Health & Wellbeing
“Oh, but they would”: Teaching consent to your lesbian child with director, Phinn Sallin-Mason
In this short interview, Director Phinn Sallin-Mason (they/them) takes us through the importance of teaching young women what consent looks like, in the context of queer relationships, and why Sallin-Mason chose to centre their up-and-coming film around this...
LGBTQ+ nightlife: a queer person’s experience going to their first gay club
Is your child wanting to go to their first gay club? Queer nightlife has a reputation of being quite, well, rowdy… Dark, smoke-filled rooms with blinding strobe lighting and half-naked ravers. This was what I expected when going on my first big ‘gay’ night out, but...
The Education System
Same-sex schools: single-sex or singled out?
When someone says ‘same-sex school’ you might immediately think of the chaos endured by the ruly St Trinian’s boarding school or the childhood classic Malory Towers, but fictional experiences are not always (or ever) truly accurate to the lived experience of pupils...
Your Child's Identity
Call me by MY name: How to help your child change their name
Your child’s name is a vital piece of their identity, and there may come a time (or maybe you’re already there) when your child’s name and identity no longer align. Although the name you gave them was no doubt chosen with love, I’m sure you love your child more than...
U-haul lesbians: is your child moving too fast with their partner
Moving in together, getting engaged and married, and buying your first dog can all move further up the timeline than heterosexual couples. While this stereotype, as a lesbian woman, can be a fun notion to discuss, it can also be harmful. If things go wrong, it...
Everyday Queeries
Am I allowed to say the word queer?
The word “queer” is one of the most complicated words in our language. Not only does it have several meanings, but the term has been used to both attack and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. In an article by Learning for Justice, Cory Collins writes “The...
She/they, he/they pronouns: what do they mean and how do I use them?
People can use these pronouns in very different ways, but all forms of gender expression are valid. Some use them to explore the fluidity in gender- it is a social construct which can be expressed in a multitude of ways- and some use them on the journey to accepting...
Queerbaiting: what is it and what it means to LGBTQ+ people
In November 2022, Kit Connor, who plays Nick Nelson in the hit Netflix series ‘Heartstopper’, was forced to come out following accusations of him Queerbaiting in the show. After weeks of online abuse, he tweeted on X “I’m bi, congrats on forcing an 18-year-old to out...
Resources & Support
Animating Diversity: Exploring LGBTQ+ Representation in Kids’ Cartoons
Queer erasure affects children all across the word. Pride & Joy speaks to creative director and mother Rachelle Strange about her experiences and opinions on how LGBTQ+ representation in children’s animation.Growing up, we all had someone to reconcile with, to...
Maintaining Your Faith Whilst Supporting your Child: Q&A with a gay priest
Religion and sexuality don’t often go hand in hand. The Church of England is yet to allow same-sex marriage, which may seem daunting for you and your queer child. As a gay priest, Charlie Bell, 34, meets parents from all across the country who seek his advice on...
Pride: a must-watch classic for parents and their queer teens
An alliance formed between two groups lacking power in the 1980s: Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM). An empowering, joyous film depicting the true, Thatcher-era story. Matthew Warchus (director) captures the unifying and passionate voices of the members of...