Elena Joy Thurston: How Parents Can Protect Their LGBTQ+ Kids This School Year

Risking To Be Heard: Speaking to my hometown school board to advocate for their first GSA.

Today I'm sharing with you an experience I had earlier this week when I went back to my hometown in rural Wisconsin to speak at the school board meeting where they were holding a public hearing to determine if they were going to "allow" the creation of a GSA - which they called the Pride/Ally Club!

In the episode I'm going to share with you my thought process in deciding to go back and speak, the emotional roller coaster that is being fully authentic in a place where I learned to protect myself at all costs, and the power of a collective effort to advocate for what is right in a community where I never thought I'd see a day that I'd stand up, at a microphone, and share my true self.

Watch the recording of the meeting here: https://youtu.be/C5Q7tSg39ZQ

Notable timestamps:
3:40 - Opening the Public Hearing re: club creation

5:30 - Proposed club advisor shares a student-created presentation re: Pride/Ally Club

13:00 - Floor is opened for public comment (Warning: many of the public comments cite religious texts, weaponize the bible, and include inflammatory statements. There are also several references to suicide throughout. Please take care of yourself.)

31:30 - I speak. There are SEVERAL folks who spoke in favor throughout - almost too many to list!

2:14:45 - Board Discussion and vote on creation of Pride/Ally club

Elena Joy Thurston: How Parents Can Protect Their LGBTQ+ Kids This School Year

Today, parents of LGBTQ+ youth today are no longer worried about the other kids at school, this year we’re way more concerned about the other adults in the room with our children every day.  Will my child be ridiculed by a teacher or staff member?  Will their pronouns be respected? Will they be told they can’t dress a certain way or not allowed to use restrooms? So, how can we support our vulnerable kids legally, emotionally, and physically? My guest, Elena Joy Thurston (she/her), is here to share how you can find this knowledge and support.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Elena addresses barriers to information access for parents of LGBTQ+ youth
• One of the most impactful strategies for holding adults accountable in schools
• Three different types of energy that we feel when we want to speak up 
• The difference between Gen X and Gen Z in the workplace

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue this conversation with you over on Instagram! @megstheconnector

SHOW NOTES: http://www.megsthebrand.com/episode85

Q&A with my fiancée! Dating & communicating as a queer couple and what is needed from allies more than ever!

Support the show

Abi Mallick: Setting Healthy Boundaries & The Psychology of Happiness

People who only observe the LGBTQ community from afar might glean that going to the club is the primary way that queer folks experience happiness, but queer joy comes in many forms! My guest today, Abi Mallick (he/she/they), teaches about the psychology of happiness with a queer lens along with talking about boundaries, self-expression, building community, and social activism.

In this episode, we cover:

• What the difference is between over- and under-boundaries
• How Abi became comfortable sharing their agender & nonbinary identity with others
• The four things that lead to long-term happiness according to psychology
• Joining a queer embroidery group and other ways Abi finds community

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue this conversation with you over on Instagram! @megstheconnector

Are you an LGBTQ-identifying human looking for the ultimate community building space? Join the Queer Impact Collective!

SHOW NOTES: http://www.megsthebrand.com/episode83

Dr. Lulu: Saving Your LGBTQ Kid's Life & Common Misconceptions About The Queer Community

Fear of their parents’ or loved ones’ reactions is what holds many teens back from coming out and sharing their identity. So how can you support an LGBTQ teen in your life? Find out in my conversation with Dr. Lulu (she/her), a certified life coach who currently works with parents of LGBTQ+ kids, helping them create safe spaces through self love, self acceptance, affirmation and support of their children. If you’re a parent, this episode is for you!

In this episode, we cover:

• How Dr. Lulu pivoted from a pediatrician to a life coach for parents of queer youth
• What your LGBTQ child wants from you today
• How long it takes for parents of queer kids to overcome their initial hesitations
• Common misconceptions about bisexuality and the LGBTQ community

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue this conversation with you over on Instagram! @megstheconnector

Are you an LGBTQ-identifying human looking for the ultimate community building space? Join the Queer Impact Collective!

SHOW NOTES: http://www.megsthebrand.com/episode82