Traveling With Your LGBTQ Kid: What Every Parent Needs to Know Before You Leave

Summer travel should feel like joy. But if you have an LGBTQ+ kid, you already know there is a layer of preparation most families never have to think about. This episode is for you.The world is not equally safe for LGBTQ+ travelers. Not internationally, and not here at home in the United States. In this episode, Heather Hester walks through what the current global LGBTQ+ safety landscape actually looks like, including which US states have enacted restrictive legislation that directly affects LGBTQ families traveling today, and what every parent needs to know before booking a trip.In this episode you'll learn:* How to use the A3M LGBTQ+ Risk Map to assess safety at any destination, domestic or international* A concrete pre-travel checklist including packing, paperwork, cultural conversations, and real-time safety tools* How to have an honest safety conversation with your LGBTQ+ kid that empowers rather than frightens them* Why giving your family permission to tap out of any situation is one of the most powerful things you can do as an allyPress play to travel smarter, safer, and more intentionally with your LGBTQ kids this summer.Resources mentioned:* A3M LGBTQ+ Risk Map 2025: https://www.global-monitoring.com/en/tourism/lgbtqplusriskmap/* IGLTA — International LGBTQ+ Travel Association: www.iglta.orgHi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Download my free guide to take you from Panic to Plan.Join a private community with other parents and allies just like you!Stay informed - receive my newsletterInvite me to speak at your workshop or eventRead my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect heather@heatherhester.netBuy Me A CoffeeWatch on YouTubeListen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!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, compassionate connection.For parents, allies, and those 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 podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers practical guidance and education to parents and allies, fostering 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.Mentioned in this episode:Contact Hester Painting & Decorating for a consultation! https://go.hesterdecorating.com/mhmkThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy