As we gear up for the launch of Season 20 this September, we're sharing some favorite past episodes that continue to resonate—because queer family-building is never just a one-time story.

Originally aired in Season 14, this episode features Emme Reynolds, a transgender parent of two in a newly blended family. Emme brings honesty, vulnerability, and wisdom to the conversation as she shares her personal journey of self-discovery, transition, and parenting.

In a world that often misunderstands or oversimplifies gender identity, Emme reminds us that transitioning isn’t a moment—it’s a lifelong process. She opens up about the challenges of navigating transition while parenting, the importance of family support, and the power of visibility in today’s political climate.

🏳️‍🌈 Key Takeaways

• The ongoing nature of gender transition
• Parenting through transition in a blended family
• How open communication helps build understanding
• The importance of trans visibility in parenting spaces
• How to foster support within and outside the LGBTQIA+ community
• The realities of parenting as a trans person in today’s climate

Emme encourages us all to listen with empathy, speak with honesty, and keep telling our beautifully complicated stories.

🏳️‍🌈 Interested in advertising? Check out our sponsor packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

🏳️‍🌈 Book with GWK's Spring Break Cruise Vacation! Join Jaimie and her family (and other LGBTQIA+ families) on a 3 night cruise in the Bahamas. Be sure to mention that you heard about it here! Click that link ➡️ https://travelbrilliant.net/mbg/gwk-spring-break-2026/

🎧 Loved this episode?

Support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and help keep these stories alive!

OR become a paid subscriber through our RedCircle page for bonus episodes and one-time or recurring donations:

🔗 redcircle.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/exclusive-content

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

Drop a comment, DM us, or email [email protected]—we love hearing your stories!

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s Connect!

Find us on IG, TikTok, Bluesky, & YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast 🏳️‍🌈 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🏳️‍🌈 Order the If These Ovaries Could Talk book 

🏳️‍🌈 Edited by: Jerson Barajas 🏳️‍🌈 Theme Song by: Tiffany Topol 🏳️‍🌈 Logo by: Daneen Stevenato 🏳️‍🌈 Shop merch here. 🏳️‍🌈 Full transcript & episode info available on our website

🗳️ VOTE. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ADVOCATE. 🍼 BUILD QUEER FAMILIES.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!

While we gear up for Season 20 (September 1st!), I’m sharing something special — an episode swap with the fabulous podcast Cruising. They’re featuring one of my episodes on their feed, and I’m thrilled to bring one of theirs to you. This one’s a beautiful slice of queer history, love, and resilience.

Juanita Pierre and Leslie Martinez opened New Orleans' first Black-owned lesbian bar, Les Pierres, on the corner of Pauger St and N. Rampart St. No one can quite remember the exact date Les Pierres opened, but based on some other stories and dates, we can guess it would have been around 1980. By 1990, they had closed, but their legacy remains. In this episode, Juanita--alongside family and friends--shares memories of the bar, her love story with Leslie, and what it was like raising children as a same-sex couple in the Deep South in the 70s and 80s.

This episode features interviews with Teryl Lynn Foxx, Juanita Pierre, Mike Pierre, and Emelda Sterling.

Subscribe to Cruising on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you listen.

🎉 BONUS REPLAY: Flipping the Script on Foster Adoption

As we gear up for the launch of Season 20 this September (!!!), I’m revisiting some of my favorite episodes from past seasons. These stories continue to resonate, inspire, and remind us why queer family visibility matters—every single day.

Originally aired in Season 13, this heartfelt and eye-opening episode features Ed Center, a husband, father, and educator who shares his family's journey through foster adoption with humor, grace, and deep honesty.

Ed and his husband—both Filipino men—broke stereotypes by adopting two white children, and their story takes a powerful turn during the pandemic, when their eldest child faced a serious mental health challenge. This moment pushed Ed to reevaluate his parenting approach, leading him toward more inclusive, conscious caregiving practices.

Out of that journey came a mission: Ed founded Village Well Parenting, an initiative dedicated to equipping other parents—especially those in queer, adoptive, and multicultural families—with tools to raise strong, supported, emotionally resilient kids.

In this episode, we explore:

• The unique layers of transracial queer adoption
• Navigating mental health crises as a parent
• What it means to unlearn and relearn parenting practices
• Creating inclusive spaces for adopted children of color
• Building intentional, mindful, queer-led families

🏳️‍🌈 About the Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈

Ed Center was a kid with big feelings and challenging behaviors. He drove his parents and teachers bonkers. Now he helps grown-ups understand and support these kids. Ed founded The Village Well, an organization that helps parents and educators find more calm, joy, and connection. Ed is Triple P™ certified parenting coach and educator who specializes in working with families of color. His goal is to help people to tap into cultural wisdom while interrupting intergenerational pain. Ed is a queer brown dad who has worked in education for 30 years. He and his husband built their family through foster adoption. The child of a Filipino American mom and White American dad, Ed grew up in Hawai’i, and feels at home there, in the Philippines, in San Francisco, and wherever he smells good barbecue.

🏳️‍🌈 Book with GWK's Spring Break Cruise Vacation! Join Jaimie and her family (and other LGBTQIA+ families) on a 3 night cruise in the Bahamas. Be sure to mention that you heard about it here! Click that link ➡️ https://travelbrilliant.net/mbg/gwk-spring-break-2026/

🏳️‍🌈 Interested in advertising? Check out our sponsor packages ⁠⁠⁠here

🎧 Loved this episode?

Support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and help keep these stories alive!

OR become a paid subscriber through our RedCircle page for bonus episodes and one-time or recurring donations:

🔗 redcircle.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/exclusive-content

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

Drop a comment, DM us, or email [email protected]—we love hearing your stories!

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s Connect!

Find us on IG, TikTok, Bluesky, & YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast 🏳️‍🌈 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🏳️‍🌈 Order the If These Ovaries Could Talk book 

🏳️‍🌈 Edited by: Jerson Barajas 🏳️‍🌈 Theme Song by: Tiffany Topol 🏳️‍🌈 Logo by: Daneen Stevenato 🏳️‍🌈 Shop merch here. 🏳️‍🌈 Full transcript & episode info available on our website

🗳️ VOTE. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ADVOCATE. 🍼 BUILD QUEER FAMILIES.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!

🎉 BONUS EPISODE DROP! 🎉

As I get ready to launch Season 20 of The Queer Family Podcast this September(!), I’m sharing a few guest appearances that I think deserve a spot in this feed. This week, I joined Dr. Kelsey Duncan on The Fertility Confidence Podcast to talk candidly about queer fertility, intentional parenthood, donor selection, and the legal complexities that queer families face. If you're navigating the path to parenthood—or supporting someone who is—this one's for you.

Fertility, Donor Sperm, and Queer Parenthood with Jaimie Kelton

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, Jaimie Kelton—host of The Queer Family Podcast—joins Dr. Kelsey Duncan to share her personal journey through unexplained infertility and the many layers of queer family building.

Together, they explore:

• How Jaimie and her wife navigated donor sperm selection (and why she calls it the “search for the superhuman”)
• The emotional and financial realities of fertility treatment as a queer couple
• The importance of telling your kids the truth about their origin stories from the start
• What straight couples can learn from queer family-building journeys
• Legal hurdles many LGBTQIA+ families face—including second-parent adoption
• Why representation, community, and candid conversations are essential to this process

This episode is a deep, honest look at what it really takes to build a family when the world hasn’t designed a straightforward path for you—and how beauty can still be found in the twists and turns.

🏳️‍🌈 Interested in advertising? Check out our sponsor packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

🏳️‍🌈 Book with GWK's Spring Break Cruise Vacation! Join Jaimie and her family (and other LGBTQIA+ families) on a 3 night cruise in the Bahamas. Be sure to mention that you heard about it here! Click that link ➡️ https://travelbrilliant.net/mbg/gwk-spring-break-2026/

🎧 Loved this episode?

Support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and help keep these stories alive!

OR become a paid subscriber through our RedCircle page for bonus episodes and one-time or recurring donations:

🔗 redcircle.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/exclusive-content

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

Drop a comment, DM us, or email [email protected]—we love hearing your stories!

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s Connect!

Find us on IG, TikTok, Bluesky, & YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast 🏳️‍🌈 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🏳️‍🌈 Order the If These Ovaries Could Talk book 

🗳️ VOTE. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ADVOCATE. 🍼 BUILD QUEER FAMILIES.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!

🎉 Bonus Episode Drop! 🎉

While we gear up for Season 20 of The Queer Family Podcast, we're sharing this powerful conversation Jaimie had as a guest on the No Guilt Mom podcast! We talked all things queer family building, parenting with purpose, standing up (loudly) for what’s right—and yes, even voiceover work and musical theater. Enjoy this bonus episode while you wait for what's coming next!

Upstanders vs. Bystanders: Embracing Allyship for LGBTQ Families Everywhere with Jaimie Kelton

What do you get when you mix voiceover talent, musical theatre chops, and two kids made with a lot of love (and even more paperwork)? You get Jaimie Kelton—host of the LGBTQ family podcast The Queer Family Podcast and all-around awesome human.

In this episode, we dive into allyship that actually shows up, why inclusivity isn’t optional (especially in parenting), and how representation helps us all raise better humans. Oh—and did we mention the cupcakes at school board protests? Yeah, that happened. Also, Jaimie literally brought her sperm donor out of retirement. No big deal.

If you've ever wondered how to be a better ally—or just want to hear real talk with a lot of heart and a few giggles—this one’s for you. 💖🏳️‍🌈

🏳️‍🌈 Interested in advertising? Check out our sponsor packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

🏳️‍🌈 Book with GWK's Spring Break Cruise Vacation! Join Jaimie and her family (and other LGBTQIA+ families) on a 3 night cruise in the Bahamas. Be sure to mention that you heard about it here! Click that link ➡️ https://travelbrilliant.net/mbg/gwk-spring-break-2026/

🎧 Loved this episode?

Support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and help keep these stories alive!

OR become a paid subscriber through our RedCircle page for bonus episodes and one-time or recurring donations:

🔗 redcircle.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/exclusive-content

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

Drop a comment, DM us, or email [email protected]—we love hearing your stories!

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s Connect!

Find us on IG, TikTok, Bluesky, & YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast 🏳️‍🌈 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🏳️‍🌈 Order the If These Ovaries Could Talk book 

🏳️‍🌈 Edited by: Jerson Barajas 🏳️‍🌈 Theme Song by: Tiffany Topol 🏳️‍🌈 Logo by: Daneen Stevenato 🏳️‍🌈 Shop merch here. 🏳️‍🌈 Full transcript & episode info available on our website

🗳️ VOTE. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ADVOCATE. 🍼 BUILD QUEER FAMILIES.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!

🎉 Bonus Episode Drop! 🎉

While Jaimie gears up for Season 20 of The Queer Family Podcast—launching this August!—she's sharing this bonus episode from her recent guest appearance on the No One Told Us podcast. It’s a beautiful conversation about queer parenting, representation, and the honest, hilarious chaos of raising kids while gay. Enjoy this sneak peek into what’s to come next season!

Episode 92: Celebrating Queer Families & Normalizing Representation with Jaimie from the Queer Family Podcast

In this episode Rachael welcomes Jaimie, the creator of the Queer Family Podcast, for a vibrant and heartfelt conversation about what it really means to parent within the LGBTQIA+ community. From being both a bio and non-bio mom to navigating public perception and household dynamics, Jaimie brings her signature humor and honesty to this vital conversation about visibility, inclusivity, and the beautiful messiness of parenthood. Whether you're part of a queer family or simply want to raise your children in a more inclusive world, this episode offers perspective, laughter, and practical tips for celebrating every kind of family.

Inside this episode:

• The unique joys and challenges queer families face

• How to bond with your child as a non-bio parent

• The power of humor in parenting and tackling tough topics

• Why curiosity in kids about family structures should be welcomed, not feared

• How household responsibilities can be shared based on strengths—not stereotypes

• Why representation for LGBTQIA+ families matters deeply

• The role of inclusive books in early childhood

• Normalizing queer family dynamics in everyday life

• Postpartum reflections from the non-birthing parent

• The beauty and complexity of queer love, parenting, and visibility

• Plus SO much more!

🏳️‍🌈 Interested in advertising? Check out our sponsor packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

🏳️‍🌈 Book with GWK's Spring Break Cruise Vacation! Join Jaimie and her family (and other LGBTQIA+ families) on a 3 night cruise in the Bahamas. Be sure to mention that you heard about it here! Click that link ➡️ https://travelbrilliant.net/mbg/gwk-spring-break-2026/

🎧 Loved this episode?

Support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and help keep these stories alive!

OR become a paid subscriber through our RedCircle page for bonus episodes and one-time or recurring donations:

🔗 redcircle.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/exclusive-content

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

Drop a comment, DM us, or email [email protected]—we love hearing your stories!

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s Connect!

Find us on IG, TikTok, Bluesky, & YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast 🏳️‍🌈 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🏳️‍🌈 Order the If These Ovaries Could Talk book 

🏳️‍🌈 Edited by: Jerson Barajas 🏳️‍🌈 Theme Song by: Tiffany Topol 🏳️‍🌈 Logo by: Daneen Stevenato 🏳️‍🌈 Shop merch here. 🏳️‍🌈 Full transcript & episode info available on our website

🗳️ VOTE. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ADVOCATE. 🍼 BUILD QUEER FAMILIES.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!

Haven and Koy's journey to parenthood included IVF, IUIs, anonymous and known donors, multiple moves, and ultimately foster care—where they met and adopted their 6-year-old son, River. In this final episode of our Pride Extravaganza, they open up to our host, Jaimie Kelton, about what it’s really like navigating foster-to-adopt as queer parents, how loss and resilience shaped their parenting journey, and how all of it inspired a new film.

Oh—and did we mention River is the star of that film?

This episode is loud, joyful, chaotic, and beautifully honest—just like queer family life.

🎙️ “Each child has their own story, and I don’t own them—I’m just a steward of this being in this particular form.” - Haven

🏳️‍🌈 Thanks to our sponsor California Cryobank!

Thinking of growing your queer family? Use code QUEERFAM25 at cryobank.com for a FREE Level 2 subscription to their donor catalog!

🏳️‍🌈 Interested in advertising? Check out our sponsor packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

🏳️‍🌈 Book with GWK's Spring Break Cruise Vacation! Join Jaimie and her family (and other LGBTQIA+ families) on a 3 night cruise in the Bahamas. Be sure to mention that you heard about it here! Click that link ➡️ https://travelbrilliant.net/mbg/gwk-spring-break-2026/

🎧 Loved this episode?

Support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and help keep these stories alive!

OR become a paid subscriber through our RedCircle page for bonus episodes and one-time or recurring donations:

🔗 redcircle.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/exclusive-content

🏳️‍🌈 Key Takeaways

• Queer family building isn’t linear. Haven and Koy tried it all—IVF, IUI, anonymous and known donors—before ultimately becoming parents through foster-to-adopt.
• Loss and resilience go hand in hand. Their journey included fertility struggles and miscarriage, but they remained open to the many ways a family can form.
• Foster care is complex—and emotional. They share what it’s really like to foster with the hope of adopting, and how they advocated fiercely to keep their son, River, in their home.
• Chosen family is real (and loud). River’s extended family includes his birth relatives and his very queer, very loving forever parents—and yes, sometimes a dog or cat impression.
• Art imitates life. Koy turned their family’s experience into a powerful new film, Getting Back, exploring grief, healing, and the magic of imagination—with River in the starring role.
• 
  

🏳️‍🌈 About the Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈

Haven and Koy are partners, parents, and creatives raising their son, River, in Oregon. Haven is an attorney and actor-turned-filmmaker, and Koy is a musician and comedian with a flair for the unexpected (she once had three personas on stage at once—ask her about it). Together, they’ve navigated the complex and emotional terrain of queer family building—from IVF and known donor insemination to the foster care system and adoption.

Their lived experience inspired Haven’s latest film, Getting Back, starring none other than River himself. The film is a meditation on grief, love, and imagination—everything their family is built on

🏳️‍🌈 Resources Mentioned

• Getting Back Movie Trailer - https://youtu.be/NvFmif_k8fE?feature=shared
• Website: riverwildfilms.com
• Instagram - @gettingbackfilm

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

Drop a comment, DM us, or email [email protected]—we love hearing your stories!

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s Connect!

Find us on IG, TikTok, Bluesky, & YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast 🏳️‍🌈 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🏳️‍🌈 Order the If These Ovaries Could Talk book 

🏳️‍🌈 Edited by: Jerson Barajas 🏳️‍🌈 Theme Song by: Tiffany Topol 🏳️‍🌈 Logo by: Daneen Stevenato 🏳️‍🌈 Shop merch here. 🏳️‍🌈 Full transcript & episode info available on our website

🗳️ VOTE. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ADVOCATE. 🍼 BUILD QUEER FAMILIES.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!

Can cis men be lactation consultants? Can trans folks chestfeed? Can someone who had top surgery still make milk? YES, YES, and YES. In this eye-opening Pride Extravaganza episode, Jaimie sits down with Jacob Engelsman, a cisgender queer man, lactation consultant, and author of Lactation for the Rest of Us, a groundbreaking guide designed specifically for queer and trans families. Together, they dive into all the whos, whys, and hows of induced lactation—debunking myths and expanding the conversation around who gets to feed babies with their bodies. Jacob also shares his personal story of love, queerness, and staying connected to his trans husband through their evolving identities.

🎉 NYC Queer Fam! Don’t forget to RSVP to the Pride Family Meet-Up on June 28th at Sugar Mouse!

There’ll be games for the kids, a full bar for the adults, and a Drag Story Hour with Miz Jade! All the info is right here. 🏳️‍🌈

📸 Learn more about discounted photo sessions with Suzanne:

www.suzannefiorephotography.com

Mention The Queer Family Podcast to receive a special offer.

🏳️‍🌈 Thanks to our sponsor California Cryobank!

Thinking of growing your queer family? Use code QUEERFAM25 at cryobank.com for a FREE Level 2 subscription to their donor catalog!

🏳️‍🌈 Interested in advertising? Check out our sponsor packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

🏳️‍🌈 Book with GWK's Spring Break Cruise Vacation! Join Jaimie and her family (and other LGBTQIA+ families) on a 3 night cruise in the Bahamas. Be sure to mention that you heard about it here! Click that link ➡️ https://travelbrilliant.net/mbg/gwk-spring-break-2026/

🎧 Loved this episode?

Support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and help keep these stories alive!

OR become a paid subscriber through our RedCircle page for bonus episodes and one-time or recurring donations:

🔗 redcircle.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/exclusive-content

🏳️‍🌈 Key Takeaways

• Inducing lactation for trans women, trans men, and non-binary folks
• Breastfeeding/chestfeeding after top surgery
• How society sees queer families (before vs. after transition)
• What most people don’t know about lactation
• Jacob’s unique journey from food service to lactation expert
• Staying connected through a partner’s transition
• Queer visibility, medical bias, and access to care
• Becoming a “guncle” and chosen family pride
• The power of scrappy queer problem-solving

🏳️‍🌈 About the Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈

Jacob Engelsman (he/him) is a queer cisgender man, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), educator, and the author of Lactation for the Rest of Us: A Guide for Queer and Trans Parents and Helpers. He specializes in supporting LGBTQIA+ families on their feeding journeys and is committed to making lactation knowledge more inclusive and accessible.

🏳️‍🌈 Resources Mentioned

• 📚 Order the book on Bookshop
• 📱 Instagram: @jacobibclc

🌐 Website: jacobengelsmanibclc.com

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

Drop a comment, DM us, or email [email protected]—we love hearing your stories!

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s Connect!

Find us on IG, TikTok, Bluesky, & YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast 🏳️‍🌈 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🏳️‍🌈 Order the If These Ovaries Could Talk book 

🏳️‍🌈 Edited by: Jerson Barajas 🏳️‍🌈 Theme Song by: Tiffany Topol 🏳️‍🌈 Logo by: Daneen Stevenato 🏳️‍🌈 Shop merch here. 🏳️‍🌈 Full transcript & episode info available on our website

🗳️ VOTE. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ADVOCATE. 🍼 BUILD QUEER FAMILIES.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!

Jaimie and her wife Anne share a heartfelt update on Anne's breast cancer journey, including the challenges of chemotherapy, unexpected back surgery, and the support from their community. They discuss upcoming medical procedures and the emotional toll of their experiences. Photographer Suzanne Fiore joins the conversation to offer discounted sessions for queer families, highlighting the importance of capturing family moments. Listeners are encouraged to celebrate and document their families, emphasizing love and resilience within the LGBTQ+ community.

🎉 NYC Queer Fam! Don’t forget to RSVP to the Pride Family Meet-Up on June 28th at Sugar Mouse!

There’ll be games for the kids, a full bar for the adults, and a Drag Story Hour with Miz Jade! All the info is right here. 🏳️‍🌈

📸 Learn more about discounted photo sessions with Suzanne: www.suzannefiorephotography.com Mention The Queer Family Podcast to receive a special offer.

🏳️‍🌈 Thanks to our sponsor California Cryobank!

Thinking of growing your queer family? Use code QUEERFAM25 at cryobank.com for a FREE Level 2 subscription to their donor catalog!

🏳️‍🌈 Interested in advertising? Check out our sponsor packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Loved this episode?

Support The Queer Family Podcast on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and help keep these stories alive!

OR become a paid subscriber through our RedCircle page for bonus episodes and one-time or recurring donations:

🔗 redcircle.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/exclusive-content

🏳️‍🌈 Key Takeaways

• Anne’s breast cancer diagnosis and treatment
• Coping with chemo, foot drop, and emergency spinal surgery
• Parenting and queer family life through crisis
• The importance of community support
• Pride Month reflections and events
• Why family photos matter more than ever
• Special offer from ally photographer Suzanne Fiore

🏳️‍🌈 About the Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈

Suzanne Fiore: A talented photographer and longtime friend of host Jaimie, Suzanne Fiore is known for her work with families, offering photography sessions that capture the essence and beauty of everyday life. With a focus on inclusivity, Suzanne has aligned her services with the LGBTQ+ community and other communities, offering special discounts to uplift their representation through family portraits. She is based in the NYC tri-state area.

🏳️‍🌈 Resources Mentioned

• www.suzannefiorephotography.com

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

Drop a comment, DM us, or email [email protected]—we love hearing your stories!

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s Connect!

Find us on IG, TikTok, Bluesky, & YouTube: @thequeerfamilypodcast 🏳️‍🌈 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🏳️‍🌈 Order the If These Ovaries Could Talk book 

🏳️‍🌈 Edited by: Jerson Barajas 🏳️‍🌈 Theme Song by: Tiffany Topol 🏳️‍🌈 Logo by: Daneen Stevenato 🏳️‍🌈 Shop merch here. 🏳️‍🌈 Full transcript & episode info available on our website

🗳️ VOTE. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ADVOCATE. 🍼 BUILD QUEER FAMILIES.

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!

Peggy Gillespie returns to The Queer Family Podcast with even more stories, accolades, and queer advocacy badassery.

Peggy Gillespie, co-founder of Family Diversity Projects and creator of Love Makes a Family and Authentic Selves, is back for our Pride Extravaganza—and she has not slowed down. Since her first appearance on the show, Peggy has been honored by Family Equality, hugged by Katie Couric, and danced her way into queer history. In this episode, host Jaimie Kelton sits down with Peggy to hear about the Family Equality Gala, her powerful new exhibits centering trans and nonbinary folks, and her ongoing mission to flood schools, libraries, and public spaces with true representation.

They also unpack why “normal” is a dangerous word, how early childhood bias takes root, and why telling our stories—especially in this political climate—is more vital than ever.

🎙️ “If you want to hate people, go hate the people causing violence and injustice in the world—not the people just trying to live as their authentic selves.” – Peggy Gillespie

🏳️‍🌈 Thanks to our sponsor California Cryobank!

Thinking of growing your queer family? Use code QUEERFAM25 at cryobank.com for a FREE Level 2 subscription to their donor catalog!

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🏳️‍🌈 Key Takeaways

• How a racist moment in her child’s preschool led to a national movement for representation
• The creation and impact of “Love Makes a Family,” “Of Many Colors,” and “Authentic Selves”
• Peggy’s surprise spotlight moment at the Family Equality Gala
• Bringing LGBTQIA+ and multiracial family exhibits to schools and workplaces
• Her dreams for a scripted series based on Family Week in Provincetown

🏳️‍🌈 About the Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈

Peggy Gillespie is the co-founder of Family Diversity Projects and the creator behind groundbreaking exhibits like Love Makes a Family and Authentic Selves. For over 30 years, she’s been amplifying stories of LGBTQIA+, multiracial, and underrepresented families in schools, libraries, and public spaces nationwide. Peggy is a writer, activist, and proud queer mom—and a true force for inclusion.

🏳️‍🌈 Resources Mentioned

• Learn more and support: familydiversityprojects.org

🏳️‍🌈 What resonated most with you?

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The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a trusted professional for your specific situation!