Homosexuality, along with other sexual orientations and gender identities, are hot topics in today’s media. However, it is still new ground and can be confusing territory, especially for parents. Parents are already apprehensive about sex talks with their teens, but parents with LGBTQ-identifying teens can feel even more ill-equipped. Despite the trend toward more acceptance, there are still challenges for LGBTQ people. Representation in history books is at best unequal, and often TV/film depictions are stereotyped or exaggerated. While tech-savvy teens can tap into supportive online LGBTQ communities, navigating the real world is not as easy - and often not as friendly. As a parent it can feel even harder to prepare your teen for the world when they identify as LGBTQ.  Richie Jackson, himself proudly gay, felt similarly as his gay son prepared to head off to college. Despite having 18 years, Richie knew there was a lot more his son needed to know about living in the world and being LGBQT. So, he started to write letters to him. In fact, he wrote so many letters that he had enough material for the beginning of a book. Those letters are now published in Richie’s first book Gay Like Me: A Father Writes to His Son. In it, Richie shares stories from his own life, good, bad, and humourous, as well as stories of gay leaders, creatives, and game-changers. The book is a true labor of love and an important read for anyone who thinks being “gay” is no longer a big deal.  Richie is adamant that it is vital for your teen to hear information from you, their parent, not just from outside sources. And no matter your teen’s sexual identity or gender, making sure they know about it is still important. Being an LGBTQ ally can change someone’s life.  By teaching all kids and teens LGBTQ history, Jackson believes that gay and straight children alike will learn to embrace non-heteronormative identities as gifts rather than burdens. As we saw in Peggy Orenstein’s interview, being gay or non-binary can free a person to create a new script for their relationships, their career choices, and in their everyday lifestyle.  In addition to great advice on how to talk to your LGBTQ teen about sex and prejudice, Richie and I discuss:
Balancing vulnerability and caution in relationships
Talking to teens, gay and straight, about sex
LGBTQ obstacles now vs. then
The importance of raising straight LGBTQ allies and advocates
Writing a book as a full-time parent and producer
Richie has crafted a beautiful book and truly opens up to readers (and of course his son). It is as poignant as it is informative and helpful and I think every parent will come away with new insights!