Have you ever heard someone say LGBTQ+ kids struggle with mental health because of who they are?
In this urgent episode, Heather Hester dismantles one of the most dangerous myths surrounding LGBTQ+ youth: that their mental health struggles are inherent. With clarity and compassion, she explores the real causes like rejection, stigma, and lack of affirming care, and shares what parents, allies, and advocates can do to protect the lives and dignity of LGBTQ+ youth today.
- Learn why identity isn’t the problem, rejection is, and how that impacts LGBTQ+ mental health
- Discover the daily actions parents and allies can take to become affirming, life-saving supports
- Understand how simple shifts in language, access, and community can protect youth from isolation, depression, and despair
Press play to unlearn the harmful myths and learn how to be the advocate your LGBTQ+ loved one needs. Affirmation isn’t a luxury, it’s protection.
Resource Spotlight:
- The Trevor Project — 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ young people. thetrevorproject.org
- Trans Lifeline — Peer support hotline run by and for trans people: 877-565-8860.
- GLMA (Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality) — Directory to find LGBTQ+-affirming healthcare providers: glma.org
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) — Mental health resources, education, and support groups: nami.org
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
Become a private client
Attend Friday Reflection LIVE on Substack - guided journaling and Q&A
Invite me to speak at your workshop or event
Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride.
Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Connect heather@heatherhester.net
Watch on YouTube
Influence the Parenting with Pride companion journal content. Survey here.
Find out what kind of ally you are!
Listen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!
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,...
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.