#188 | Five (5) Ways to Support LGBTQ Teens During Back-to-School Season—Without Overstepping

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

Is your LGBTQ teen heading back to high school, but quietly bracing for judgment, isolation, or burnout?

For LGBTQ+ teens, high school is often a complex dance between self-expression and self-protection. This episode explores how parents and allies can become the steady, empowering force teens need during this crucial time without trying to control their journey.

• Discover practical ways to support your teen emotionally at home and at school
• Learn how to communicate with teachers and advocate for safer, more inclusive environments
• Help your teen access affirming community, resources, and mental health tools on their terms

Press play to learn how your support, presence, and courage can make this school year safer, kinder, and more empowering for your LGBTQ teen.

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

Resource: Q Chat Space

Why it matters: A live-chat-based support platform where LGBTQ+ teens can join professionally facilitated, identity-affirming online groups - no video, no pressure, just connection.

More resources:

• TrevorSpace – Global community for LGBTQ+ youth aged 13–24
• It Gets Better Project – Stories, inspiration, and resources
• GLSEN’s GSA Resources – Tools to start or grow a school-based LGBTQ+ student alliance
• The Gender Cool Project – Positive stories about trans and nonbinary youth

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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