Show notes
What if your child’s gender identity shifts, and instead of panicking, you leaned in?
When a child comes out as trans or nonbinary, many parents feel an urgent need to defend, define, and protect that identity. But what happens if your child’s understanding of themselves evolves? In a world that demands certainty and boxes, parents are left wondering: Am I doing this right? What if it’s a phase? What do I say to critics? This episode gently unpacks those fears and invites a more expansive, grounded way forward.
- A healthier framework for understanding gender fluidity without fear or rigidity
- Practical ways to respond when others question your child’s identity
- Permission to loosen your grip on labels while strengthening your unconditional support
Press play to explore how embracing fluidity, freedom, and flexibility might be the greatest gift you give your child and yourself.
About our Guest:
Trystan Reese has been organizing with the trans community for nearly two decades, serving on the frontlines of this generation’s biggest fights for LGBTQ+ justice around the country. He then launched onto the global stage in 2017 when his family’s unique journey gained international media attention. He was honored to partner with many major media outlets, including CNN, NBC, People, and Buzzfeed, to bring his message of trans family love and resilience to the mainstream. Professionally, he is the founder of Collaborate Consulting, providing customized training solutions for individuals, organizations, and communities interested in social justice. His first book, How We Do Family, was released in the summer of 2021 and his children’s book, The Light Of You, was released at the beginning of 2022.
Trystan is married to his partner Biff, and they live in Portland, Oregon, with their three kids: Riley, Sully, and Leo. They are very happy.
https://www.trystanreese.com/
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
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This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.
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, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.
Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.
More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.
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