According TO Parents Support, the support group for parents of children who are gay or lesbian, though young people themselves may want to talk to their parents about being gay or lesbian, sometimes parents find it difficult.

To help them, Parents Support has published a booklet for parents of gay and lesbian children, If Your Child is Gay or Lesbian.

The booklet is divided into three sections: questions and answers, personal stories from parents and personal stories from gay and lesbian children. The first section looks at why lesbian and gay children want to tell their parents - in terms of the need to remove hidden barriers and the need for acceptance. This section also looks at how parents react and at the implications of homosexuality in the context of religious beliefs.

The second section describes the moving emotions of seven parents. Fears of AIDS, guilt, grief and dread at what might become of their children are all expressed with remarkable honesty. Finally, the booklet includes several accounts from gay and lesbian men and women about what happened when they told their parents. If Your Child is Gay or Lesbian is published in conjunction with the Eastern Health Board. For information on Parents Support or how to get a copy of the booklet, phone Dublin Lesbian Line (tel: (01) 661 3777) or Gay Switchboard Dublin (tel: (01) 872 1055).

Taking guidanceHelping Your Child to Make Decisions, a pamphlet with practical suggestions on how parents can use school guidance provision most effectively, has just been published by the National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) and the National Parents Council (Post-Primary).

According to the pamphlet, "working together is of mutual benefit in coping with the diverse and ever-changing values in the home, school and community". The role of the guidance counsellor is described in detail - in assisting personal decisions as well as those affecting education and career There are eleven specific areas spelled out through which parents can play a role in this decision-making process. These include consultation with the guidance counsellor - parents are encouraged not to wait for a crisis - attending parent/teacher meetings, becoming involved in parents' associations and facilitating children with career projects, preparing for work experience and assisting with student application forms.

Helping Your Child to Make Decisions is available by contacting the National Parents Council (PostPrimary) at (01) 857 0522.