**This episode was recorded on July 7, 2023, one week after the Supreme Court issued its ruling in 303 Creative allowing some private businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

If you’ve been listening to the podcast over the past few months, you know that I’ve been worried about the safety and mental health of the queer community, especially queer kids, as they sustain broadside after broadside from the far-right, the Republican Party, which has firmly set the queer community in its sights. Hundreds of pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation have passed in Republican-led states – banning books with LGBT content, banning drag, banning trans treatment, and banning LGBTQ discussion in certain places. All of this stigmatizes and marginalizes an already vulnerable community. This, in turn, heightens not just the perception of hostility, but actual hostility and violence against LGBTQ-identified individuals. As you might know from my conversation a couple of weeks ago with Beverly Tillery of the Anti-Violence Project, this rhetoric and legislation has led to an increase in anxiety and fear within the queer community, but also actual, tangible incidents of violence against the community.

On today’s episode I want to dig further into the toll this is taking on queer people, queer families, and queer youth. So, I’m talking to Dr. Abbie Goldberg – Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University, and the Director of Women and Gender Studies. A leading scholar on LGBTQ families and queer youth, Dr. Goldberg has published over 140 articles, 25 books chapters, and 4 books – including, most recently, LGBTQ Family Building – A Guide for Prospective Parents. She’s also written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Boston Globe, and New York Magazine. 

We talk about some of her research, the challenges that LGBTQ families face irrespective of anti-LGBT legislation, but also the impact that this legislation is having on LGBTQ families and youth, the choices people face to stay or leave increasingly hostile environments, and how we can all, and should all, help LGBTQ families and youth in need.

And, then after the interview, an AI assistant comes through in its support for LGBT youth.

Recommended:
LGBTQ Family Building: A Guide for Prospective Parents - Abbie Goldberg

Mentioned:
Equality Florida
Claude 2

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Majestic Earth - Joystock