Sexuality and sexual health
As kids grow up, it’s healthy for them to develop a sense of their sexuality, learn how to express affection and have respectful relationships. Sexuality isn’t just about sexual behaviour; it’s about the way your child feels about their body, and their growing ability to have feelings of intimacy, attraction and affection for others.
Sexual identity
Social attitudes have become more welcoming and inclusive of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI), but young people are still likely to feel nervous, scared or even ashamed or angry about their developing sexuality. Sometimes kids are in care because their birth family does not accept their sexuality.
Things you can do to support LGBTI kids
- Respect, validate and support their feelings.
- Let them know you love them and want them to be happy.
- Let them decide who they talk to about this, and when.
- Continue to do the things you always used to enjoy together, to show that nothing has changed in your relationship.
- Have some one-on-one time so they have an opportunity to talk to you about how they’re feeling, if they want to.
- Help them find supportive groups, events or activities where they can connect with other young people who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
- Let them know their new friends are welcome at home.
Minus 18
Minus 18 is Australia’s largest youth-led organisation for LGBTI youth. They provide online resources and support services, run social events for under-18s, and offer mentoring services.
Thinking about your own reactions
Learning about the sexual identity of the child or young person in your care can be confronting for some people. If you feel challenged by your child’s sexual identity, it may help to speak to someone who has been through a similar experience, or to have some counselling. Your caseworker may be able to recommend some support services, or you could connect with an organisation like ReachOut or take a look at the Beyond Blue resource Families Like Mine.