The ultimate LGBTQ parenting handbook, guiding parents and caregivers through transformative steps of Embrace, Educate, Empower, and Love so they can support their teen with open arms and hearts.
Your kid just came out to you, and amid the flurry of emotion or worry you might feel, you know you would do anything to protect their health and happiness. And you are not alone! Heather Hester, coach, advocate, and host of the #1 rated podcast, Just Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen, combines an honest retelling of her own son’s coming-out experience with wide-ranging research, conversations with dozens of professionals, and the unique experiences of other families to provide the ultimate guidebook for parents embarking on this journey. In Parenting with Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen, Hester provides parents and caregivers with four transformations that gently, but purposefully, walk them through the four pillars toward fully supporting and loving your LGBTQ+ Embrace, Educate (or Unlearn), Empower, Love.
With trustworthy information and an accessible, straightforward plan, Parenting with Pride provides actionable yet profound tools and mental shifts to help parents support their teens and themselves and to be a catalyst for change in their communities.
Heather Hester is the creator and host of the podcast More Human. More Kind., and author of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen. She is a speaker, writer/author, coach, and fierce advocate helping parents, allies, and organizations move from overwhelm and fear to compassion and courageous action. Heather’s work is rooted in lived experience. When her son came out as gay in 2017, it ignited a journey of unlearning, deep personal growth, and radical love. She quickly realized the need for more supportive, shame-free spaces for parents of LGBTQ+ kids and those seeking to become better allies. What began as a content-rich website and podcast has grown into a platform offering inclusive coaching, LGBTQ+ and Human-First consulting, and storytelling-driven workshops, talks, and articles. Whether through one-on-one coaching, corporate training, her podcast, or the written word, Heather helps people unlearn bias, embrace complexity, and lean into the messy, beautiful work of healing and connection. Her approach is gentle yet honest, research-backed but deeply human. She creates spaces where people feel safe to show up as they are and empowered to grow. Heather is married to the funniest guy she’s ever known and mom to their four extraordinary kids (two of whom are LGBTQ) and one super sassy mini Bernedoodle. She’s a weather nerd, a lover of indie bookstores and coffee shops, and a yogi who believes in the magic of connection and that belonging isn’t just a feeling, it’s a practice.
Though I am not a parent, I took the opportunity to read this book to educate myself and be sensitive to the youth I may encounter.
Blurb: In Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen, Hester provides parents and caregivers with four transformations that gently, but purposefully, walk them through the four pillars toward fully supporting and loving your LGBTQ+ child: Embrace, Educate (or Unlearn), Empower, Love.
Heather brings you through these four pillars with grace. Having had a child come out to you, she is honest with the mistakes and lessons she’s learned through her experiences. She is straightforward while still being compassionate. It must be tough to be so open but we thank you for doing it! It brings up many issues that LGBTQ+ teens may encounter and how to support them while battling these issues. She also has times for you to journal with prompts, which I enjoyed going through!
Again, I am not a parent who has had a child come out to me, but I think this book would help guide you through feelings, healings, and so much more. I would recommend it to those in that situation or people like me that want to educate themselves. This is a must read! I give it a 4/5
As the mother of a LGBTQ+ daughter I feel like this should be required reading for so many people. I have seen so many of her friends who have struggled needlessly because of their parents and grandparents reactions to their coming out. This book guides you with pillars to accepting and embracing your loved one or child who has come out. It gives journal prompts throughout so you can further reflect. A wonderful resource at the end is the list of reading resources to help grow your LGBTQ+ knowledge. Hopefully one day our world won’t need books like this and all people will be treated equally! Until then this book may help fill the gap!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Parenting with Pride" by Heather Hester is revolutionary for parents raising LGBTQ+ children. Hester offers her professional expertise and life experiences as a coach, advocate, and podcast presenter to provide a thorough manual on loving and supporting your child. The book's four pillars - Embrace, Educate (or Unlearn), Empower, and Love - offer a clear and compassionate path forward. This book is essential reading for any parent who wants to better understand and empower their LGBTQ+ child because of a variety of information and relatable experiences.
Because of Hester's approach, which is both touching and educational, this book is a great addition to the library of any family. She approaches challenging subjects with grace and tact, offering consolation and helpful guidance along the way. "Parenting with Pride" is a priceless tool, whether you're having trouble accepting your child's identity or attempting to improve as an ally. This book is a real gem because of Hester's love and devotion to the LGBTQ+ community, which are evident on every page.
As a group, the queer community has come so far in terms of rights and social acceptance. I like to hope that younger queers will have a chance of experiencing less stigma than previous generations. And this hope only grew stronger after reading Parenting with Pride. This book is a very humble yet empowering account of the lessons learned by the author and peers in raising queer children. I liked that the author was open with the mistakes they made and was actively trying to do better by their child. This book is an astonishing resource for anyone looking to foster a better environment for the children in their lives.
Description The ultimate LGBTQ parenting handbook, guiding parents and caregivers through transformative steps of Embrace, Educate, Empower, and Love so they can support their teen with open arms and hearts.
Your kid just came out to you, and amid the flurry of emotion or worry you might feel, you know you would do anything to protect their health and happiness. And you are not alone! Heather Hester, coach, advocate, and host of the #1 rated podcast, Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen, combines an honest retelling of her own son’s coming-out experience with wide-ranging research, conversations with dozens of professionals, and the unique experiences of other families to provide the ultimate guidebook for parents embarking on this journey. In Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen, Hester provides parents and caregivers with four transformations that gently, but purposefully, walk them through the four pillars toward fully supporting and loving your LGBTQ+ child: Embrace, Educate (or Unlearn), Empower, Love.
With trustworthy information and an accessible, straightforward plan, Parenting with Pride provides actionable yet profound tools and mental shifts to help parents support their teens and themselves and to be a catalyst for change in their communities.
My Take: I was unfamiliar with the podcast associated with this book, and simply picked it up because I interact with youth frequently and constantly want to be sensitive to the needs of the youth whom I encounter. This book is a guidebook for parents who have children who have come out. It spends a lot of time centering the parents and how they have to "cope" with their child making different choices from their "norm," The book encourages a lot of journaling prompts and breathing activities. Because this is marketed around parenting, I wanted more conversation around how to parent a child with pride when their siblings or other people who are in their care village aren't as accepting. Or how to advocate for one's student at school. All told, I felt like this book was more about how the child's choice impacts the parent, and not the child, which is not what I was looking for, but may be useful for others.
Heather's presentation on navigating the challenges faced by parents of LGBTQ+ children in Parenting with Pride was truly remarkable. Her insights resonated with me, as I found myself connecting with numerous anecdotes and reflections shared. Discovering a sense of solidarity and reassurance within our shared experiences was comforting. I was particularly moved by the chapter Tell Your Kid You Love Them. Like Heather, I too have conveyed to my child that brighter days lie ahead and have envisioned their future self. The pain echoed in Heather's words resonates with me. Moving forward, I am committed to embracing and supporting my child for who they are in the present moment. Heather Hester, your courageous sharing is truly appreciated. Thank you for your beautiful work.
Parenting with Pride by Heather Hester is a lifeline for parents navigating the journey of raising LGBTQ+ teens. The book is structured around four pillars: Embrace, Educate, Empower, and Love, with each chapter guiding readers through emotions, challenges, and growth. Heather’s personal story as a mother of a gay teen is both raw and relatable. It’s a book that reassures you that you’re not alone while offering practical advice to love and support your child authentically.
Right off the bat, I was pulled in by Heather's honesty. Her opening story about her son Connor’s coming out after a terrifying night where he went missing made my chest tight. It was such a real, imperfect moment of relief and love. That’s the tone of the whole book: compassionate, messy, and human. I could feel her struggle and determination in the early days of not knowing what to do but knowing she had to do better. It mirrored my own fumbling attempts to figure out how to support my kid.
Heather's advice is practical but not preachy. The chapter about “embracing the journey” was an eye-opener. She talks about how parents need to accept their "movie reel" of what they thought their child’s life would be and let it go. I remember reading her list of "what not to say" and wincing because I’ve said some of those things. She gently guides you to shift your mindset without making you feel like a failure. That balance of tough love and encouragement is what makes this book so powerful.
What really stuck with me were the sections on educating yourself and leaning into discomfort. Heather lays out why unlearning biases is just as important as learning about LGBTQ+ issues. One part that hit hard was her reflection on how her son’s fear of rejection stemmed from things she didn’t even realize were hurtful. Like small comments, assumptions, and the culture they grew up in. It made me think about the little ways I might have made my own teen feel unseen. It’s not easy to sit with that discomfort, but it’s how we grow.
By the end, I was ready to embrace her final pillar: love. She explains that love isn’t just an abstract feeling but a daily practice. Loving unconditionally doesn’t mean you won’t mess up, but it means showing up anyway, learning from your mistakes, and being a safe space for your child. Her suggestions, like using humor to diffuse tension or practicing mindfulness, were simple but impactful. It reminded me that I’m still learning, just like my kid, and that’s okay.
I’d recommend this book to any parent with an LGBTQ+ child, whether you’re just starting the journey or further along. It’s also a great read for allies and educators who want to better understand and support these kids. It’s a guide, a mirror, and, most importantly, a reminder that love really does lead the way.
"Parenting With Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen" by Heather Hester is a guide for parents who want to support their LGBTQ+ teens. Hester, who is a coach, advocate, and podcast host, shares her own story and the experiences of other families to help parents on this journey.
The book is organized around four main ideas: Embrace, Educate, Empower, and Love.
In the first part, "Embrace," Hester talks about the moment her son came out to her. She describes her initial feelings of surprise and confusion, and how she learned to accept and love him unconditionally. This section helps parents understand the importance of welcoming their children with open arms.
The next part, "Educate (Unlearn)," focuses on teaching parents about LGBTQ+ identities and encouraging them to let go of old biases and misconceptions. Hester combines her personal experiences with research and expert opinions to provide valuable information. This section is all about learning and growing to support your child better.
In "Empower," Hester gives practical advice on how parents can help their LGBTQ+ teens feel strong and confident. She shares tips on how to advocate for their rights and navigate social challenges. This part is especially useful because it offers concrete steps parents can take to support their children.
The last part, "Love," emphasizes the importance of loving your child unconditionally. Hester explains that acceptance is just the beginning, and parents need to continue supporting their child's happiness and well-being. She shares stories from her own family and others to show how powerful love can be.
"Parenting With Pride" is not only about helping LGBTQ+ teens but also about helping parents grow and make positive changes in their communities. Hester's honesty and openness make her advice relatable and helpful. She encourages parents to be advocates for their children and to spread understanding and acceptance in their communities.
It is a must-read for any parent looking to support their LGBTQ+ teen with love and understanding. Heather Hester's blend of personal stories and practical advice makes this book both informative and heartwarming. It is an excellent resource for parents, caregivers, and anyone committed to creating a loving and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ youth.
I’m posting about this book not only because it is Pride Month now. It should be pride day every day. At least in those households where at least one queer person lives. Especially if that person is a child, a teen.
Take this from a queer person who is also a parent to a child who identifies as a queer person – I wish everyone read this book. I wish this book was out there decades ago. I wish more people would read it. I wish every parent would read it. I wish every grandparent would read it. And, most of all, I wish everyone who reads it, does the inner work suggested in the book – to see what is going on within themselves.
If you want my honest opinion: I suggest you get this book and gift it to someone you know who will need it. And make sure they read it. If you know a family where there is a kid who is struggling to come out – help them, get their parents this book. I’d like to add teachers to the list of those who should read this book. Because, well. If you are a teacher, you most definitely have a few queer students. Read it. Be their home away from home, be their safe person.
Relatable, down-to-earth, thoughtful, filled with insights, experience, and common sense, written in a very loving way – this is the ultimate parenting read.
The timing couldn't be perfect to read this book. As this is a Pride month, and the book talks about the Parenting of Pride.
The books have so much takeaway from this book, but the way the author has shared so many things with utmost honesty, which connected me with this book.
This book starts with how the author has encountered her son, who has always been a rule follower, shared his preference. The way the author shared those details made my heart melt with pain.
The complete anecdote connects you with the tips of parenting ( for pride), which has been shared by the author.
When you flip through the pages, the author shared how four pillars ( Embrace, Educate, Empower, love) made Pride parenting easy.
The author has shared her initial struggle as nothing was available for them to take notes from the parenting, which made her to starts her podcast and later on she had also invited her son on the podcast and shared his views as well.
This book will serve as a guide for someone who is looking for pride in parenting or knowing someone who might need it.
Kudos to the author for her vulnerability and honesty throughout the book
LGBTQ+ parenting is a complex and multifaceted issue that involves a wide range of experiences, family structures, and legal rights. While there have been significant strides made in recent years to promote acceptance and equality for LGBTQ people, much work remains to be done. By continuing to advocate for the rights and well-being of LGBTQ parents and their families, we can help create a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse society for all. Raising a LGBTQ+ child is another important topic that also needs more attention in today's world.
Heather Hester in her amazing book Parenting with Pride shares us the experience of raising a LGBTQ+ child who has just come up. She shares beautiful suggestions for the parents who are new in this type of parenting. With right way and understanding the emotions of LGBTQ+ children any parent can empower the child for a better future. The author beautifully shares guidelines from professionals and her own journey to better understand the matter. In today's world this book is an amazing addition where we need more and more such informative guides.
Through her book "parenting with pride," Heather Hester, coach, advocate, and host of the #1-rated podcast Just Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen, provides you with original ideas and a clear approach. In order to create the best manual for parents starting this path, parenting your LGBTQ teen, blends an open account of her own son's coming-out story with extensive research, interviews with numerous professionals, and the distinctive experiences of other families. Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen by Hester offers parents and carers four transformations that systematically and gently guide them through the four pillars of Embrace, Educate (or Unlearn), Empower, and Love—the four steps to fully supporting and loving your LGBTQ+ child. I loved this book as I support the community and want to understand them from every angle. Understanding the LGBTQ+ child isn't an easy task and supporting them to be empowered is more than challenging. But the author with clear planning and guidance have provided a wonderful path to support with excellent examples including her. Our time needs more of this type of books in our society.
Helpful for people that don’t know anything about the LGBTQIA+ Community, but want to support their loved ones.
Thoughts: 💡 I thought this book was the perfect introduction to the Pride community from a parents perspective. It’s put together by a mother that’s lived through the experience and pairs together her life advice with the things she’s discovered through her own research and reflection. She’s funny, she’s honest, and she has helpful information. The content itself is very easy to read with small chapters filled with information and anecdotes that end in reflective questions that help you to think on both the information in the book and correlate it to your life. The back of the book even has a brief glossary of terms and lists of reputable places to go to continue your research and development.
Stats:📊 GenreSelf Help/ Educational topics Understanding Innate Biases, Learning Tools: Skills to Listen & Empower, Understanding Terms with Brief Explanations Brief Chapters Reflective Questions (at the end of each chapter)
Parenting your LGBTQ+ children in this world isn't an easy task. You have to understand their needs and emotions to provide them better care. Heather Hester, coach, advocate, and host of the #1 rated podcast, Just Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen helps you with unique ideas and straightforward strategy through the book 'Parenting with Pride'. She shares her own experiences with her child and professionals with you to make you feel confident.
She provides a clear plan to unlearn bias understanding how you can provide more love to your children in their path of empowerment. She shares her story of embracing to give you the idea about the job. The four pillars of LGBTQ+ parenting - Embrace, Educate (or Unlearn), Empower, Love are showcased with trustworthy information. This book is a fantastic addition to the betterment of our society. It contains so many reading resources to know more about LGBTQ+ community. I enjoyed every bit of this informative guide that has the power to be life-changing for many.
"Parenting with Pride" by Heather Hester is a work of art. This book is both an ode to the LGBTQ+ community and an example of how unconditional love can change the world. Because of Hester's insightful and approachable language, parents and carers will find this book to be an excellent resource. The foundational principles of LGBTQ+ parenting are explained with empathy and clarity, providing a road map for parents who want to empower and support their child.
Everybody should read this book with an open mind and heart; it is a gift to our society. Hester's work has the power to transform people's lives and make the world a more accepting and caring place. "Parenting with Pride" serves as a gentle reminder that no matter what, our children are valuable and worthy of our affection. Hester's book is a priceless gem that will be appreciated for years to come, and her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community is very remarkable.
Heather Hester's book "Parenting with Pride" is a success. This book is proof of the influence that love and acceptance have on LGBTQ+ youth's lives. Hester's life narrative, specialised knowledge, and thorough research combine to provide a genuinely special and invaluable book. The book deftly weaves in the appropriate guidelines, giving parents a clear and doable plan.
Anyone may easily read this book because of Hester's readable and captivating writing style. In an effort to foster a feeling of belonging, she talks about her own parenting experiences as well as those of other families. This book is an absolute necessity for any family raising an LGBTQ+ child because of the unmatched resources and support it provides. "Parenting with Pride" serves as a reminder that our children are deserving of our undying love and support and as a beacon of hope.
These are scary and uncertain times for those in the queer community, and I feel it is more important than ever to learn how to support our children as they face the biases and hate that is becoming more prevalent and louder than they have ever seen it before. While I have lived through six different decades of change my children were born during a more accepting time and watch unprecedented positive changes for the LBGTQ+ community and then saw those begin to be ripped away. Parenting with Pride is an awesome primer for parents looking to provide a stable and loving foundation for their children to be able to express their authentic selves in. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wishes to be a strong, positive ally.
Parenting with Pride by Heather Hester is the best parenting book ever published. It is relatable, practical, insightful, full of wisdom from experience and common sense, and written with such love. Get the parents of a child you know who is having difficulty coming out of their shell by getting them this book. I hope more folks gave it a read. It's something that is needed in our time to better understand the feelings, emotions and challenges of LGBTQ+ children and their parents.
The author have managed the heavy task of guidance with fantastic route map. With exceptional conversations, professional guidelines and her own experiences the author provides an extraordinary book that's so much needed in modern age. Believe me if you are interested in unbiased parenting that tells about accepting your child and understand the emotions going in that little buddy then this is the book.
If you’re looking for some political diatribe or ideologically-laden rant, this isn’t your book. If you’re looking for a deep appreciation for what it means to be a parent in difficult times, an acknowledgment that sometimes those struggles are as much about your own assumptions as they are about the changing dynamics of kids and society these days, and an abounding love for how being a parent is about empowering your kids, this is your book.
I love these kind of parents who love their children for who they are. This book will guide you what will you do when your kid comes out. You just need to accept and love them, always listen for what they’re going to say, and support them until the end.
I’m not a parent yet. But I can also apply this for my friends who’s scared to come out. It was a great book and it should also be read by a lot of people.
• 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜 • In "Parenting with Pride," Heather Hester masterfully weaves together her personal journey, extensive research, and expert insights to create a comprehensive guide for parents of LGBTQ+ children. This book is a testament to the power of love, acceptance, and empowerment, offering a transformative roadmap for families navigating the complexities of LGBTQ+ parenting.
Hester's writing is both relatable and accessible, making the book an invaluable resource for parents seeking guidance and support. The four pillars of Embrace, Educate (or Unlearn), Empower, and Love provide a clear and compassionate framework for understanding and supporting LGBTQ+ children. Through her own experiences and those of other families, Hester sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of LGBTQ+ parenting, dispelling harmful stereotypes and biases. Her commitment to promoting acceptance and inclusivity is evident on every page, making this book a vital tool for creating a more compassionate society.
"Parenting with Pride" is a game-changer – a book that has the potential to change lives, foster empathy, and inspire a new generation of parents to embrace their LGBTQ+ children with love, pride, and acceptance. If you're looking for a book that will help you become a more understanding and supportive parent, look no further. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about creating a more loving and inclusive world.