More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous Ally

"Different" Isn’t Broken: Supporting LGBTQ+ Kids with Confidence


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What if your child’s “difference” isn’t a problem to fix, but a story we’ve been taught to fear?

In this raw and compassionate episode, Heather Hester opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of parenting LGBTQ+ kids - really any kid that we have labeled as "different" and how to shift from grief and fear to love and clarity. Whether you’re facing the first waves of realization or years into the journey, this episode invites you to let go of outdated scripts and fully see your child as they are.

  • Learn how your expectations may be unintentionally shaping your fears and how to let them go
  • Discover how to move from the grief of "what you imagined" to the beauty of "what is"
  • Hear why “normal” is a myth and how honoring difference builds deeper trust, resilience, and connection

Press play to reframe your perspective and discover the radical power of honoring your child exactly as they are.

Resource Spotlight

  • Parenting with Pride (Heather’s book!) — A heartfelt guide for parents navigating bias, expectations, and the journey of loving LGBTQ+ kids fully and freely.
  • Understood.org — An incredible resource for parents raising children with learning and thinking differences, reminding us that “different” can mean thriving.
  • The Mighty — A storytelling platform where people share lived experiences of difference, resilience, and what it means to be fully human.
  • Child Mind Institute — Trusted guidance on supporting kids with emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges, framed with compassion and clarity.

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

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Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride.

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Connect [email protected]

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Influence the Parenting with Pride companion journal content. Survey here.

Find out what kind of ally you are!

Listen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

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 is a safe and supportive space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, love, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, connection, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, social justice, and the power of human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.



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More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous AllyBy Heather Hester

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