Join us as we welcome Eric Marcus, an acclaimed author and LGBTQ+ historian, who brings his deeply personal coming out story to the forefront. Together, we explore the emotional landscape of acceptance within families and the transformative power of advocacy, exemplified by his mother's pivotal role in co-founding the Queens chapter of PFLAG.

Our conversation takes a heartfelt look at the roots of LGBTQ advocacy, where Eric shares his encounters with the early gay rights movement and pioneering organizations like the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis. You'll hear touching stories of Jean Manford and her son Morty, the co-founders of PFLAG, and their relentless dedication. The devastating impact of the AIDS crisis also comes to light, with deeply personal stories of loss and resilience from families like the Ashworths. Through these narratives, we gain a richer understanding of the socio-political climate of the 1980s and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ rights.

Eric also reflects on his accidental journey to becoming a historian, starting with an oral history book that evolved into the Making Gay History podcast. We'll discuss the challenges and emotional rewards of capturing these stories in print and audio, and how they continue to inspire educational initiatives. As we celebrate the resilience of the LGBTQ community, we emphasize the importance of passing the torch to future generations. Tune in for a powerful episode filled with personal reflections, historical insights, and a strong message of advocacy and unity.

Resources Mentioned:

Making Gay History Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-gay-history-lgbtq-oral-histories-from-the-archive/id1162447122

Stonewall 50 Consortium: https://stonewall50consortium.org/

American LGBTQ+ Museum: https://americanlgbtqmuseum.org/

About Eric Marcus:

Eric Marcus is the author of a dozen books, including two editions of Making Gay History (the original 1992 edition is entitled Making History), Why Suicide?, and Breaking the Surface, the #1 New York Times bestselling autobiography of Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis. Eric is also the co-producer of Those Who Were There, a podcast drawn from the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. He is the founder and chair emeritus of the Stonewall 50 Consortium and is a founding board member of the American LGBTQ+ Museum. Learn more about Eric in this NBC News profile.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.

If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen explores connection, courage, and community for every concerned parent, mom, or ally navigating fear, grief, and bigotry with hope, resilience, and empathy. Through open-minded education, inclusive parenting guidance, and advocacy for mental health and safety, we support LGBTQ youth and stand for human rights and social justice. More Human. More Kind. empowers listeners to shift their mindset, embrace activism and allyship, and lead with kindness, healing, and purpose.

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