Supporting LGBTQ children with kindness is not about getting everything right. It is about showing up with care, even when parents and caregivers feel unsure, afraid, or caught between deeply held beliefs and deep love for their child.
In this episode, Nicole speaks with Dr. Caitlin Ryan, founder of the Family Acceptance Project, whose research has helped families understand how everyday interactions shape a child’s health and sense of belonging. Through years of listening to LGBTQ young people and their families, Dr. Ryan has seen how small relational shifts can reduce harm and strengthen connection, even in difficult circumstances.
Their conversation acknowledges a reality many families live with but rarely say out loud. Sometimes reactions that cause pain are rooted in fear, love, or a desire to protect, not rejection. Dr. Ryan explains how learning new ways to communicate care can change outcomes for both children and parents.
A meaningful part of the discussion centers on faith and cultural values. Rather than dismissing those beliefs, Dr. Ryan shares how families can honor them while still choosing kindness, curiosity, and relationship. Again and again, she has seen that approach open the door to healing.
Listeners are invited to reflect on one guiding question. What does kindness look like in this family, right now? The episode offers realistic steps grounded in research and compassion, reminding families that support does not require perfection, only presence.
Learn more about the research discussed in this episode at the
Family Acceptance Project: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu
