第一次了解到子女是 同性恋或双性恋时怎么办? (Chinese)
認識同志 (Chinese)
家依旧 . . . . 爱依然 . . . . (Chinese)
深入理解性倾向和同性恋 (Chinese)
关于跨性别者，性别认同及性别表达 (Chinese)
理解 LGBTIQ 社群：迈向接受与包容 (Chinese)
Keluarga tetap Keluarga, Cinta tetap Cinta (Malay)
குடும்பம் என்றால் இப்போதும் குடும்பம்தான். . . . அன்பு என்றால் இதுவும் அன்புதான். . . . (Tamil)
Glossary for addressing the LGBTQIA+ community in Tamil (Government of Tamil Nadu)
4. BOOK TITLES
SQ21: Singapore Queers in the 21st century Anthology of coming out stories, including from Dr Khoo Hoon Eng and her 2 gay sons.
Always My Child: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Your LGBTQ Son or Daughter
Coming Out, Coming Home: Helping Families Adjust to a Gay or Lesbian Child
PFLAG Publications From the largest family and ally organisation in the USA
5. LOCAL VIDEOS
When Claire (they/them) came out to their dad, Christopher, he accepted them without hesitation.
AJ thought telling his mother he was gay was difficult, until he had to break the news of something even more life-changing.
Singaporean mother talks about her journey towards accepting her lesbian daughter.
Singaporean father and mother talk about the journey with their transgender child.
Singaporean mother tells us what it's like to have two gay sons and offers some valuable advice to other parents of LGBT children.
The Inter-University LGBT Network released this video for parents to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May 2020
6. REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS
The following is a selection of support groups for parents of LGBT+ children in neighbouring Asian countries.
Discussion paper by ILGA Asia.
South-East Asia:
PFLAG-Myanmar-LGBTIQAs SOS Hotline
សហគមន៍ឥន្ទធនូកម្ពុជា Rainbow Community Kampuchea-RoCK (Cambodia)
East Asia:
台灣同志諮詢熱線 Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association
香港小童群益會 性向無限計劃 BGCA Project Touch & news article by SCMP (Hong Kong)
South Asia:
Sweekar - The Rainbow Parents (India)
7. INTERNATIONAL VIDEOS