Paths of Acceptance for Parents of Trans and Non-Binary Youth: An Interview Study with Highly Affirming Parents

There is an urgent need for research aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of trans and non-binary (TNB) youth, who experience high rates of stigma, bullying, suicide, substance use, discrimination, and violence. Parental support of TNB is a crucial buffer against those experiences, yet little is known about how parents arrive at a state of being supportive and affirming to their TNB child. This study aimed to understand parents' paths of acceptance of their TNB children. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with highly affirming parents of TNB. Parents who are highly affirming of their child described their journeys, with a focus on assets and barriers to acceptance. This study provides much-needed knowledge about how parents learn to support their TNB child.