Child Safety for Same-Sex and Co-Parents
Online safety for LGBT+ families. Recognising targeted homophobic abuse, protecting children from being 'outed', and choosing schools and clubs that signal Stonewall School Champion status.
As a same-sex or co-parent family, much of the work of keeping your children safe is the same as for any family — parental controls, conversation, boundaries. But some risks land differently. Online abuse can target children specifically because of the makeup of their family. Some platforms host communities where homophobic content thrives. And there are particular risks around children being 'outed' as having same-sex parents in spaces where that may attract harassment. This guide is written to acknowledge those realities directly while keeping the practical advice grounded.
Why this matters
Children of same-sex and co-parent families are loved, secure, and overwhelmingly thriving. They are also more likely to encounter homophobic comments online, sometimes in spaces parents would not expect — gaming voice chat, comments on TikTok, group chats at school. Recognising those risks and naming them gives children language to handle them, and gives parents confidence to choose schools and clubs that take inclusion seriously.
Quick wins
Save Galop's LGBT+ hate-crime line (0800 999 5428) in family phones
Time: 5 minutes
Check whether your child's school is a Stonewall School Champion and ask about their response to homophobic language
Time: 30 minutes
Set Google SafeSearch and review your child's app blocking and reporting routes together
Time: 20 minutes
Common challenges
Children encountering homophobic harassment online specifically because of their family
Have ongoing, calm conversations from a young age about the fact that some people hold prejudiced views and that this is never their fault or their family's fault. Teach them to screenshot, block, and report — and to come to you. Galop (0800 999 5428) runs a national LGBT+ hate-crime helpline that supports children and families.
Choosing schools and clubs that genuinely value inclusion rather than tick the box
Look for the Stonewall School Champion award as one signal, but back it up with direct questions: how does the school respond to homophobic language, does the curriculum include LGBT+ families, are there visible LGBT+ staff. Sports clubs and youth groups affiliated with national governing bodies should have inclusion policies; ask to see them.
Protecting children from being 'outed' as having same-sex parents online
Be intentional about what you post about your children publicly. Discuss with older children what they want shared. Where children are in faith or cultural communities where same-sex parenting attracts stigma, agree together what they want said about the family and where. Their consent matters even within an out, proud family.