Supporting a 2SLGBTQ+ or gender-diverse child in your care.

Information reviewed September 2026. Services, program rules and legal processes can change, so use the linked official source for current information.

You do not need to understand every term before you can be a safe adult.

A young person may tell a grandparent or kinship caregiver that they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, two-spirit, queer, questioning or use another term. The first response matters more than knowing perfect language.

Listen. Thank them for trusting you. Ask what they need from you. Do not make them defend their identity before you offer safety and respect.

Privacy belongs to the young person.

Do not disclose a child's sexual orientation or gender identity to relatives, school staff, parents or community members simply because you know it. Ask the young person who knows, who they want to know and where they feel safe.

Legal, health or child-protection circumstances can create exceptions where information must be shared, but casual “outing” can damage trust and may create safety risks.

Names and pronouns can be a practical starting point.

If a young person asks to use a different name or pronouns, ask where they want those used. They may be comfortable at home but not yet at school, with a parent or with extended family. If you make a mistake, correct it and continue rather than making the young person comfort you.

PEERS Alliance has caregiver-specific support.

School can be part of the support plan.

Talk with the young person before contacting school about their identity. If bullying, harassment or mental-health concerns are involved, the Student Well-being Team or another trusted school professional may be able to help. The goal should be increasing the young person's safety, not increasing the number of adults who know private information.

Gender-affirming health care in PEI.

Health PEI provides gender-affirming health-service pathways. For youth under 16, current provincial guidance directs families to a family physician or nurse practitioner for referral to a pediatrician, with Patient Navigator support available when needed. People over 16 can discuss care with a physician or nurse practitioner and may have self-referral options through the Gender-Affirming Clinic.

Not every trans or gender-diverse young person wants or needs medical intervention. Follow the young person's needs and use qualified health professionals for medical decisions.

Health PEI: Gender-Affirming Health Services

If the caregiver is still learning.

• It is okay to say, “I do not know much about this yet, but I want to understand.”
• Learn from reputable sources rather than asking the child to teach you everything.
• Do not treat identity as a behaviour problem.
• Take family conflict about identity seriously, especially if it affects housing or safety.
• Keep the child's broader life visible: school, hobbies, friends, goals and personality still matter.

Supporting identity and maintaining family relationships can coexist.

A child may want a relationship with a parent who is struggling to understand or accept their identity. Caregivers should not use the child as the messenger in adult conflict. Where contact is required or ongoing, focus on boundaries that protect the young person from humiliation, threats or unsafe behaviour.