#find support

07/06/2026 Jean-Luc Picard @SpaceDadSupport Incoming Transmission…

Since Feb 14 is Valentine’s Day, this month we’re looking at ways to #LoveYourLGBTKids! This week we want to highlight ways to support your kiddo through external organizations and community events. A great way to start is reaching out to our own PFLAG, the first LGBT organization to unite families and children. Our greater Boston chapter is located physically in Waltham but also digitally at [email protected] and here.

Another great organization we often plug is the Trevor Project, a non-profit organization focused on prevention efforts for LGBT kids through hotline programming and outreach. Counselors can be reached 24/7 and are 100% confidential and free. They also provide support resources for better understanding LGBT kiddos. 

GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) is another nationally recognized media organization that promotes allyship and matters of representation. They provide a great media guide (https://www.glaad.org/resources) with extensive yet easily understandable information about efforts for better representation. 

Another well known LGBT organization is the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which focuses on legislative efforts supporting LGBT people. Their efforts cover a range of topics not just limited to sexuality (https://www.hrc.org/resources). They have various chapters all across the country. 

Sometimes a national organization is too big for the support your child needs. If this is the case, check out local community centers either in your town or nearest city. Often these centers are either focused exclusively on LGBT youth or are connected to these efforts in some way. They may host movie nights, social mixers to meet other LGBT folks, or provide great resources for getting involved. 

It’s important to remember that the best support starts at home. Checking-in with your LGBT kiddo, actively supporting LGBT efforts, and creating a safe space for self-expression are great ways to show up as an ally. Creating a welcoming environment allows LGBT to flourish and thrive in their identities.

It's often difficult to come to terms with the news of a serious illness. You may feel vulnerable as you try to make sense of the situation. Once diagnosis has sunk in though tackling your illness head-on helps you to remain positive.

When you’re told you have a serious illness it can come as a shock. More so if you’re someone who maintains a high level of health. Being diagnosed with a condition, disease or ailment that sets back your health is news that no one wants to receive. However, while this news is confronting, staying positive during serious illness is essential to managing your condition in the best possible way.…

Umm, ok, but I don’t want to lose weight to “look hot.” Without delving into the implied “stay fat because then you’ll stay with me” from that sentence, I want to lose weight because my knees already sound like Rice Crispies and my poundage will mean a total knee replacement at an early age. I want to lose weight because I’m tired of my medical concerns being written off with “well, it wouldn’t be a problem if you weren’t over weight.” I want to lose weight because I don’t want to cross the border of borderline diabetic into diabetic. I want to lose weight because I am tired of being winded going up stairs and tired of my legs and feet aching after work.

I am tired of asking for some support and having that person sabotage me. “I brought home McDonalds so you don’t have to cook.” “I went grocery shopping and got a bunch of stuff you like so you don’t have to go.” “Don’t worry about it, you’re fine, have another piece of pizza.” “I don’t know that you’d like that, maybe just make mac and cheese instead.” “Why are you eating rabbit food; I’ll make you some potatoes.”

I gained a ton of weight. And it was “ok” because I “already had a partner and don’t need to look good for anyone else.” But it wasn’t ok. I needed meds and couldn’t participate in things. Clothing became full of Xs in the labels and I felt self conscious all the time. It wasn’t that I wanted to look good for anyone else. I wanted to feel better physically and mentally. But for a long time I allowed someone to tell me that as long as I had them, it didn’t matter because they didn’t care how I looked. Which ignored the main issues entirely but because someone “wanted” me, I just kinda let it go.

I don’t talk to that person any more.

Now I have some support. I have lost almost 40 pounds since the beginning of June. My body isn’t as big a wreck after a work night as it was. I’m off two medications. I can go up stairs and at least keep walking instead of stopping to pant. Do I look better? I don’t think so. Do I feel better? Damn skippy. And that’s the most important piece.

Tell the people that want to hold you back/tie you to them/tell you you’re fine how you are because they’re fine with it to go take a long walk off a short pier. Find someone who will help you. Who will share easy, interesting recipes that aren’t 1,000 calories of pizza. Who will help you keep on track and tell you to not give up if you make a bad decision or two about what you eat.