Heather Hester is the founder of Chrysalis Mama which provides support and education to parents and allies of LGBTQIA adolescents, teenagers, and young adults. She is also the creator and host of the podcast Just Breathe: Parenting your LGBTQ Teen. As an advocate and coach for parents and allies, she believes the coming out process is equal parts beautiful and messy. She works with her clients to let go of fear and feelings of isolation so that they can reconnect with themselves and their children in a meaningful, grounded way. Heather creates a space where growth and shifts can occur through education and empowerment, instilling the confidence that anyone can move through the coming-out process with understanding and love. She is also a speaker and consultant for corporations, teaching how to be better LGBTQ+ allies from the inside out. Heather is a writer and entrepreneur, married to her best friend of 28 years, the mother of four extraordinary kids (two of whom are LGBTQIA), and a student of life who believes in being authentic and embracing the messiness.
“Heather Hester has written a beautiful and poignant must-read for any parent or caregiver raising an LGBTQ+ identified youth, no matter where they or you are on your journey. Infused with first-hand wisdom and transparency, Heather has the ability to tackle tough and realistic issues facing the LGBTQ+ community and their families in such a warm and inviting way. Through the use of humor and heartfelt personal experiences, she opens up to you about grief, despair, fear, celebration, and love, as if you were sitting and having a warm cup of coffee together. I wish this book existed when I was coming out, so my mom wouldn’t have felt so alone and could have taken comfort in knowing there were other parents out there going through similar journeys.” -- Kate Versage, LGBTQ+ life coach and expressive arts therapist