Episode Details

Is your LGBTQ teen heading to college and you’re wondering how to support them without smothering their independence?

The transition to college is a huge milestone. For LGBTQ students, it can bring both liberation and new layers of fear, risk, and identity exploration. This episode offers the tools and guidance parents and allies need to empower their teen while staying emotionally connected.

• Help your LGBTQ+ teen prepare for affirming housing, healthcare, and mental health resources
• Learn how to support their safety and autonomy with practical strategies
• Discover how to stay lovingly connected without hovering and build trust in a new phase of parenting

Press play to learn how courage, communication, and allyship can transform your LGBTQ teen’s college experience for both of you.

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

Resource: Campus Pride Index

Why it matters: A searchable database of U.S. colleges rated on their LGBTQ+ friendliness, including housing, policies, and student life. Perfect for researching before and after enrollment.

Other helpful resources:

• OutCare Health – LGBTQ-affirming health providers nationwide
• Trevor Project’s Coming Out Guide for College
• Trans Lifeline – Especially helpful for students navigating gender identity support
• The Jed Foundation – Mental health resources tailored for college students

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 grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, me