#186 | How to Spot Signs of Travel Anxiety in LGBTQ Kids and Support Them With Confidence

Is your LGBTQ child carrying invisible emotional baggage every time you travel?

For many LGBTQ+ youth, what should be a fun vacation can trigger stress, dysphoria, and emotional shutdown. This episode explores how parents and allies can spot the signs, ease the mental load, and create more affirming travel experiences.

• Learn how to identify hidden mental health struggles in LGBTQ+ kids while traveling
• Discover grounding tools and affirming travel routines that build connection and safety
• Explore simple but powerful acts of allyship and kindness that transform travel into healing

Press play to learn how to travel with courage, connection, and compassionate allyship for your LGBTQ+ child and yourself.

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

Resource: The Trevor Project: Self-Care Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth

Why it matters: These are excellent tools to share with your child before a trip. They are practical ways to center and care for themselves when feeling overwhelmed or anxious.

Other resources:

• Gender Spectrum’s Travel Tips for affirming travel conversations
• Safe Space Alliance – map of LGBTQ+ safe spaces around the world
• Trans Lifeline – Peer support and crisis line (also available in the U.S. and Canada)

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.

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More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen explores connection, courage, and community for every concerned parent, mom, or ally navigating fear, grief, and bigotry with hope, resilience, and empathy. Through open-minded education, inclusive parenting guidance, and advocacy for mental health, safety, and a human first approach, we support LGBTQ youth and stand for human rights and social justice. More Human. More Kind. empowers listeners to shift their mindset, embrace activism and allyship, and lead with kindness, healing, and purpose.