In The Den with Mama Dragons

On this week’s episode of In the Den, Jen visits with TikTok mother/daughter duo Monica Gupta Mehta and Asha Lily Mehta about a range of topics from how to maintain good parent/child communication to understanding gender, neurodiversity, and queer sexuality. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss! Special Guest: Monica Gupta Mehta Monica (she/her) is a teacher, educational psychologist, author, nonprofit director, mom, and now an artist! She started teaching 20 years ago in a very progressive classroom, where she taught social emotional learning and sex education along with her humanities course. Monica took time off to raise her children, all of whom are autistic and queer, requiring extremely dedicated parenting and putting them at high risk for mental health struggles. Monica then went back to earn her master's degree in educational psychology, which she put to use creating educational content that she has taught over TikTok, Instagram, in her Normalizers podcast, and in her co-authored book, It’s Totally Normal! An LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Guide to Puberty, Sex, and Gender. Special Guest: Asha Lily Mehta Asha (she/her) is a freshman at Northwestern University, currently studying physics and dark matter. As a neurodivergent minority lesbian, Asha has had to deal with microaggressions and outright bigotry for most of her life. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic separated Asha from her peers during a critical phase of social development. Recognizing a similar combination of mental health, support, education, and socialization needs in teens around the world, Asha decided to join Monica, her mom, in creating online safe spaces. Asha helped create a community that has helped over 100,000 LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent teens around the world. Links from the Show: Asha and Monica’s non-profit website: https://www.kindnessproject.love/ The Kindness Project on IG: https://www.instagram.com/kindnessproject.love/ The Normalizers Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lzQmBuZNpnSkAaCJtC9dr?si=8dfd115abc7640fc&nd=1&dlsi=b10a090c73394e07 Monica and Asha on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@monicatheteacher Buy It’s Totally Normal on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Its-Totally-Normal-Lgbtqia-Puberty/dp/1839973552 Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

This week In the Den, Jen visits with Nigerian born pediatrician and LGBTQ+ educator Dr. Lulu about parenting queer children. They talk about a range of topics from what to do and not do when we learn about our children’s queer identities to unlearning preconceived ideas about the queer community to refining our advocacy to best serve our children. Special Guest: Dr. Lulu Dr. Lulu is a multiple award-winning Queer, Nigerian-born pediatrician, LGBTQ+ educator, corporate consultant, CEO of Dr. Lulu’s Coaching & Consulting Lounge, and chief host of Moms 4 Trans Kids Podcast. She is a mother of three, one of whom is a transgender young adult woman. In addition to her family-centered gender-affirming coaching & consulting practice “Dr. Lulu’s PRIDE Corner” (which helps families navigate the psychosocial aspects of raising gender-diverse youth), she also helps support employee-parents at the workplace. Her “Allies in White Coats” program trains culturally competent physician-allies to help mitigate health inequities plaguing the LGBTQ+ community. She is the author of About Your Black Transgender Child, and Invited In: How to Become the Parent Your LGBTQ Child Needs, both set to be published in 2024. Her next book Allies in White Coats: LGBTQ+ Basics for Physicians drops in 2025! She has been featured on numerous news outlets and interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for her work on LGBTQ+ advocacy. She is a Youth Suicide Prevention Activist and former host of Suicide Pages, and The Pride Corner podcasts. Dr. Lulu’s current focus is helping communities support and affirm Black transgender kids (who are often hiding in plain sight), one family at a time. Links from the Show: Find Dr. Lulu on IG: https://www.instagram.com/drlulutalkradio/Dr. Lulu on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCniyYyULNDE7S3rxoTtTJRA Lulu on FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082578953611 Lulu on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drlulu Dr. Lulu’s website: www.dr-lulu.com More Dr. Lulu: https://linktr.ee/drlulu?fbclid=IwAR2sfQW5-TbTp_QNQjf8C4JqhJ3fj3VNW_3fiOjzwf7gnFxSXgbFpIAtMbs In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

EPISODE 66–Coming Out When You’re a Mom On this podcast, we often have conversations addressing parenting issues with experts, and we talk about parenting with parents. Today’s episode explores an example of a mom realizing she was queer as an adult parent with grown children, and the impacts that had on her family. In this episode of In the Den, Jen visits with Jamie Michaels, her daughter Lauryl Armstrong, and Jamie’s partner Celeste Carolin about navigating a coming out later in life as a parent. Special Guest: Jamie Michaels Growing up in a Christian household, Jamie Michaels embraced her faith and raised her family within Evangelical Christian teachings. However, in 2015, Jamie came out as gay to her husband and her three adult children, a revelation that challenged her family's beliefs and reshaped many of her relationships. Through her honesty and vulnerability, Jamie navigated the complexities of reconciling her sexuality with her religious roots, while navigating the complexities of a blended family. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength found in embracing one's true self at any stage in life. Special Guest: Lauryl Armstrong Lauryl, the eldest child of Jamie Michaels, grew up in an Evangelical Christian household, deeply rooted in faith and tradition. In her early twenties, she embraced her role as a youth leader intern, passionate about guiding and inspiring younger members of her community. Lauryl continued to uphold her family's values, raising her own family within Christianity. However, her world was turned upside down in 2015 when her mother came out as gay, introducing her partner into the family in 2016. This shift challenged Lauryl's beliefs and sparked a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, ultimately reshaping her perspective on love, family, and faith. Special Guest: Celeste Carolin Celeste, Jamie Michaels's partner, came from an LDS upbringing, coming out in 2005. Entering Jamie’s predominantly Christian family introduced her to new complexities and unexpected joys, navigating the intricate dynamics of family ties, including adult stepchildren, grandchildren, and proximal family. Blending traditions, managing expectations, and navigating family rules became a delicate dance in their shared journey, where curiosity and adaptability undoubtedly played pivotal roles in fostering harmony and understanding within their blended family unit. Links from the Show: Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

Therapy is such a wonderful gift for so many of us that need support. This week In the Den, Jen joins three therapists from Flourish Counseling to talk about the things that mental health providers wish parents of LGBTQ kids understood. Special Guest: Lisa Hansen Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen (PhD, LMFT, Clinical Director) is the clinical director and founder of Flourish Therapy, Inc., (Flourish), a behavioral health clinic located in Provo, Utah, which she founded in February 2017 to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ and SSA individuals and their families. Lisa received a B.S. from Brigham Young University in 1990 as university valedictorian (Summa Cum Laude with Honors thesis), an M.S. in 2012 and Ph.D. in 2017, both at BYU, focusing on improving the mental health of LGBTQ+ people in conservative families and communities. She lives with her husband in Payson, Utah, where together they made a home for 7 children (and a few extras) and now have 18 grandchildren. Special Guest: Luann Hawker Luann (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker. She has worked as a therapist since 2019 and joined the Flourish Therapy, Inc. team in August 2020. She has over 25 years of volunteer experience with children, adolescents, and LGBTQ+ advocacy work. She currently serves on the board of directors for Genderbands, an international non-profit organization that serves the transgender and non-binary community. She has clinical experience counseling individuals, groups, families, and couples. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1995 and a Master of Social Work in 2021. She has been with her spouse for 30 years and is the mother of four adult children. Special Guest: Becca Wilson Becca Wilson, AMFT, graduated from UC Berkeley in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and from Utah Valley University in 2023 with a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. She started her work in mental health as a volunteer as a text line counselor with the crisis text line, which prompted her to return to school and establish a second career in mental health. She has six children, most of whom are in the LGBTQ population. Becca loves hiking, puzzles, movies, nature, animals, and people. She enjoys playing final fantasy weekly and watching anime with her kids. Links from the Show: Flourish’s website: https://www.flourishtherapy.org/ Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

Words with Friends 11 Words with Friends episodes are bonus episodes where different members of Mama Dragons provide definitions for LGBTQ related topics. This episode includes the following definitions: Homophobia shared by Clare in England Transphobia/Transmisia shared by Sarah M. in Fargo, North Dakota TERF shared by Connie W. in Canberra, Australia NOT Pedophilia shared by Yani Vega, Puerto Rico In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Words with Friends 11 Words with Friends episodes are bonus episodes where different members of Mama Dragons provide definitions for LGBTQ related topics. This episode includes the following definitions: Homophobia shared by Clare in England Transphobia/Transmisia shared by Sarah M. in Fargo, North Dakota TERF shared by Connie W. in Canberra, Australia NOT Pedophilia shared by Yani Vega, Puerto Rico In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

Families come in all shapes and sizes, and that’s a wonderful thing. In this week’s episode of In the Den, Jen visits with Dr. Gwen Bass about her unique experiences growing up in the 80’s, the child of two women who broke norms by using artificial insemination to create a family. Gwen also discusses her later experiences as a queer person creating a family through foster care and adoption. Gwen shares her beautifully expansive understanding of family and demonstrates that biology doesn’t make a family. Love makes a family. Special Guest: Gwen Bass Dr. Gwen Bass is the author of Immaculate Misconception: A Story of Biology and Belonging, in which she tells her story of growing up one of the first children of lesbians conceived through artificial insemination. She is a teacher, advocate, parent mentor, researcher, and collaborative consultant. With a decade of experience each in K-12 classroom teaching and teacher education, plus years of research and program development, Gwen supports kids and adults whose needs and voices aren’t honored by conventional systems. Her team provides consultation and training to help nonprofits, educators, government agencies, and caregivers foster positive outcomes for young people — especially those with disabilities and learning differences, LGBTQ+ youth and families, and youth in foster care and unique family situations. Gwen is also a foster and adoptive parent in a queer blended family. They travel often, work like a team, and live by three rules: Have fun, be safe, be kind. Links from the Show: Gwen’s website: www.drgwenbass.com Gwen on Queer Family Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3gqsGeQifnrx26W6taN3X1 Gwen on This Queer Book Saved My Life: https://thisqueerbook.com/immaculate-misconception/ Gwen on First Person Plural: https://www.keystepmedia.com/podcast/sister-act/ Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

In this episode of In the Den, Jen joins three moms whose trans kids came out and transitioned as young adults. They’ll answer a handful of frequently asked questions regarding the unique experiences of parenting an adult trans child. Special Guest: Chrysteil Hunter Chrysteil Hunter lives in Mill Creek, Washington, and is a single mom of four incredible adult kids, one 10 year old son, and has a 5 year old grandson. She works full time, one-on-one, with kids on the autism spectrum. She has been a member of Mama Dragons since 2015, serving in many positions, including WA/AK regional coordinator, board member, Director of Education, Director of the D&I Committee, & QPR suicide prevention training instructor. She loves the mountains, road trips, listening to audio books, and most of all, spending time with her kids. Special Guest: Chrisann Toelupe Chrisann Toelupe is a married mom of four living in a rural Utah town. She has been affiliated with Mama Dragons since her son came out as gay. A few years later, another child would come out as transgender. Through it all, her family has remained close by loving and supporting each other as their authentic selves. When Chrisann is not vacationing in Disneyland, she is watching Disneyland YouTube videos and planning more trips to Disney. Special Guest: Shauna Jones Shauna has been an active member of Mama Dragons since 2015. She hates winter, yet still finds herself living in the state of Idaho. Shauna has a husband, three young adult children (one of whom is transgender), a one eyed black lab, and an exuberant golden retriever puppy. Shauna loves running and all things rainbow. Links from the show: Mama Dragons website: www.mamadragons.org Mama Dragons on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamadragons Mama Dragons on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themamadragons/ The Family Acceptance Project: https://lgbtqfamilyacceptance.org/ In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

Dating these days can be daunting for anyone, but dating as a queer person comes with unique challenges. The parents in our Mama Dragons groups ask a lot of questions about how to help their queer kids with dating when the time comes. In this episode of In the Den, Jen tackles the topic of dating and turns to the experts–four young, queer, Gen Z adults. They discuss their experiences, share ideas, and give advice for how to handle the potential obstacles of dating as young queer people. Special Guest: Trieste Trieste (she/they) is bisexual and lives in Logan, UT with her cat, Stevie. She is about to graduate from USU with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. In her free time, she loves listening to music, crocheting, and catching up on her favorite shows! Special Guest: Rissa Rissa (she/her) is a lesbian from Sandy, Utah. Rissa loves anything artistic and creative. Right now her favorite medium is poetry, especially writing, reading, and having existential crises over it. Special Guest: Jake Jake (he/him) is 21 years old, originally from San Jose, CA. He went to a year of college at Brigham Young University-Idaho. He transferred to Utah State University, and after a year of school, he is finishing up his bachelor's degree in Psychology this May. Jake enjoys music, hiking, chatting, and learning. Special Guest: May May (they/them) is a nonbinary bisexual from Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are currently getting their Master's degree in Political Science from Utah State University. In addition to politics, May studies art, and has had a focus on sculpture and oil paint. They love reading, spending time with friends, and avoiding hiking at all costs. Links from the Show: Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

This week’s episode of In the Den kicks off a new series! There are similarities and differences between all of our individual stories. We come from diverse religious backgrounds, political parties, family dynamics, and geographic areas. Each of us started at different levels of acceptance, but we all relate to the desire of wanting to protect our children over our own biases. So a few times a year, we will be sharing a Mama Dragon’s story. Today, we meet Jasmine. Special Guest: Jasmine Jasmine grew up in California at a time when being gay was illegal. Her very conservative family made it very clear that there were “normal” people and “sinful” people, who were to be shunned and avoided, if not treated more harshly. As a very small child she knew she was different but felt her difference was even worse than being gay. So she spent decades trying to hide and ignore this reality that the world was not ready to accept. All of this dramatically changed about 5 years ago when one of her children came out to her wife as trans. Fortunately, Jasmine and her wife had grown past a lot of the closed-minded bigotry they had been raised with, and they both loved their children very much. Even though this went against their religious beliefs they knew they were not going to reject their children. But accepting their child as trans also meant accepting that trans was valid. For Jasmine, this brought to the surface all of the decades of pretending. At the time she knew very little about any LGBTQ topics, but that was about to change. Links from the Show: Jasmine’s story on the Mama Dragon blog: https://www.mamadragons.org/post/taught-by-our-children-1 Jasmine’s blog: www.j616.org Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org Mama Dragons on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamadragons Mama Dragons on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themamadragons/ In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

It’s common to hear teenagers complain, “My parents just don’t understand me.” When your child is LGBTQ, and your experience is that of a straight and/or cisgender person, that may actually be more true than we realize. We surveyed queer youth and gathered their feedback to learn what they most wish their parents understood. Jen sits down with queer and trans therapist Cole Brennan to discuss a handful of the things that LGBTQ teens submitted as potential understanding growth points for their parents. Special Guest: Cole Brennan Cole is a queer and transgender mental health therapist Ellie Mental Health in the Denver area, former bike mechanic and youth outdoor educator, and lover of nature, adventures, and above all, people. Cole works primarily with LGBTQ+ identified youth and adults, and has a passion for helping his clients find their innate love and joy for themselves, their many identities, and the world around them. Cole lives in Denver, Colorado with his partner, two young children, and two equally young pups. Links from the Show: Cole’s therapy services: https://www.heartmindtherapydenver.com/ Ellie Mental Health: https://elliementalhealth.com/locations/denver-west-co/ Join the Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

Mama Dragons supports, educates, and empowers mothers of LGBTQ children, but we also celebrate and acknowledge the importance of affirming fathers. In this episode of In the Den, Jen talks with three dads of LGBTQ kids about their experiences and learned wisdom from raising their queer kids. Special Guest: Lance Sweeten Lance Sweeten holds a bachelor's degree in engineering and works as a façade designer in Salt Lake City, UT. He’s a husband and proud father of four children. His oldest daughter is transgender. He serves as a board member and administrator for the FB group "Dragon Dads," an organization dedicated to educating and supporting fathers of queer kids. Lance works with Equality Utah and the ACLU of Utah, where he actively opposes anti-LGBTQ legislation in the state's house and senate. Recognizing the need for parental support, Lance established the FB group "Shades of Love," which empowers parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ children. Special Guest: Pat Wright Pat has been a part of the Dragon Dads for about five years. He loves camping, hiking, and adventures all around the world. He enjoys spending time with all his kids and helping them grow into adults. He has six kids–four stepkids, two biological kids, one trans son, and one bisexual daughter. He loves to participate in Pride and volunteer in the community. Besides volunteering with Project Rainbow and LGBTQ+ group at work he also runs a not-for-profit called Utah Geek Events that puts on events for the tech community in Utah Special Guest: Ralf VonSosen Ralf came to the U.S. from Austria in high school. He made his way to Utah where he earned degrees from BYU and the University of Utah. After marrying his high school sweetheart, they moved to the CA Bay Area where they raised four kids. When their third child came out as gay, it shook their conservative Mormon family narrative and launched them on a new journey that included the welcoming of their transgender daughter. Ralf and his wife Wendy recently moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Links from the Show: Find Dragon Dads on FB: https://www.facebook.com/DragonDads Join the Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Please help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

“If it’s not fun for everyone, then it’s not actual fun.” When schoolyard banter crosses into harassment and bullying, what can we do to keep our kids safe at school? This week In the Den, Jen and special guest Dr. Roni Jo Draper discuss how to recognize and respond to bullying whether our child is being bullied or has become a bully within the public school system. Special Guest: Roni Jo Draper Roni Jo Draper, Ph.D. (Yurok|she.her) is an educator, storyteller, filmmaker, and activist. Roni began her career as a high school mathematics and science teacher where she worked primarily with children at risk of not completing high school. She is professor emeritus from Brigham Young University where she taught courses in literacy education, multicultural education, and global women’s studies. She is currently on a one-year appointment at Utah Valley University where she teaches courses in multicultural education and classroom management. Her educational scholarship has appeared in several books, educational research journals, and professional journals for teachers. In her recent work she has turned to Indigenous storytelling and other art forms to share stories that center the lives of Indigenous peoples. She produced the film Scenes from the Glittering World, about the in- and out-of-school lives of three Navajo young people attending a remote high school on the Navajo Nation, which is available to view on PBS. Roni Jo is also the writer, producer, and director of the documentary short film Fire Tender, which centers the lives of Yurok fire practitioners as they return cultural fire to heal land. Fire Tender will air on PBS in April in conjunction with their Earth Day celebrations. Additionally, Roni works as an advocate for social justice in her community. She has served as the chair of the board of the ACLU of Utah, a member of the national board of the ACLU, the Vice-President of the board of PFLAG Provo/Utah County, a member of the board of Provo Pride, and as a founding board member of Encircle. Links from the Show: Bullying in school resource: https://law.duke.edu/childedlaw/docs/Bullying_in_School_Fact_Sheet.pdf More resources: https://www.understood.org/articles/bullying-laws Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

This week In the Den, Jen talks with seven moms of queer children about their honest feelings around parenting queer children. Our guests share how they felt when their child came out and how they feel now about having an LGBTQ child. Special Guest: Rhonda Hill Rhonda is a mother of four from Utah who loves to cook, craft, and play the piano. Special Guest: Lisa Glad Lisa is a Mormon mama of three (two Queerdos!) and a proud Mama Dragon! Special Guest: Erin Lee Erin is a Canadian mom of two boys, working in education. Special Guest: Brandi Higgins Brandi is a wife, mom and fierce advocate in Kansas City, MO. Special Guest: Pamela Theron Pam is a single nomad mom of queer kids living to spread love and peace. Special Guest: Elizabeth Kingsley Elizabeth is a life coach getting her masters in management. She’s the mother of four queer kids, with three still at home. Special Guest: Marcie Schear Marcie is a spicy disaster who loves to love. Links from the Show: Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

Episode 56–All Things Gender In this week’s episode of In the Den, Jen sits down with special guest Erik VonSosen and her mother Wendy to chat about all things gender related. They cover everything from gender performance, gender expression to gender experience, gender transition, and more. Special Guest: Wendy VonSosen Wendy joined Mama Dragons in 2016. She's the mother of 4 grown kids, including a transgender daughter. She and her husband recently relocated to Salt Lake City after living in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last 25 years. Their kids are scattered among California, Utah, and Arizona. When she's not on her computer, Wendy can be found walking her two dogs and trying to get her cat to like her. Special Guest: Erik Charlotte VonSosen Erik is a 22 year old writer, fashion designer, and recent college graduate living in Los Angeles. She works hard for the money, fueled by a passion for vintage dresses, transgender advocacy, and sour gummy bears. Links from the Show: Some gender definitions: https://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions More definitions: https://www.talkspace.com/blog/gender-identity-vs-gender-expression/ More on gender: https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/transgender-people-gender-identity-gender-expression Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

Words with Friends 10 Words with Friends episodes are bonus episodes where different members of Mama Dragons provide definitions for LGBTQ related topics. This episode includes the following definitions: Questioning shared by Maria Fergus in Washington Butch shared by Kellie in West Texas Femme shared by Michelle in Boise, Idaho Androgynous shared by M’Lisa E. in Idaho In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

The power that can come from seeing your own experiences reflected in stories cannot be understated. This week In the Den, Jen chats with New York Times bestselling author Mackenzi Lee about the importance of representation, and queer representation in particular, in literature. Representation matters because what we see in the media doesn't just reflect reality. It has the potential to shape it. Books that depict and normalize queer relationships, queer identities, and queer stories in books help increase understanding in general, and give LGBTQ young people a vision of what their future could be. Special Guest: Mackenzi Lee Mackenzi Lee holds a BA in history and an MFA from Simmons College in writing for children and young adults. She is the author of ten books, including The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, which was a New York Times bestseller, received a 2018 Stonewall Book Award Honor, and won the New England Book Award; and a series of novels for Marvel which tell the origin story of your favorite MCU antiheroes. Her adult debut, LADY LIKE, is forthcoming from Dial Press. In 2020, Forbes Magazine included her on their list of 30 Under 30 in media. She currently lives in Los Angeles with a fridge full of Diet Coke and a dog that weighs more than she does. Links from the Show: Mackenzi’s website: https://www.mackenzilee.com/ Mackenzi on IG: https://www.instagram.com/themackenzilee/?hl=en Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.com In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

EPISODE 54–Just the FAQs–Moms of Trans Minors In this episode of In the Den, Jen joins two mothers of young transgender children to answer a handful of frequently asked questions regarding actively parenting an underage trans child in today’s political climate. Because it isn’t currently safe to be a transgender child, and because we don’t wish to put trans children or their families at increased risk, we will be using pseudonyms and changing identifying information for this episode’s guests to protect their anonymity so that we can discuss these important topics without putting a target on families’ backs. When did your child first start talking to you about gender and what did that look like?How did you respond to those early ideas and conversations?Was there a specific point where you knew that this was a real thing? And what did you do at that point?Did your child experience dysphoria and what did that look like from the outside?What was the first step of transition for your child?What sorts of things came next?What transition related things do you see for your child’s future?How has this all been socially for your child and your family?How are the political conversations and current legislation impacting your family?What common myths can you debunk for us? Links from the show: Mama Dragons website: www.mamadragons.org Mama Dragons on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamadragons Mama Dragons on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themamadragons/ The Family Acceptance Project: https://lgbtqfamilyacceptance.org/ In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

In 2023, a record-breaking 586 bills were introduced across the United States that specifically targeted transgender people and their right to exist. From removing trans people's access to healthcare to their access to public bathrooms, sports, books, or simply the use of their names and pronouns, efforts to erase trans people were intense. The 2024 legislative season is around the corner, and there will undoubtedly be another onslaught of anti-LGBTQ bills up for debate. Neca Allgood returns to the podcast to talk about the upcoming legislative season with Jen. They discuss the general categories of anti-trans legislation that occur, how to combat misinformation, and ways to make a difference politically. They also discuss the importance of resilience, healthy boundaries, and self-care during difficult times. Special Guest: Neca Allgood Neca Allgood is the mother of a transgender son. She is a former President of Mama Dragons, a current Mama Dragons board member, and a former board member of Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families, and Friends. Neca and her husband own a small engineering consulting company. She has a PhD in Molecular Biology. And Neca has been a powerful political ally to the LGBTQ community for over a decade now. Links from the Show: ACLU Legislation Tracking: https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rightsTrans Equality 2023 Legislation Tracking by State: https://transequality.org/state-action-center Track Trans Legislation: https://www.tracktranslegislation.com/ Southern Poverty Law Center Hate Map: https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map PFLAG newsletters: https://pflag.org/newsletters/ Truth Sandwiches: https://www.pbs.org/standards/blogs/standards-articles/what-is-a-truth-sandwich/ National Center for Lesbian Rights: https://www.nclrights.org/ Sue Robbins website: https://sueinut.com/ GLSEN: https://www.glsen.org/ Equality Federation: https://www.equalityfederation.org/ Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

In the Den is one year old! To celebrate a full year of episodes, we’re turning the spotlight back onto our intrepid host Jen Blair. Mama Dragons Executive Director Celeste Carolin guest hosts and asks Jen about her experiences of having a child come out as gay and finding Mama Dragons in its earliest years of existence. We hope you enjoy this chance to get to know Jen better and to glimpse the source of her endless passion for creating a better world for parents of LGBTQ children. Special Guest: Jen Blair Jen has been a member of Mama Dragons since January 2014. She has a husband, four amazing kids, and one pet--a plastic skeleton dog that sits on her porch during the month of October. Originally from Utah, Jen currently lives in Idaho. When not practicing yoga or reading, she's often having lively conversations with strangers on the internet. Special Guest Host: Celeste Carolin Celeste Carolin studied business at Harvard Extension School and is currently earning a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from NCU. As a queer (lesbian) cisgender woman, she has worked with LGBTQ youth and non-profits for the past 10 years. Celeste has served in Mama Dragons leadership since 2016 and currently serves as the Mama Dragons Executive Director. She lives just outside Seattle with her lovely partner Jamie, extended family, grand kiddos, and their pup Jackson Blue. Both Celeste and her partner come from non accepting religious roots, which fuels Celeste's passion for understanding and serving the intersectionality of faith and parenting LGBTQ children. Links from the Show: Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast

Content Warning: Frank discussion of death by suicide In this week’s episode of In the Den, Jen sits down with fellow Mama Dragons Julie Turnbull and Alyson Paul Deussen to talk about their lived experiences as mothers surviving the loss of their sons to suicide. In this vulnerable discussion, they honestly share the difficult moments of parenting a suicidal child and the journey of grief that their lives took when their child died by suicide. We hope their insights help other parents who are facing the same unthinkable parenthood journey of loss. Special Guest: Julie Turnbull Julie Turnbull has been involved in LGBTQ ally spaces since 2014 when she joined the Mama Dragons FB group. In January 2015, her gay son Tyso, died by suicide, and Mama Dragons became the space for her to find support in her grief. She was also motivated to turn her grief into action, so she became more involved in Mama Dragons. In 2017, she was elected as the 2nd president of Mama Dragons. In 2018, she served as Mama Dragons President. Under her leadership, Mama Dragons received non-profit status and formed a 501c3. Currently she is serving as the podcast guest coordinator for In the Den with Mama Dragons podcast. Julie is self-employed and manages her own rental properties. She lives in Snohomish, Washington with her partner. She is the mother of 6 (5 living) and the grandmother of 4. Special Guest: Alyson Paul Deussen Alyson began her journey with the LGBT community in 2012 with her then newly out son, Stockton. Tragedy stuck in 2016 when Alyson lost Stockton to suicide. Since then, she has continued to share their story in an effort to bring awareness (#standingforstockton #ichooselove). She has been involved with Utah’s LGBTQ Suicide Prevention Workgroup, I’ll Walk With You, Affirmation, and Mama Dragons. Presently, Alyson is working with the Love Loud organization, Flourish Therapy, and has helped create sexual health training for parents. Alyson and her husband George are board members with the UofU Caring Connections: A Hope of Comfort in Grief Programs. The mission is to provide evidence based bereavement care for grieving persons. Alyson and her husband George have three kids, three grandkids, and currently live in North Salt Lake, UT. They enjoy doing humanitarian work, snow skiing, water skiing, soccer, and traveling. Links from the Show: Resources for Survivors of Suicide Loss: https://sprc.org/tools/resources-survivors-suicide-loss/Alyson and Stockton Al Jazeera America interview: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/6/30/mama-dragons-make-life-easier-for-gay-mormon-children.html#:~:text=The%20Mama%20Dragons%20offer%20one,families%20and%20are%20sometimes%20suicidal.Standing for Stockton website: https://www.standingforstockton.com/ Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org Connect with Mama Dragons: Website Instagram Facebook Donate to this podcast