Carefully curated, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Please feel free to share your favorite websites and books here!
LGBTQ+ Support and Education
General Support
- Bisexual Foundation
- Born Perfect – Ending Conversion Therapy
- Children of Lesbians/Gays
- Gay Teen Resources
- Gay-Straight Alliance Network
- Helping Families Support Their LGBTQ Children
- How to Support Bisexual Youth
- It Gets Better Project
- LGBTQ+ Student Guide
- LGBTQ+ Safety
- My Kid is Gay
- National Council on Family Relations
- PFLAG
- Resources for LGBTQ+ High School Students
- Tyler Clementi Foundation – Working to End LGBTQ+ Bullying
Education
- College Guide for LGBTQ Students
- Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
- Gender Identity and Autism
- Gender Spectrum
- Human Rights Campaign – Coming Out
- Inclusive Books Middle School and High School
- LGBTQ+Colleges and Communities
- LGBTQ+ History
- LGBTQ+ Scholarship Guide
- The Human Rights Campaign
- Transgender Resources
- Understanding Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation – a helpful graphic
Health
- GLMA – Health Provider Directory
- LGBTQ+ Inclusive Sexual Health Education
- STD Prevention and Testing: How to Talk to Your Teen
- Sexuality and Relationship Info for Teens and Young Adults
Faith
- Colby Martin (affirming faith)
- Find an Affirming Church
- Freed Hearts (Susan Cottrell)
Mental Health
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- End Teen Suicide
- Find a Therapist Near You
- How to Validate Someone
- Mental Health Awareness Guide for Parents and Caregivers
- Mental Health Awareness Guide for Young Adults
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Suicide Prevention – To Write Love On Her Arms
- Teen Mental Health
- The Trevor Project
- The Trevor Project: National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020
- Understanding Depression
Substance Use and Abuse Awareness
- Find Alcohol and/or Drug Treatment Near You
- Substance Abuse and Cannabis Usage: Supporting and Affirming the LGBTQ Community and Youth
- Sunshine Behavioral Health – Vaping Resource
- The Addiction Center
- Vaping/E-Cigarette Dangers
Social Justice and Advocacy
- ACLU Lesbian & Gay Rights Project
- Discrimination Resource
- Family Equality Council
- GLAAD
- Human Rights Campaign
- International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
- National Center for Lesbian Rights
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Therapeutic Education Consultants
- Educational Consult
- Find a Referring Pro
- Program Descriptions for Teens With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
Education for Allies
- Just Say It – Stories and Questions with Jen SluMac
- Outspoken Voices
- Jen Hatmaker – A Moment of Pride: Jen & Sydney Hatmaker on Being Gay and Loved
- Brene Brown: Unlocking Us
- Tilt Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids
- FreedHearts – Susan Cottrell
- LGBTQ Nation
- Winning the Fight Against Conversion Therapy
- Why Accepting Your LGBTQ Kid Matters
- Parenting Gay Kids
- The ABCs of Identifying as an LGBTQ Youth
- To the Parent Whose Child Just Came Out
- Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Facts for Teens and Their Parents (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Handling Addiction and Staying Sober During the Pandemic
- Newfound Anxiety and Depression During Pandemic
- Talking to Children About Mental Health
- Struggles That Can Lead to Addiction
- STD Resource
- Creating LGBTQIA+ Friendly Communities in Healthcare & Education
- Transgender Skin Care
- Perspective Shift with Colby Martin (author of Unclobber)
-
Neuroscience Says Listening to This Song Reduces Anxiety by Up to 65 Percent
- The Biblical Case for LGBTQ Inclusion
- The Diverse Beauty of Creation
- Is it Depression or Are We Languishing?
Adolescent Development
- The Teenage Brain by Frances E. Jensen, MD
- You and Your Adolescent by Laurence Steinberg
- How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims
- 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
Depression, Anxiety and Substance Use
- 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
LGBTQ+
- “Mom, I’m Gay” by Susan Cottrell (covers faith and spirituality too)
- Radically Included by Susan Cottrell (covers faith and spirituality too)
- Is It a Choice? by Eric Marcus
- 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)
- Oddly Normal by John Schwartz
- The ABC’s of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell
- UnClobber by Colby Martin (covers faith and spirituality too)
- SoulNotSkin by Jen SluMac
- How We Do Family by Trystan Reese
- How to They/Them by Stuart Getty
- Raising My Rainbow – Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son by Lori Duron
- Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue by Nicholas M. Teich
- The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes by Diane Ehrensaft, PhD
- Straight Parents, Gay Children: Keeping Families Together by Robert Bernstein
- Transgender Children and Youth: Cultivating Pride and Joy with Families in Transition by Elijah Neely
- For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Not Enough by Keith Boykin
- Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen by Allan Sadac
Self Care
- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- Mantras in Motion by Erin Stutland
- The Clarity Cleanse by Habib Sadeghi
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
- Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck
Spirituality
- Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstei
- The Universe has your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein
- Raising Hell by Julie Ferwerda
- Don’t Just Sit There, Do Nothing: Healing, Chilling, and Living with the Tao Te Ching by Jessie asya Kanzer
- Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
Parenting
- 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)
- 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
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.
Fantastic resources in Chicago’s Northern Suburbs
Just Breathe is Featured in Top 10 Lesbian Parenting Podcasts
Check out the full list and find some other awesome lesbian podcasts.

I have loved and admired you and your family for over 30 years now, but the honor I have always felt to call you friend truly quadrupled yesterday after listening to your podcasts. Every word was true and authentic, and real, and beautiful-even those that made me cry to the point where I had to pause for a bit before continuing.
I know the last few years have been pure hell. Yet somehow you, Steve, and your kids somehow managed to navigate it with grace, dignity, love, vulnerability, and acceptance. I am in awe of each of you. Messiness sucks, but you are showing the world how beautiful life can be if we find a way to embrace it and breathe. Thanks to all of you for sharing your story and resources-it WILL make a difference for so many others.
S. Geidner
When I was Connor’s age, I don’t think Ellen DeGeneres was out yet. The world has changed so much since that time. I’m glad I’m alive to see it. I find myself cheering on parents like Heather who are willing to step out of their own comfort zone and reputations to stand by LGBTQ children and love us – out loud! This is such an important show [the podcast]. BIG LOVE for this courageous family in the Midwest! Yay YOU!
J. SluMac
Powerful, profound, so needed… What a breath of fresh air this show [the podcast] is. So many LGBTQ people, especially youth, struggle with the devastating impact of faith-based family rejection. Parents are searching for a better way. A way to love their LGBTQ child without compromising their faith. It takes opening what box you have God in – thank you for helping people do that! What a gift this podcast is!
R. Cottrell
I love your raw, real vulnerability. I am brand new on this journey and stumbled accidentally across your podcast on a road trip. I listened for 8 hours of driving and didn’t want to get to my destination because I wanted more. Using your own journey to help and support other parents is so brave and I am grateful to you and your family. Connor is so fortunate to have you ❤️
Anonymous
Your centered, calming voice and demeanor help me to feel more peaceful. I experience you as therapeutic & your journey gives me more hope that we can love [our son] well. Thank you for giving your life away to me through sharing your story and the guests you interview.
Anonymous
This podcast will help you feel safe – calm and loving
This podcast is truly something everyone needs in the coming out journey. Listen in for a reassuring dose of Heathers loving expertise!
CandyMot, Apple Podcasts
This podcast was unbelievably helpful. The frank discussion and honesty -completely helped me begin my journey with my son and I have shared this podcast with everyone in our family Truly look forward to more episodes.
Blueflip via Podchaser
Amazing!!! This is so incredibly well done and your thoughtful approach is undoubtedly helping tons of families. What you’re doing truly matters! Your son is lucky to have you and vice versa ;)! Thank you for sharing w us!
NickPe13, Apple Podcasts
LOVE THIS PODCAST!! 🙌❤️🏳️🌈💕🥰
I was searching for resources to be the best supportive mom I could be to my pre-teen (now teen) and found this amazing podcast! It was just what I needed! I knew I needed some guidance from a parent who had experience through a similar journey and Heather was there with perfect content and even talked with me personally through email. The community Heather has built through this podcast and Facebook page has given me the confidence to not be fearful through this journey but rather to embrace it and encourage my teen to be their authentic self!
LaurenBo21, Apple Podcasts
Helped so much!!
I have learned so much and feel so much less alone after listening! Thank so much!!
TSwynacht, Apple Podcasts
Must-Listen!
This podcast is a must-listen for those wanting to learn how to best help the LGBTQ teen or young adult in their life. Heather is a thoughtful host who offers great information and support. Such a great podcast with great information!
DrMMcNally, Apple Podcasts
Thank you.
Exactly what this momma needed.
zbkai189, Apple Podcasts
Right on … so needed
Heather is real, relatable, thoughtful, educated, and inclusive of every teen parent scenario in her talks. I love being able to hear first hand from someone who has gone through the “Valley of Darkness” and come out the other side a better person, informed, and able to help others right where they are.
MrsWeiseNMS, Apple Podcasts
Eager to get into this. Thank you for clarifying that it’s not just for parents. I think anyone involved in raising a child even if that’s just part of an extended support community should have access to these resources.
Cameron Jones, Castbox
Attn Parents!
Listen, absorb, learn, and breathe thru this podcast. So helpful us (child and parents) as we go thru this journey together.
Mom of them!, Apple Podcasts