Sibling relationships can be so very loving and so very fraught — often simultaneously. Your role as the sibling of a queer or trans young person is critical.
Give yourself time to adjust but, at the same time, learn more about what this means, both in general and for your sibling.
If you don't accept them, it can cause so much pain.
- I'm closeted and my sister is homophobic -- is there a way to save our relationship?
- My sister is afraid I'll tell my nephews I'm gay. She now limits the time I spend with her kids, and it hurts.
You probably want to, at the very least, maintain your connection to your sibling. But if you want to deepen your connection, open your mind and heart to learning more about their life.
Yes, this site is mostly for adults. But multiple survey-takers understandably listed siblings as a group that would benefit from a website like this. Also, there are probably as many 18-year-olds with 23-year-old siblings as there are with 13-year-old siblings. So, sibs, here ya' go!
In addition to everything below, see also these articles on the importance of fostering queer and trans joy. You have the ability to help in this way and so many others.
