Lead Pic: Naz and Matt Foundation at London Pride 2023. Pic by Matt-Mahmood-Ogston Parents across the globe will today (Tuesday, 30 July) take to social media to share videos, photos or messages that affirm their acceptance and pride of their LGBTQ+ child on Out and Proud Parents Day. In the last fi
Lead Pic: Naz and Matt Foundation at London Pride 2023. Pic by Matt-Mahmood-Ogston
Parents across the globe will today (Tuesday, 30 July) take to social media to share videos, photos or messages that affirm their acceptance and pride of their LGBTQ+ child on Out and Proud Parents Day.
In the last five years, the campaign has grown into a global awareness day, with parents so far taking part from across the UK, India, Australia and North America.
Launched in 2019, Out and Proud Parents Day was launched by Naz and Matt Foundation five years after the death of Dr Nazim Mahmood, who took his own life after his religious family confronted him about his sexuality. This year’s Out and Proud Parents Day will be 10 years since Naz’s tragic death.
Naz and Matt Foundation’s 2020 report showed that LGBTQ+ individuals from a religious or culturally conservative background are twice as likely to feel suicidal as the result of a negative coming out experience to their parents, compared to their LGBTQ+ peers.
This is backed up by recent research by the Trevor Project, which reported that nearly 50% of LGBTQ+ teens considered suicide last year, with 12% attempting suicide last year.
In 2024, Out and Proud Parents Day received a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to create a podcast series to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the annual celebration of proud parents.
Produced by Aunt Nell, the creators of the award-winning The Log Books, the new podcast will share testimonial stories from parents across the globe to influence positive change for LGBTQI+ people in local communities.
Naz and Matt Foundation provides frontline support to LGBTQ+ individuals and parents from religious and culturally conservative backgrounds. They have produced multiple documentary films such as Discovering Kali and the award-winning My God, I’m Queer.
The Foundation’s work has won Campaign of the Year at the Bank of London Rainbow Honours in 2022, with Out and Proud Parents Day also winning the Faith and Belief Community Award in 2020 for supporting communities across London.
Matt Mahmood-Ogston, CEO & Founder of the Naz and Matt Foundation, said: “Five years ago, we embarked on a journey to celebrate the unconditional love and unwavering support that parents can offer their LGBTQ+ children. Now, Out and Proud Parents Day has grown from a small, community-backed movement to a global awareness day.
“Since Out and Proud Parents Day’s launch in 2019, I have been privileged to connect with parents across the globe. Whether these parents have gone on to create local community support groups, take part in our new podcast with Aunt Nell, or simply share their story – every single one has been a role model to parents across the globe and, most importantly, to their children.
“As Out and Proud Parents Dat continues to grow each year, I am proud to continue supporting parents who champion the right for their children to be the person they were born to be.”
Saima, an Out and Proud Parent and Founder of Rainbow Chai, free to access online parent led support group, added: “As a proud mum to my two LGBTQ+ children, I am reminded by each passing Out and Proud Parents Day to be a role model to them.
“Every parent who affirms their queer child moves the needle for their family, their local community and the whole world.
“Through my work with Rainbow Chai, Naz and Matt Foundation’s new support group for parents, I am always heartened to see new parents join our network, but know that, especially in the South Asian community, we have a long way to go to enact real change.”
To get involved in Out and Proud Parents Day, include the #OutAndProudParentsDay on your social media account.
