Episode 209

History Repeats Unless We Interrupt It: LGBTQ+ Rights, Allyship, and Action

LGBTQ+ History Month isn’t just a celebration of the past,it’s a warning about the present. With over 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in play, what will you do to protect what truly matters?

In this powerful episode, Heather Hester walks you through key moments in LGBTQ+ history, from Stonewall to marriage equality, and connects them to the rising threats queer youth face today. You’ll gain tools, context, and confidence to speak up when it matters most.

Learn how to help your kids connect past and present, recognize the patterns of oppression, and feel empowered to resist them. Discover what real allyship looks like today and why silence isn’t neutral.

Press play to turn heartbreak into action and hope into power. Then head to morehumanmorekind.com for resources, prompts, and ways to keep showing up.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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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 foster courageous, compassionate connection.

If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming 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 part of this journey.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, love, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, connection, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, social justice, and the power of human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.

Resource Spotlight

Historical Foundations

  • Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution – David Carter (2004).
  • How to Survive a Plague – David France (2016).
  • The Celluloid Closet – Vito Russo (1981).
  • When We Rise – Cleve Jones (2016).

Modern Reports & Data

  • ACLU, “Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in U.S. State Legislatures” (2024).
  • PEN America, “Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools” (2023).
  • The Trevor Project, 2023 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.
  • GLAAD, Accelerating Acceptance Survey (2024).

Films & Documentaries

  • The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (Netflix, 2017).
  • Milk (2008).
  • Disclosure (Netflix, 2020).
  • Paris Is Burning (1990).

Educational Tools for Parents

  • Teaching Tolerance: “LGBTQ History Month Resources.”
  • Human Rights Campaign: “Timeline of LGBTQ History.”
  • PFLAG National: Parent guides and allyship toolkits.


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About the Podcast

Show artwork for More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous Ally
More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous Ally
Parenting and Ally Skills to Advocate for Your LGBTQ+ Teen with Love and Confidence

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About your host

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Heather Hester

She’s a butterfly in motion—transforming spaces, stories, and hearts. Heather Hester is a rare blend of fierce advocate and gentle guide, using her voice to build bridges across divides. As the host of *More Human. More Kind.*, author of *Parenting with Pride*, and founder of Chrysalis Mama, Heather doesn’t just speak about love, allyship, and authenticity—she *embodies* them.

Her superpower? Turning complex, messy truths into clear, compassionate conversations that leave you feeling empowered, curious, and just a little more human. From Substack to podcast, workshop to stage, she creates spaces where healing is possible, voices are heard, and no one stands alone.

Whether she’s amplifying marginalized stories, coaching parents through life’s pivots, or unpacking the First Amendment with a side of soul, Heather leads with purpose and heart. She’s not here for surface-level support—she’s here to change how we show up for each other.

Married to the funniest guy she’s ever known and mom to four extraordinary kids (two of whom are LGBTQ) and one sassy mini Bernedoodle, Heather is all about showing up with humor, humility, and heart. You can almost always find her with a cup of coffee in hand—at her computer, on her yoga mat, or dancing in the kitchen to her favorite playlist. She believes in being fully human, embracing the messiness, and helping others do the same.