What's it like growing up with LGBT Parents?

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NYC COLAGERS Talk About Being Part of Non-Traditional Families

by Marilyn Carlin

At the January meeting of COLAGE NYC, Marilyn asked COLAGERS to respond to questions about their LGBT famliies.

She asked high school student Courtney:

In your own words, what does it feel like to be in a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender family?

There really aren't many differences between being in a gay or lesbian family and being in a straight family, considering there's always love in both. The only differences are that I think you're more open to anything and less discriminating because you grow up in a family that is so discriminated against, you know how it feels, so you never would put anyone else through something you know hurts so bad.

Marilyn asked Amy, age 17 what the difference was between junior high and high school as a COLAGER. Amy responded:

In middle school, the attitude is different. A lot of people are less accepting and in high school you start to care less what people think anyway. I think it's a little easier.

Marilyn asked Tyler, age 13 about how people react to him where his family is concerned. He responded:

When I was younger, I could say that I have 2 moms as a defense for when people called me gay in a derogatory way. They didn't really mean it literally, and they didn't know it was hurtful, so when I said I had 2 moms, they would realize that they were being more hurtful than they meant to be. Now, when I say it, most people say it's cool, but some people think it's weird, but then they get to know me and they realize it's not a big deal. Then some people ask how I was born, and I explain how that works, and it doesn't seem so strange to them when they understand the facts.

Marilyn chose to answer the question: How do friends react to being friends with a COLAGER?

My friends don't find it to be a huge deal. I think that's a big step towards ending discrimination against gay people, because if you don't see gay people as being a threat, but just as another person, you won't find the need to discriminate.

Marilyn Carlin is 12 years old and lives with her lesbian mom in Brooklyn, NY.