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!
Paid Research Study Opportunity!
Researchers at George Washington University are seeking parents with LGBTQ kids to participate in a paid research study.
Your participation will help create resources to support families like yours.
The resources they offer help parents be more supportive of their LGBTQ kids, including helping parents talk to kids about sex and HIV.
If you qualify, you'll get free access to the parent resources.
Parents earn $350 for participating, and youth earn $175.
To learn more and to see if you qualify, visit
WEBSITES - LGBTQ+ SUPPORT & EDUCATION
GENERAL SUPPORT
Born Perfect - Ending Conversion Therapy
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
Our Queerest Shelves
PFLAG
Resources for LGBTQ+ High School Students
Tyler Clementi Foundation – Working to End LGBTQ+ Bullying
Safe Places for LGBTQ Young Adults to Connect
EDUCATION
HEALTH
WEBSITES - MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
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
The Trevor Project: National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020
WEBSITES - THERAPEUTIC EDUCATION CONSULTANTS
WEBSITES - EDUCATION FOR ALLIES
VIDEOS and MOVIES
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)
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
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
APPS
RESOURCES
BOOKS
RESOURCES
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+
“Mom, I’m Gay” 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)
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
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
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
Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen by Allan Sadac
Transgender Teen by Stephanie Brill
Transgender Kids & Teens by Elijah C. Nealy
Parenting Your Transgender Teen by Andrew Maxwell Triska
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
Love Makes Room by Staci Frenes
The Savvy Ally by Jeannie Gainsberg
SELF CARE
Mantras in Motion by Erin Stutland
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
SPIRITUALITY
Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstei
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
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
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
What people are saying about Heather...
Heather was a passionate and informed speaker on the topic of LGBTQ2S parenting. Heather shares her personal and professional experience through family storytelling and is able to connect to the audience in this candid way. Heather provided thoughtful and supportive feedback to parents’ questions and employees shared positive feedback after her informative session.
~Kallie Jackson, CN PRIDE ERG Co-Chair
Canadian National Railways
I am very happy to know that Heather is available to serve as a resource for parents of LGBTQ+ kids, and really to any parents at all. Everyone talks about being "inclusive", but Heather lives it. Heather is able to accept whatever comes her way and use the power of unconditional love and kindness to turn challenges into gifts. We can all learn a lot from Heather.
~Adam Simon, Executive Director
Odyssey Teen Camp
Heather was the calming voice in a world that was otherwise in upheaval. Heather was there to pick me up (although she didn't know it) and she was the best friend in my head helping me process and get through some difficult stuff. I loved that she gave ME permission to process and mourn my story now that it was being rewritten...Heather gave me the time I needed to get to the next step. Heather didn't judge me. I would download a podcast every morning and listen to ther during my walk. Her voice fixed it for me. Her voice soothed my heartache. Her voice helped me get to the next step of processing and her voice helped me move on. Heather helped me have difficult conversations that were based in kindness. She helped me to breathe. And I love her for that.
~Anonymous and thankful
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!
~ Lauren Bo21
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.
~ MrsWeiselNMS
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
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
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