In The Den with Mama Dragons

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Jen meets with veteran LGBTQ researcher Dr. Caitlin Ryan to talk about how family responses can directly impact the health and wellbeing of their LGBTQ family member. Dr. Ryan talks about her decades-long research on behaviors that occur within families when an LGBTQ person comes out and how those behaviors directly impact their self-worth, hopefulness, risk behaviors, health, and self-care. Dr. Ryan discusses the importance of connectedness and gives tips for families whose child has recently come out. Don’t miss this important conversation about family acceptance and the potential to impact the health and wellbeing of their LGBTQ loved one.

Guest: Caitlin Ryan

Caitlin Ryan is the director of the Family Acceptance Project® — a research, education, intervention and policy project – to help ethnically, racially and religiously diverse families to support their LGBTQ children. Dr. Ryan is a clinical social worker, researcher and educator who has worked on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) health and mental health for more than 40 years and whose work on LGBTQ health has shaped policy and practice for LGBTQ and gender diverse children and youth. She received her clinical training with children and adolescents at Smith College School for Social Work. Dr. Ryan started the Family Acceptance Project with Dr. Rafael Diaz in 2002 to help diverse families to decrease rejection and prevent related health risks for their LGBT children — including suicide, drug use, homelessness and HIV - and to promote family acceptance and positive outcomes including permanency. Dr. Ryan works with organizations, faith communities, families and providers to integrate FAP’s family-based support approach to build healthy futures for children, youth and young adults.

Links From the Show:

• Learn more about The Family Acceptance Project: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/
• Donate to The Family Acceptance Project: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/donate 
• LGBTQ Youth and Family Resources: https://lgbtqfamilyacceptance.org/?fbclid=IwAR0VOSv6VY0mBSz04mfSvN2vxQvoWIWLEfGBasRVGOiWwFid8aXqx_dQEe8 
• Find LGBTQ Resources Near You: https://trainings-theinstitutecf.umaryland.edu/lgbtqfamily/map.cfm 
• LGBTQ Crisis Lines: https://lgbtqfamilyacceptance.org/crisis-lines/ 
• Faith-Based LGBTQ Resources: https://lgbtqfamilyacceptance.org/faith-based-resources/ 
• Culture-Based LGBTQ Resources: https://lgbtqfamilyacceptance.org/culture-based-resources/ 

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Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. 

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Join Jen and guest Neca Allgood in this inaugural episode of In the Den as they talk about what to do when your child first comes out to you. They’ll discuss common mistakes and how to avoid them. They’ll also cover what to do when you don’t get things right the first time.  It’s an important conversation for parents with LGBTQ children of any age. 

Special Guest: Neca Allgood

Neca Allgood is the mother of a transgender son. She is a former President of Mama Dragons, a current Mama Dragons board member, and a former board member of Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, families, and friends. Neca and her husband own a small engineering consulting company. She has a PhD in Molecular Biology. 

Links From the Show:

• Comprehensive, inclusive, shame-free sex ed can be found at Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/for-educators

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you.

Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. You can also add “Mama Dragons” as your charity of choice on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App.

If you have a short story, feedback, or any comments we would love to hear from you at 562-344-5010.

Support the show

Connect with Mama Dragons:
Website
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Facebook

Donate to this podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Have you heard of Mama Dragons? Are you curious who we are? And why in the world we're adding yet another podcast to the podcasting world? Join us in the den and we'll get you all caught up so you can save yourself a comfy seat on the sofa for our upcoming episodes!

Support the show

Connect with Mama Dragons:
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Donate to this podcast