Are you afraid of “getting it wrong” when it comes to supporting your LGBTQ+ child or navigating today’s climate as an ally? You're not alone.

In this tender and truth-telling episode, Heather explores the quiet fears that often go unspoken in LGBTQ+ families: the parent’s fear of the unknown, the child’s fear of rejection, and the shared fear of being misunderstood. But instead of pushing fear away, she shows us how to make space for it and how that space can become a bridge toward safety, courage, and connection.

• Learn how to recognize and name fear as a tool for deeper connection with your LGBTQ+ child
• Discover simple, powerful tools like the VAST method and mirror conversations to strengthen trust and communication
• Find clarity and calm through actionable steps like grounding together, journaling, and using fear as guidance instead of a block

Hit play to explore how you can turn fear into fuel—and become the brave, compassionate ally your LGBTQ+ child needs most right now.

Recommended resources this week:

• PFLAG (https://pflag.org) — for support groups and educational tools, especially helpful for parents navigating early fear or confusion
• Trevor Project 2024 National Survey — link — excellent data on LGBTQ+ youth mental health and what helps most
• Gender Spectrum’s Parenting Resources — link — great for framing safe conversations and addressing fear with understanding

And of course, my book Parenting with Pride includes tools for navigating tough emotions—including fear—through the lens of love and allyship.

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

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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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