I Unlearned Bias to Truly Love My LGBTQ+ Child
<p><span style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">How do you navigate the unexpected when your child comes out as LGBTQ+, which completely redefines your understanding of their world? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For </span><a href="https://www.morehumanmorekind.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Heather Hester</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, the journey began in 2017 when her 16-year-old son came out as gay. What followed was a raw, transformative period marked by intense mental health struggles, substance use issues, and two suicide attempts for her son, forcing Heather to confront and unlearn bias inherited from her conservative, evangelical background.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This is more than a coming-out story—it’s an urgent call to action for every parent and ally quietly searching for a shame-free space to navigate similar experiences.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In this vital conversation, we sit down with Heather Hester—author of </span><a href="https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><em>Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen</em></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">—to explore her family’s evolution and how grief transformed into healing and rebirth. </span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE:</strong></p><ul><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">The essential difference between acknowledging and embracing a new reality.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">The profound ways grief can surface in parenting, and how to work through its non-linear layers.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">The four transformations (Embrace, Educate/Unlearn, Empower, and Love) that purposefully guide parents toward fully supporting and loving their LGBTQ+ child.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">How to let go of fear and choose to lead with humanity, becoming a catalyst for change in your own community.</span></li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>WATCH ON YOUTUBE: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt292w1bVlY&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt292w1bVlY&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh</a></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Learn how her family became freer and more fun after removing the constraints of who they "should be," proving that when you commit to healing, joy follows.</span></p><p><br></p><p>🏳️🌈<span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Grab your copy of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen—available now on Amazon or</span><a href="http://bookshop.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="http://bookshop.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Bookshop.org</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and start building a more supportive, affirming relationship with your teen today.</span><a href="http://bookshop.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bookshop.org:</span><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781641709125" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781641709125" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781641709125</a></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Amazon:</span><a href="https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8</a></p><p><br></p><p>Join Heather's Substack for stories, reflection, and practical insight, and explore what it means to become more human and more kind in our relationships, our families, and our communities.: <a href="https://heatherhester.substack.com/about" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://heatherhester.substack.com/about</a> </p><p><br></p><h2><br></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);">---</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong>✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!)</strong></p><p><strong>They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond.</strong></p><p><strong>Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w</a></p><p><strong>Get the Paperback or Hard copy: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3XrE995" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3XrE995</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter</strong></p><p><strong>Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5</a></p><p><br></p><p>🛍️<strong><em> Healing & Self-Care Picks</em></strong></p><p><strong>Curated books and essentials from Irene:<em> </em></strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/irenesweinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>https://www.amazon.com/shop/irenesweinberg</em></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop</strong></p><p><strong>Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: </strong><a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>🎙️ Podcast & Community</strong></p><p><strong>Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: </strong><a href="https://griefandrebirth.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://griefandrebirth.com</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>📱 Stay Connected</strong></p><p><strong>Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1</a></p><p><strong>Instagram: </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg</a></p><p><strong>Facebook: </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg</a></p><p><strong>TikTok: </strong><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story</strong></p><p><strong>Watch how the podcast began: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest</strong></p><p><strong>Have a story or healing work to share?</strong></p><p><strong>Apply Here: </strong><a href="https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>📰 Newsletter</strong></p><p><strong>Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: </strong><a href="https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>💖 Affiliate Disclaimer</strong></p><p><em>Some links may earn us a commission. 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