Joe and Rya respond to questions from a listener about the impact on children when parents are LGBTQ+. How does a lack of traditional gender role models affect development? Does having LGBTQ+ parents confuse children's understanding of gender and sexuality?

CW: discussion of suicide

Research sited: https://www.ncfr.org/policy/research-and-policy-briefs/lgbtq-parents-and-their-children

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What's the deal with people making up all these new genders? Is that all just a load of mumbo jumbo that young people have made up? In this episode we look at the five aspects of gender, and how they combine to make you who you are. This is important stuff that applies to everyone.

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In this episode, we look at some facts and figures to help us better understand the LGBTQ+ community and where the numbers show we are trending. Joe and Rya explore where the community has made progress so far, and where there is still a lot of work to be done.

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The first step in communicating total acceptance of your transgender loved one is getting their pronouns right. But why is it so important? Why do our trans friends and relatives react so strongly when someone gets it wrong? Can't they understand that the people around them are trying? Their reactions can be confusing if you've never experienced having people use the wrong pronouns for you. Mel Davis from Rainbow Alliance Advocacy returns to the podcast to help the rest of us understand in simple language why pronouns matter, and how to adjust to they/them and neo-pronouns.

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What have we learned about being gay from the animal kingdom? Sociologists have learned a whole lot about how humans behave. But what happens in the rest of nature? Veterinary researcher, Dr. Pete Gasper looks at what the science says. Current research indicates that sexual orientation is the result of three converging natural causes. Shame should never be a part of the formations of our identities.

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What is it like to be transgender in a small town? What is it like to be the parent of a transgender person in a community where everyone knows you? There's no hiding in a small town. Everyone knows your family, your neighbors, your friends, and everything about you.  Joe and Rya open up about the preconceived notions they harbored about what it would be like in town prior to Rya's transition. They explore the dramatic differences between expectations and reality, as well as a few unexpected surprises.

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Okay, we confess, we didn't create this ultimate guide. The five points of well-being come from Martin Seligman, the famous researcher on the science of happiness. But we live it. And so can you. LGBTQ+ people face unique challenges and complexities in our lives, so having these five points of focus can help us find a deeper sense of peace and positive attitude.

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Being a good ally is about the journey to understanding. This episode looks at what YOU can do to take the initiative. Love leads to listening, listening leads to understanding, and understanding leads to acceptance. Just start with the first step.

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If you've met one trans person, you've met one trans person. Each of us has a different story. In this episode, we discuss the similarities and differences between two trans-feminine people, Rya Jones and Maggie Williams.

This podcast was recorded before a live audience at the PRIDEducation event, sponsored by Rainbow Alliance Advocacy in Appleton, WI on May 21, 2023.

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May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. In honor of IDAHOBIT, we discuss ways to support our LGBTQ+ loved ones. Together, we can break down the stigma and create a safe and respectful community for everyone. ❤️🏳️‍🌈

Go to may17.org to find the illustration we used for this episode's podcast. The illustration is available in many languages. We are grateful to Chilean artist Sofía Miranda Van den Bosch, who created all six illustrations, incorporating feedback from LGBTQIA+ organizations and activists across the world. We thank them for the permission to use these illustrations for social media posts like this podcast.

[image description: Red sky with plants and stars in the background. On the foreground, there are five people with diverse expressions on a globe. The text reads, "Together always: united in diversity." The IDAHOBIT campaign logo is on the bottom right and we added the TranDescendant logo to the upper left.]

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