My child has a better understanding of pronouns than me. What should I do?

The pandemic has take an emotional and mental toll on all of us — especially children and adolescents.

LGBTQ+ youth in particular are struggling. According to research published in The Lancet, more than 50% of sexual and gender minority youth have reported increased anxiety or depressive symptoms since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

So what can parents and schools do to help gender diverse youth? And what does affirming trans and non-binary youth look like?

Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke to Seattle Public Schools Health Education Specialist and Trainer Brennon Ham about fostering a safe and supportive environment for young people to explore their gender identity. She also spoke to Dr. Amy Curtis, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Oliver Murphy, a community health worker for the Spectrum Center, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ organization in Spokane.

Resources for allies

There are a ton of resources out there to help family and friends learn how to support gender diverse youth. Here’s some shared by guests:

Learning For Justice

GLSEN

PFLAG (Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)

Gender-Affirming Care at Seattle Children’s

King County Trans Resource & Referral Guide

Seattle Public Schools has also compiled a list of gender affirming resources

If you or someone you know is in need of safe and confidential support, you can speak to a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386