EMBRACE • EDUCATE • EMPOWER • LOVE
RESOURCES
I have carefully curated a collection of the best resources available. This list is ever-evolving and growing as new research comes to light, new books are written, and websites are created and new information is available.
Click on each subject area to expand.
RESOURCES
Carefully curated, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Please feel free to share your favorite websites and books here!
2024 ELECTION
This election is like no other in the history of this country. As you look at what and who are on the ballot, it is likely that a plethora of emotions rise (I know it does for me!). No matter where you turn, what you look at, or what you turn on, the election is front and center.
This is election is not about politics or policy. It is about human beings and human rights.
So, what can we do? How can we take the fear and uncertainty we may be feeling and turn it into action? The MOST important action you can take is to VOTE! After that, remember...
If knowledge is power, then knowledge + action = EMPOWERMENT!
I've compiled list of resources that will do just that - EMPOWER YOU! Come back often as I will continue to add to the lists as I learn of new sources and actions.
KNOWLEDGE
Vote.org - Register to vote, check your registration, get an absentee ballot - it's all here.
National LGBTQ Task Force - Queer the Vote
Inequality Media - To inform and engage the public about inequality and imbalance of power.
League of Women Voters - Empowering ALL voters
FactCheck - aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.
BallotPedia - understand the positions and views of the candidates from your local level all the up to the federal level
States United Democracy - advancing free, fair, and secure elections
Project 2025 - Hard to read, important to understand
Agenda 47 - This is Trump's official platform. It is vital to understand what we are fighting.
The 74 - The 74 is a nonprofit news organization covering America’s education system from early childhood through college and career.
ACTION
OutVote.org - grassroots effort to inform and inspire the votes of LGBTQ+ young people
Democrats.org - List of events and ways to take action
KamalaHarris.com - official website - "take action" button with a range of options
TurnOutPac.org - Write postcards to help rally Democrats to vote across the country, from presidential swing states to competitive state legislative districts. Host a postcard writing party with friends!
Emily's List - Help the effort to recruit, train, and support Democratic pro-choice women running for office up and down the ballot.
I Will Vote - Confirm that you are registered to vote and find your polling place. SO IMPORTANT!
Vote Save America - Volunteer to call or knock on doors
WEBSITES - LGBTQ+ SUPPORT & EDUCATION
GENERAL SUPPORT
Born Perfect - Ending Conversion Therapy
Future Perfect Project - Amplifying the Voices of Queer Youth
Helping Families Support Their LGBTQ Children (from SAMSA)
How to Support Bisexual Youth (from Trevor Project)
It Gets Better Project
LGBTQ+ Student Guide
LGBTQ+ Safety
My Kid is Gay
National Council on Family Relations
Our Queerest Shelves - find books written by and for LGBTQ+ people
Point Foundation - scholarships and mentorships for LGBTQ+ secondary education students
PFLAG
Resources for LGBTQ+ High School Students
Tyler Clementi Foundation – Working to End LGBTQ+ Bullying
Safe Places for LGBTQ Young Adults to Connect
EDUCATION
College Guide for LGBTQ Students
Campus Pride - Building safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
Human Rights Campaign – Coming Out
Inclusive Books Middle School and High School
Understanding Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation – a helpful graphic
HEALTH
INTERNATIONAL
WEBSITES - MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Coping Cards - a super cool and effective exercise to do with your family
National Institute of Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Suicide Prevention – To Write Love On Her Arms
The Trevor Project: National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2024
WEBSITES - SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE AWARENESS
WEBSITES - THERAPEUTIC EDUCATION CONSULTANTS
WEBSITES - EDUCATION FOR ALLIES
VIDEOS and MOVIES
PODCASTS
LGBTQ+
I'm Feeling Queer Today (By teens and young adults)
We Can Do Hard Things - Glennon Doyle
MENTAL HEALTH
Not Allowed to Die – Daniel J. Maigler
Brene Brown: Unlocking Us
No Need to Explain with The Mental Health Mamas
PARENTING - GENERAL
Tilt Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids
Smells Like Teen Parent
Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen
POLITICS
ARTICLES
RESOURCES
Winning the Fight Against Conversion Therapy
Why Accepting Your LGBTQ Kid Matters
To the Parent Whose Child Just Came Out
Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Facts for Teens and Their Parents (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Newfound Anxiety and Depression During Pandemic
Talking to Children About Mental Health
Struggles That Can Lead to Addiction
Creating LGBTQIA+ Friendly Communities in Healthcare & Education
Perspective Shift with Colby Martin (author of Unclobber)
The Biblical Case for LGBTQ Inclusion
The Diverse Beauty of Creation
Is it Depression or Are We Languishing?
APPS
RESOURCES
BOOKS
ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
The Teenage Brain by Frances E. Jensen, MD
You and Your Adolescent by Laurence Steinberg
Age of Opportunity by Laurence Steinberg
Fire Child Water Child by Stephen Scott Cowan
The Curse of the Good Girl by Rachel Simmons
Enough As She Is by Rachel Simmons
Boys and Sex by Peggy Orenstein
Girls and Sex by Peggy Orenstein
Fourteen Talk by Age Fourteen by Michelle Icard
MENTAL HEALTH
Adolescent Depression by Francis Mark Mondimore and Patrick Kelly
Is Your Teen Stressed or Depressed? by Drs. Arch Hart and Catherine Hart Weber
Crazy Stressed by Michael J. Bradley
Outgrowing Addiction by Stanton Peele and Zach Rhoads
Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety by John Duffy
Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls by Lisa Damour
Life Without Ed by Jenny Schaefer
LGBTQ+
Is It a Choice? by Eric Marcus
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
This is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids by Dannielle Owens Reid & Kristin Russo
The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs PhD
God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines (covers faith and spirituality too)
The ABC’s of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell
UnClobber by Colby Martin (covers faith and spirituality too)
How We Do Family by Trystan Reese
How to They/Them by Stuart Getty
Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue by Nicholas M. Teich
Straight Parents, Gay Children: Keeping Families Together by Robert Bernstein
For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Not Enough by Keith Boykin
Transgender Teen by Stephanie Brill
Transgender Kids & Teens by Elijah C. Nealy
Gender Identity Guide by Tavi Hawn
Embracing the Journey by Greg McDonald
A Queer and Pleasant Danger by Kate Bornstein
She's NOT There by Jennifer Boylan
The Savvy Ally by Jeannie Gainsberg
A Queer History of the United States for Young People by Michael Bronski, (The go-to best book for young adult queer history.)
SELF CARE
The Clarity Cleanse by Habib Sadeghi
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck
The Secret by Rhonda ByrneMantras in Motion by Erin Stutland
SPIRITUALITY
Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
The Universe has your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein
Raising Hell by Julie Ferwerda
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
PARENTING
Raising LGBTQ Allies by Chris Tompkins
Differently Wired by Debbie Reber
Teenproofing: Fostering Responsible Decision Making in Your Teenager by John Rosemund
Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour
How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk by Adele Faber
Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World by Kate Brookes
Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen by Heather Hester
Brave Parenting by Krissy Pozatek
The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman
The Parallel Process by Krissy Pozatek (treatment)
Not By Chance by Tim Thayne (post treatment success)
Parenting Your Transgender Teen by Andrew Maxwell Triska
“Mom, I’m Gay” by Susan Cottrell (covers faith and spirituality too)
Raising My Rainbow – Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son by Lori Duron
Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies by Lindz Amer
CULTURAL
Prospect Cottage: Derek Jarman’s House by photographer Gilbert McCarragher
NOVELS
Hanna's Ascent by Jayna Sheats
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Lavender House by Lev Ac Rosen
HeartStopper by Alice Oseman
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Felix Ever After by Kheryn Callender
NATIONAL HOTLINES
RESOURCES
THE TREVOR HELPLINE:
1-866-4UTREVOR/1-866-488-7386
VISIT THE TREVOR PROJECT WEBSITE
*Suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth
TRANS LIFELINE
US: (877) 565-8860
VISIT THE TRANS LIFELINE WEBSITE
* Suicide prevention helpline for trans youth, staffed by trans people.
NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD:
1-800-RUNAWAY/1-800-786-2929
VISIT THE NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWTICHBOARD WEBSITE
*Crisis intervention and referrals. National communication system for runaway and homeless youth.
RAINN – RAPE ABUSE & INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK:
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
VISIT THE RAINN WEBSITE
* National sexual assault hotline
GLBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE:
1-800-246-7743
VISIT THE GLBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE WEBSITE
*Talk to peers directly
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
VISIT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE WEBSITE
NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE:
1-800-4-A-CHILD/1-800-422-4453)
VISIT THE NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE WEBSITE
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE & AIDS/HIV INFORMATION HOTLINE:
1-800-CDC-INFO/1-800-232-4636
NATIONAL YOUTH CRISIS HOTLINE:
1-800-442-HOPE (4673)
*Provides counseling and referrals to local drug treatment centers, shelters, and counseling services.
LOCAL RESOURCES
FANTASTIC RESOURCES IN CHICAGO’S NORTHERN SUBURBS
MEDITATIONS
Freedom From Fear
A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
AS SEEN IN
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CONTACT
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