I was about to post this exact same thing. These parents need to understand why their child isn’t disclosing this part of themselves at home. It is not because the school told them not to, it is because the child does not feel safe or supported (which should not only be relegated to situations of physical abuse). Yes, parents spend substantially more time with their kids than over their life than individual educators. However, the vast majority of these same parents spend that time assuming that their children are undeniably cisgender and heterosexual. Children inherently do not want to disappoint their parents, and coming out as anything other than cishet (even to “liberal parents”) would be going against the parent’s expectations for the child. It is the parents duty not to raise their children in the image of themselves, but rather to raise children as their own independent beings. Creating a space for the child to freely express themselves and not make assumings on gender or sexual orientation. Maybe then their child won’t feel the need to “hide” themselves at home while being open at school.

I was about to post this exact same thing. These parents need to understand why their child isn’t disclosing this part of themselves at home. It is not because the school told them not to, it is because the child does not feel safe or supported (which should not only be relegated to situations of physical abuse). Yes, parents spend substantially more time with their kids than over their life than individual educators. However, the vast majority of these same parents spend that time assuming that their children are undeniably cisgender and heterosexual. Children inherently do not want to disappoint their parents, and coming out as anything other than cishet (even to “liberal parents”) would be going against the parent’s expectations for the child. It is the parents duty not to raise their children in the image of themselves, but rather to raise children as their own independent beings. Creating a space for the child to freely express themselves and not make assumings on gender or sexual orientation. Maybe then their child won’t feel the need to “hide” themselves at home while being open at school.

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