Today, for National Coming Out Day, A-Camp 7.5 Director/CEO & Editor in Chief of My Kid Is Gay/Human Extraordinaire Kristin Russo is releasing something awesome. “Coming Out With Care” is an e-care package for LGBTQ+ youth (and not so youth!) to send to parents to help them navigate the coming out process.

“While, of course, I know that this day is centered around those coming out as LGBTQ themselves, I also do a lot of work with parents and family members through My Kid Is Gay and know that the coming-out process is a very real thing for them, too!” Kristin says. “My mom struggled for many, many years with my sexuality, so I know the need for these resources from a personal standpoint as well.”

The package includes a welcome video and resources from Kristin as well as contributions from your Autostraddle faves. Emphasizing the journey that coming out can be, celebrity Brittani Nichols curated a playlist called “Stay Up!” encouraging parents to always work at understanding their children. Collage cover art for the collage was created by Autostraddle’s own CEO Riese Bernard! A journaling and coloring page designed by Cameron Glavin reminds your parents to step back, breathe, and take part in some self care.

collage by Riese!

Why a care package? Kristin told me it felt important to have “a starting point that gathered not only those resources together, but also gave parents some elements of self-care… Now they can dip their feet into the resources while also listening to a playlist and filling out an adorable journaling worksheet. HOW COOL IS THAT?!”

Kristin tries to bring an element of lightness into conversations around sexuality and gender identity whenever possible. “I think it is important for parents to know that there can be questions, concerns, and confusion alongside laughter, connection, and joy. Coming out is a rollercoaster!”

Journal by Cameron!

Coming out is a roller coaster, indeed! Help your parents navigate it by signing up for the care package here. Kristin suggests signing up for it yourself and forwarding it to your parents (or your friends’ parents, your mentors, your aunts and uncles, your grandparents…anyone!). What an exciting resource to make National Coming Out Day just a little easier!

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

Join AF+!