How to Support Your LGBTQ Child Without Saying the Wrong Thing with Heather Hester
Supporting your LGBTQ child can feel terrifying—not because you don’t love them, but because you do, and you’re afraid of messing it up.
So many moms tell me the same thing: they want to be supportive, but they feel frozen. What if they say the wrong thing? What if they accidentally hurt their child? What if their child thinks they don’t truly accept them?
If that’s you, this episode is here to help.
In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Heather Hester, host of the podcast More Human, More Kind and author of Parenting with Pride. Heather helps parents move from fear into informed love—with clarity, compassion, and courage. Together, we talk about how to show up for your child even when you’re scared, without needing perfect words or performative allyship.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
The biggest fear that keeps supportive parents silent and why worrying about “saying the wrong thing” doesn’t mean you’re failing your child.
The difference between being a supportive ally and a performative one, and how to show up in ways that actually feel authentic to you.
Three mindset shifts that help you support your LGBTQ child with confidence:
Embracing being messy and imperfect
Understanding that it’s not your child’s job to teach you—it’s your responsibility to learn
Believing your child when they tell you who they are
What to say when you don’t know what to say, including simple language you can return to when fear takes over.
How fear shows up in your body and why recognizing your stress response helps you choose connection instead of panic.
Why This Episode Matters
Your child doesn’t need you to be perfect.
They need you to be present. They need you to be willing. And they need you to keep coming back—even when you stumble.
This episode is about letting go of the pressure to “get it right” and replacing it with something more powerful: connection, repair, and courage.
Resources Mentioned
Heather's podcast More Human, More Kind
Parenting with Pride by Heather Hester
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