Many of us are afraid to come out fully lest our children be teased at school. This attitude only teaches the kids to be afraid and to feel that there is something to be ashamed of. Studies on the subject have shown that children of queers get teased about their parents' sexuality no more than about other typical kid stuff and they come out of it with no more long term emotional trauma than children of straight parents. Let's teach our kids about who we are from our point of view before they hear another version from someone who doesn't know what they're talking about. Give them the support and ammunition they need to cope now and in the future they'll be able to stand up to the Trent Lotts and Pat Robertsons and Jerry Smileys of the world.
Progeny is a monthly column focusing on queer families.