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When your child first came out to you as LGBTQ+, who else was in the room? Who else in your family had to absorb the news, adjust, learn, and figure out where they fit into a story that wasn’t theirs, but, as we’ll see in this episode, was also very much theirs? Most of the conversations In the Den center around our queer kids.  Today’s episode focuses on our other kids–the siblings, who had to figure everything out quietly alongside the rest of us. In today’s episode, guest host Carmel sits down with guests Jessica, Hunter, and Brandon to reflect on their experiences of having a sibling come out, what changed for them, what challenges they faced, and what advice they have for others who have a sibling come out as queer.

Special Guest: Jessica Pierce

Jessica is the oldest of the Harper kids and big sister to Forrest. She works as a therapist specializing in OCD and trauma.

Special Guest: Hunter Pierce

Hunter joined the family when he married Jessica in May 2021. He is a fierce ally and believes we should all love one another unconditionally. He is an IT professional. 

Special Guest: Brandon Harper

Brandon is the middle child of the Harper kids and Forrest's older brother. He is a tech entrepreneur building in the med tech and AI-embedded device space. 

Links from the Show:

• Join Mama Dragons today

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Today In the Den, we're going inside the Mama Dragons organization for a conversation with our Executive Director Liz Welch. We wanted to give folks a behind-the-scenes look at where we are today, what the organization has learned over the past few years, and where it's headed next. We'll talk about the challenges, the opportunities, and why this work feels more important than ever as more families are looking for hope, connection, and community. Like any nonprofit, Mama Dragons is made up of real people, mostly volunteers, dedicating themselves to keep this work going. We have celebrated incredible successes, weathered some difficult seasons, and continue to ask, "How do we best serve families in a world that keeps changing?" If Mama Dragons has ever been part of your story—or if you've wondered how movements like this keep going long after the headlines fade—we think you'll really appreciate this conversation.

Special Guest: Liz Welch

Liz has extensive advocacy and lobbying experience in LGBTQ+ and religious freedom at the federal, state, and local levels. While at the ACLU, Liz led a National Faith Coalition that supported efforts to advance protections for LGBTQ+ communities while preserving the rights of faith communities. She also co-facilitated a transgender education and advocacy project, working to train and support trans activists in advocating for their rights across the country. Additionally, Liz is a trained mediator, experienced facilitator, and event coordinator for everything from hyper-local Pride events to coordinating the rallies at the Supreme Court of the United States for the biggest cases of our time. She is the proud mother to Mariah, who is a public defender and an avid baker.

Links from the Show:

• Join Mama Dragons today
• Find Support Resources through Mama Dragons
• Mama Dragons Educational Offerings
• Mama Dragons Programs
• Parachute E-learning Program

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. 

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Pride is often celebrated with glitter, music, and rainbow flags—but at its heart, Pride has always been about something much deeper: showing up in love and solidarity so that no one has to wonder if they're alone. Today, we're talking with some of the Mama Dragons who set up booths at Pride festivals across the country, creating spaces where families could find hope, connection, and unconditional love. Joining Sara In the Den are three incredible volunteers: Yanira from Puerto Rico, Jill from Kansas, and Maria from Maryland. Though their communities are hundreds of miles apart, they share a common mission: to make sure every LGBTQ+ person, every questioning child, and every parent who feels overwhelmed knows there's a place where they belong. Whether you've marched in dozens of Pride parades or have never attended one, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful act of allyship is simply showing up—with an open heart, a listening ear, and the promise that no one has to walk this journey alone.

Special Guest: Maria Smith

Maria currently serves on the Board of Mama Dragons. Her 15+ year career in the financial services industry has been defined by a deep commitment to building inclusive, supportive environments within the workplace. She joined Mama Dragons to learn how to best support her queer child and has become an even more passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ youth and families. Maria lives in Maryland with her husband, their two children, and two Puggles. Her life is guided by empathy, action, and the belief that every person deserves to be seen, loved, and supported for exactly who they are.

Special Guest: Jill Clements

Jill is a mom of 3 living in the Midwestern United States. She coordinates the Mama Dragons Embracelet program. An Embracelet is a handmade bracelet that is like a warm hug around your wrist to remind you that you are loved. Since its inception in 2023, over 42,000 embracelets have been given out by Mama Dragons at events. Over the past four years she’s helped coordinate the Mama Dragons Pride Booth in Kansas City, MO which hosts over 25,000 attendees each year.  A social worker by trade, Jill often can be found giving of her time and resources to a variety of causes whether it is parents of trans kids or kids affected by a parent’s cancer.  In her dream world, Jill would be living in Iceland spending her days hiking and making art and her nights photographing the Northern Lights. 

Special Guest: Yanira Vega

Yanira lives in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, and is the mother of a young transmasculine son and a daughter. She has been a member of Mama Dragons since 2021, when she sought self-help resources and education to address her gender-diverse family’s experience with an affirming approach. That same year, she volunteered to help coordinate MD groups and assist with the vetting and moderation processes for some groups. Puerto Rico has had its own regional group since 2024, and on March 28, 2026, they held their first local community education event at the closing of the True Self Camp for Respect, where they shared Mama Dragons’ mission to support mothers and families in their journeys and highlighted all the programs available to assist them. Their next event will be on June 27 at the All Out 5k. Yanira is a doctor in Physical Therapy working in home health settings.

Links from the Show:

• Join Mama Dragons today

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For so many LGBTQ+ people—and for the parents who love them—the church has been a place of deep wounds rather than deep belonging. Too often, the message has been that to be loved by God, you first have to change who you are. So many have walked away from faith altogether, believing they had to choose between their spirituality and their authentic selves. But every once in a while, someone comes along who refuses that false choice. Instead of abandoning faith, they reclaim it. They reinterpret it. They reshape it into something expansive enough to hold their whole, beautiful selves—and in doing so, they create room for others to come home, too. Today In the Den, Sara talks with drag artist, songwriter, and musician Flamy Grant, whose bold blend of gospel, folk, country, and unapologetic queerness is challenging assumptions about who belongs in sacred spaces. They talk about reclaiming spirituality after harm, the healing power of music and drag, what it means to plant a stiletto in sacred space, navigating both praise and backlash, and why joy itself can be an act of resistance. Whether you've left religion behind, found your way back, or are still figuring out what you believe, this conversation is an invitation to imagine a faith that celebrates you exactly as you are.

Special Guest: Flamy Grant

Flamy Grant is a trailblazing drag queen and musician from Asheville, North Carolina with over 1.5 million streams on digital music platforms. Beautifully blending her Appalachian roots with drag artistry and musical excellence, Flamy has stormed stages from Los Angeles to London, from New York to the Netherlands, racking up over 1.5 million streams on digital music platforms. This powerhouse vocalist, intrepid songwriter, and shame-slaying drag queen serves up a therapeutic, theatrical experience that is fearless, flamboyant, and full of heart.

Links from the Show:

• Flamy on TikTok
• Flamy on IG
• Flamy on FB
• Flamy on Threads
• Flamy on YouTube
• Flamy on BlueSky
• Join Mama Dragons today

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. 

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What does it mean as a queer person to love a place deeply when that place has so often tried to make queer people disappear? Today In the Den, Sara visits with author, activist, and former Idaho legislator Cole LeFavour to talk about their powerful new memoir In the Arms of Mountains: A Story of Land, Love, and Queer Resistance in Red America. In 2004, Cole made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the Idaho Legislature, serving four terms as an Idaho State Senator and leading multiple acts of civil disobedience in the State Capitol. In addition to their being a legislator and activist, Cole has also been a long-time writer and an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in publications including The North American Review, Idaho Wilderness Considered, and Sawtooth-White Cloud. They write from deep in Idaho about conscience, wildness, belonging, and what it means to build a life rooted in both place and resistance. Part memoir, part love letter to Idaho’s wild places, and part testimony of queer resistance, Cole LeFavour’s story explores what it means to be shaped by a place that doesn’t always know how to love you back. 

Special Guest: Cole LeFavour

Cole Nicole LeFavour writes about conscience and the wild from deep in Idaho. An activist, award-winning journalist and writer Cole’s stories and essays have appeared in The North American Review, Idaho Wilderness Considered, Sawtooth-White Cloud, among others. In 2004, LeFavour became the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the Idaho Legislature, elected four times, serving as an Idaho State Senator and leading multiple acts of civil disobedience in the State Capitol. Cole's book, IN THE ARMS OF MOUNTAINS: A STORY OF LAND, LOVE, AND QUEER RESISTANCE IN RED AMERICA was published by Beacon Press in May. 

Links from the Show: 

• Find Cole’s Book In the Arms of Mountains here
• Cole on FB
• Cole on IG
• Join Mama Dragons today

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. 

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Today’s In the Den episode is a rerun and one that cuts right to the heart of our Mama Dragons mission — we’re diving into the truth that parenting is political. Whether we like it or not, the choices we make as parents, how we show up for our kids, what we teach them, how we advocate for them, all ripple out into the world around us. When you’re parenting queer kids, those ripples can have a far reach and significant impact. Sara talks with special guest Jasmine Banks about the importance of nurturing a community committed to collective growth and support, because raising children is to actively participate in societal change, and the way we parent today directly influences the world our children will inherit tomorrow. 

Special Guest: Jasmine Banks

Jasmine Banks (she/her) has more than 10 years of progressive advocacy, movement building, and organizing experience. She spent the last five years dedicated to leading an intervention campaign, UnKoch My Campus, addressing the impact of far-right billionaires leveraging their philanthropic donations in higher education to erode democracy. During the campaigns she organized multiple campuses, coalitions, and provided movement support to hundreds of students, educators, and community activists. Jasmine has traveled to a number of higher ed institutions to speak with students and faculty about donor transparency and academic freedom. She was most recently honored to give a keynote for the Higher Education division of the American Federation of Teachers. Jasmine is also a former licensed therapist, Chief Marketing Officer, and small business owner.

Links from the Show:

• Generation Common Good: https://generationcommongood.org/ 
• Parenting Is Political podcast: https://www.parentingispolitical.org/episodes 
• Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org 

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. 

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Content Warning: this episode contains frank discussions of self-harm and suicidality.

This episode is a rerun and an increasingly important topic for today’s environment. At Mama Dragons we know the value of shame-free spaces where parents of LGBTQ+ kids can explore, learn, and grow. Building families and communities rooted in genuine support is an important part of creating healthy futures for our queer children. Today In the Den, Sara visits with creator, author, and speaker Heather Hester about parenting LGBTQ+ children, unlearning the biases of our past, and learning to embrace, empower, and love our queer kids more fully. 

Special Guest: Heather Hester 

Heather Hester is the creator and host of the podcast More Human. More Kind., founder of Chrysalis Mama, and author of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen. She is a speaker, writer, and fierce advocate helping parents, allies, and organizations move from confusion and fear to compassion and courageous action. 

When her son came out as gay in 2017, it ignited a journey of unlearning, deep personal growth, and radical love. She quickly realized the need for more supportive, shame-free spaces for parents of LGBTQ+ kids and those seeking to become better allies. What began as a content-rich website and podcast has grown into a platform offering inclusive coaching, LGBTQ+ and Human-First consulting, and storytelling-driven workshops and talks.

Heather is married to the funniest guy she’s ever known and mom to their four extraordinary kids (two of whom are LGBTQ), and one super sassy mini Bernedoodle. She’s a weather nerd, a lover of indie bookstores and coffee shops, and a yogi who believes in the magic of connection and that belonging isn’t just a feeling—it’s a practice.

Links from the Show:

• Heather’s Podcast, More Human, More Kind: https://www.morehumanmorekind.com/ 
• Heather’s book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/parenting-with-pride-unlearn-bias-and-embrace-empower-and-love-your-lgbtq-teen-heather-hester/f658509f6a467cac?ean=9781641709125&next=t 
• Chrysalis Mama on FB: https://www.facebook.com/chrysalismama 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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At the end of May, the Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission sent a letter to their mayor asking the city to declare a civil state of emergency in response to the growing number of transgender people and their families fleeing states with escalating anti-trans laws. Families are leaving homes, schools, jobs, churches, and entire support systems behind because remaining where they are no longer feels safe. A study from the Movement Advancement Project and the University of Chicago found that at least 400,000 transgender and gender nonconforming people have moved to another state since November 2024 because of anti-LGBTQ laws or political conditions. For years, many parents of trans kids have been sounding the alarm — telling stories of banned healthcare, hostile school policies, criminalization, fear, isolation, and the exhausting reality of fighting for your child’s right to exist openly and safely. What once felt unthinkable is now shaping where families can live, where children can go to school, and whether parents feel they can protect their kids at all. Today In the Den we talk about what it means when LGBTQ+ people become refugees within their own country. What happens to families forced to relocate in search of safety? What responsibilities do affirming cities and states have to those arriving in crisis? And what does it mean for the rest of us witnessing this moment unfold in real time?

Special Guest: Chris Curia

Chris Curia is Co-Chair of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, an advisory board that provides guidance and recommendations to City leaders on issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities. Additionally, Chris supervises Crisis Care Responder teams as part of Seattle’s Community Assisted Response & Engagement (CARE) Department, the City’s third branch of public safety that delivers alternative first response to 911 calls with a mental health nexus. Chris brings years of clinical training and experience as a licensed mental health counselor to these roles, along with a passion for exploring innovative opportunities to prioritize mental healthcare equity and community-centered care for all Seattleites.

Special Guest: Jessa Davis

Jessa Davis (she/her) is Co-Chair of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission and Chair of its Community Outreach & Social Media Committee. She also serves as Board Secretary for Queer Power Alliance (QPA), where she chairs the Advocacy Committee, and as Board Secretary for Whole Washington. In these roles, she helps align community-driven advocacy with broader structural change efforts including in her work as Executive Director of the Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-Monogamy (OPEN), which is a role she recently took on after founding and leading the Seattle Coalition for Family & Relationship Equity (SCFRE).

Links from the Show:

• Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission 
• Jessa’s IG
• Jessa’s Website
• Study from Movement Advancement Project
• Join Mama Dragons

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. 

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The moment your child says something that changes the story you thought you were living, time can seem to split in two. There’s the before — the assumptions, expectations, and dreams you carefully built — and then there’s the after, where love, fear, confusion, grief, joy, protectiveness, and possibility all arrive at once. For many parents of trans kids, that moment can feel overwhelming, not because they love their child any less, but because they suddenly realize they’re stepping into unfamiliar territory without a map. Today, we’re joined by Rebecca Minor, therapist, educator, coach, and author of the new book Raising Trans Kids: What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting This. Sara and Rebecca talk about the emotional journey many parents experience when their child comes out as trans, the myths and misinformation families are navigating right now, and how parents can move from panic and uncertainty toward connection, confidence, and advocacy.

Special Guest: Rebecca Minor

Rebecca Minor, LICSW (she/they), is an internationally recognized gender specialist, therapist, educator, and author of the book Raising Trans Kids: What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting This (Row House, Sept 2025). As a gender specialist, Rebecca partners with trans and gender nonconforming youth through their journey of becoming and serves as a guide to their parents in affirming it. With over 10,000 hours of experience working with trans and gender-expansive youth and their families, she’s helped parents move beyond fear and uncertainty to become confident, affirming advocates for their children. She is the founder of Prism Therapy Collective and serves as adjunct faculty at Boston University’s School of Social Work. Rebecca has been featured in The New York Times, Parents, The Bump, Health Magazine, Them, and The Trevor Project docuseries. 

Links from the Show: 

• Rebecca’s website
• Buy Rebecca’s Book Raising Trans Kids
• Rebecca’s Blog 
• Join Mama Dragons today

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. 

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In conjunction with our recent episode on Canyon County Pride, we’re resharing this past episode with drag queen Cookie Pusss. Drag queens are living proof that courage can come in sequins, heels, and unapologetic self-expression. They show us every day that bravery isn’t just about facing danger—it’s about showing up fully as yourself, even when the world might not be ready for it, and that sometimes courage looks like meeting hate with humor, compassion, and a touch of glitter. Today In the Den Sara sits down with the one and only Cookie Pusss, whose video of her powerful and surprisingly tender exchange with an anti-LGBTQ Christian protester outside the Canyon County Pride Festival went viral earlier this year. What could have been just another confrontation turned into a moment of connection, curiosity, and radical grace that captured the Internet’s attention. 

Special Guest: JD Hawley

JD Hawley, aka Cookie Pusss, is a performer and producer living in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is known for campy, irreverent drag and connecting with audiences on a more personal level. JD grew up in Arco, Idaho, and has been performing across the Pacific Northwest for over 5 years. His favorite topping of pizza is mushrooms. 

Links From the Show: 

• Find Cookie Pusss on IG: https://www.instagram.com/cookie.pusss?igsh=N2hpN2VycDc3ZmY= 
• Find Cookie Pusss on TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@cookiepussss?_r=1&_t=ZT-91ZKl9xCUJC 
• Watch the viral Pride interaction here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKqMrrlyYIM/?igsh=MTlhdDF2OXR4YXRobg== 
• Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org 

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. 

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