#168 | "Be Curious, Not Judgmental" – The Parenting Shift That Changes Everything (Courageous Allyship & LGBTQ Guidance)

More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous Ally

Pride Month Series

Are you parenting an LGBTQ child or striving to be a better ally, but worried you’re unintentionally doing more harm than good?

In today’s episode, Heather Hester shares the first of five transformative lessons from her own journey of parenting with pride. As she reflects on her son's coming out, she opens up about the surprising power of choosing curiosity over judgment and why even well-meaning reactions can create distance instead of connection. If you’ve ever wondered how to truly show up for your LGBTQ child, this is a must-listen.

• Discover how curiosity can completely shift your relationship with your child
• Learn how to practice unconditional love through presence, not perfection
• Understand why certain common reactions can feel judgmental, even when you mean well

Press play to learn how embracing curiosity over certainty could be the most powerful gift you give your LGBTQ child today.

You’ll also hear the first installment of our Listener Queer-y segment: Why we celebrate Pride and why there’s no such need for “straight pride.”

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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