These topics have taken over our cultural conversation. Parents often don't understand just how different the world is today from that in which they grew up. Even the terms have often taken on different meanings, and unfortunately, a common strategy in many contentious cultural battles is to obscure things by coopting the terminology.

Some of the words framing this particular cultural struggle include:

• Sex - Usually, most folks are willing to accept this in its traditional meaning, referring to biological distinction as male or female.
• Gender - In recent years, this has come to mean a cultural construct in which being a man or woman (or something else; see 'non-binary') is not determined by one's biological sex, but by culture.
• Gender Identity - A fairly new term given to a person's self-perceived gender, which is ascribed greater relevance than one's biological sex (or any other objective, observable criteria).
• Sexual Orientation - Used to identify the group to which a person feels erotic attraction. Nowadays, 'heterosexual' and 'homosexual' have been joined by 'bisexual,' 'asexual,' 'pansexual,' 'omnisexual,' etc.
• Transgender - An assertion that a person's gender identity doesn't match their biological sex.
• Nonbinary - An assertion of a gender identity that isn't "confined" to the two traditional male/female scenarios.

For more extensive discussions of the terms and concepts at play in the ongoing cultural revolution, go here - Perhaps a link to our rendition of the Lansing theological guide?

Some places to start

• Sex, Gender and Identity by Dr. Ana Samuel of CanaVox.
• The Transgender Question by Fr. Mike Schmitz of CanaVox.

The Catholic Church wants to walk with you in this journey! Below are links to some resources that might be of help.

LifeTeen

LifeTeen has many excellent articles and blogs about questions of gender and sexuality.

Eden Invitation

Eden Invitation is aimed at young adults seeking a way to integrate and understand their sexuality and who God created them to be.

Courage

Courage is a ministry and support group for men and women who experience same sex attraction.
EnCourage is the sister support group for family members who want to support their loved ones in an authentic way.

The Third Way

• The Third Way
• Desire of the Everlasting Hills

These films feature interviews with Catholics who share about their journeys understanding their sexuality, and discovering the immense love that God has for each of them as his children.

And you thought it was tough to give the "Birds and Bees" talk to your kids! Folks, the ante has been raised. Many parents are totally blind-sided by the things their kids are being exposed to - in the media and in the schools.

Unconvinced? Here are a few stories about what your kids are being exposed to...

• Links to stories about things happening in schools without parental consent?

Here are a few resources to help you discuss these critical issues with kids:

• Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues
  This book gives parents, guardians, and teachers crucial tools and techniques to form children with an age-appropriate understanding of these challenges.
• What else should we include here?

In a nutshell, it's good! We are made "in the image and likeness of God," and are created for love! To unpack some of what that means, check out the resources below.

Fr. Mike Schmitz

Fr. Mike Schmitz has spoken at length on and written helpful articles about the Catholic understanding of sexuality. Here are links to some of those:

• Defining homosexuality
• Beyond No: What the Catholic Church has to Say About Same-Sex Attraction
• Does defending traditional marriage make me a hater? ​
• Love and Same Sex Attraction​

Some other good resources

• What else shall we include?

And if you want to go straight to the sources...

• Casti Connubii: On Christian Marriage
• Letter to Families
• Letter to Women
• Mulieris Dignitatem: On the Dignity and Vocation of Women
• Gaudium et Spes: Joy and Hope
• Humanae Vitae: On Human Life
• Veritatis Splendor: Splendor of the Truth
• Familiaris Consortio: On the Christian Family in the Modern World
• The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality
• Educational Guidance in Human Love