I came across a great idea on the Facebook page of Rabbit Hole Music which really hit home for me and gave me inspiration to write a new article for my Presbyterian friends in the real world and I wanted to share some of it with me.
The initial Facebook post was about top artists for the LGBTQ+ community. I asked if I could share the original post here but have not heard back from them.
To get to my point it gave me the idea of how important it was for me as a parent and my child to introduce them to music at a young age. My kiddo was never athletic or into sports and had a hard time finding ways to fit into when their peers were almost all straight. Music was that one outlet that really helped them form social groups.
Luckily I always loved music and introduced all our children to a variety of faith and popular music from an early age without having to think too much about it. I thought for others that have not tried, i would share some suggestions of how to get your child interested in music to maybe open up some new social circles for them if they are struggling to meet peers at school and outside the church.
In addition to opening up some additional social circles, music is a great way to introduce your child to different cultures and let your child know there are others like them outside of the small circle we live in.
One of the ways to help a gay child feel more included and accepted is to introduce them to music at a young age. Music introduces them to a culture and community outside what they know, which can feel very isolating and unfamiliar.
Introducing them this way helps explain the messages we give these children about what it means to be gay and that we should celebrate their experiences. It’s okay, we’ve all been there before, so let’s share our stories with children who need support.
Introducing your child to music is a great way to open up a dialogue and help them feel accepted. There are so many amazing and talented gay musicians who have spoken out about their experiences, and their music can be a great introduction to your child. Here are some recommendations:
1) “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston- This song is great for letting your child know they can dance with whomever they want.
Tori Kelly’s cover is also very good, and it almost sounds like Whitney Houston herself singing.
You may also enjoy listening to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Remix)” by Whitney Houston.
2) “Born this Way” by Lady Gaga- This song is a great way to introduce your child to the LGBT community.
3) “Same Love” by Macklemore- Written as a love letter to his gay best friend, this song is a good introduction for children who may be starting to realize they are different from their peers.
4) “I am Changing” from the hit musical Dreamgirls- This song is about a woman who realizes she’s gay and is starting to change her ways. It is a great way for your child to see that there are other people like them out there.
5) “Defying Gravity” from the musical Wicked- This song is about accepting who you are and being who you want to be, which is a good message for your child.
6) “Born This Way” by Beyonce- The song is a great way to let your child know that they were born this way and there’s nothing wrong with them.
The best part about introducing these songs to your child at an early age is that they will always have them as a resource. All of these are more pop culture type songs that other children will most likely be familiar with.
If you are interested in Faith based songs to get your child active in the Church, I have put together some great songs below:
Ty Herndon, with Kristin Chenoweth and Paul Cardall, “Orphans of God”
Kyler O’Neal, “Satan’s Tears”
Adeem the Artist, “Ashes in Flight” One of my favorite songs with some deep lyrics.. “We’re a patchwork quilt of prophets, diviners of the way; stitched as one by our collective joy and pain/we are each of us children of the same great light”
They can continue to listen to these songs as they grow older and identify with them more. These songs can provide comfort and support when your child is feeling down or like they don’t fit in. So, go ahead and introduce your child to some great music! It may just help them feel more accepted.
Thanks for reading and as always if you have any questions please reach out to me.
All the best,
Savannah