Out! and Into Open Arms
When a young person comes out as LGBTQ+, especially as transgender or nonbinary, parents, caregivers, and other adults in their life may find themselves navigating personal emotions, interpersonal challenges, and societal barriers while learning how to best offer support.
Out! and Into Open Arms, from NH Outright, is here to guide parents and others who care about LGBTQ+ youth through that journey. Every child’s coming out story is unique, and this series helps caring adults learn to lead with love, embrace the process, and feel confident in supporting a young person through this next chapter of life.
Hosts Jess Goff and Mark Belanger sit down with four families of LGBTQ+ youth to share real stories, insights, and guidance on how to walk alongside a child exploring their identity, and how to show up as the supportive caregiver that they need.
Listen on:
Episodes
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
In the first episode, you’ll meet your hosts, Jess (she/her) and Mark (he/him). We’ll talk about the basics of supporting a young person who’s coming out and what to expect in the rest of the podcast. You’ll also hear from our first family! Izy (they/them), an active ten-year-old, and their parent, Dave (he/him), talk about their coming out experience, including initial reactions, haircuts, and being brave.
To learn more, please visit NH Outright, especially the page for Out! and Into Open Arms, and the additional resources section. For crisis support, please consider the Trevor Project. You can access their 24x7 text line, chat line, and phone line here, or by calling 1-866-488-7386, or by texting START to 678-678.
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Fifteen-year-old artist Jordan (he/him) and his parent Karen (she/her) reflect on the joys and challenges since coming out four years ago, including supportive siblings, finding community, and pronoun mix-ups.
To learn more, please visit NH Outright, especially the page for Out! and Into Open Arms, and the additional resources section. For crisis support, please consider the Trevor Project. You can access their 24x7 text line, chat line, and phone line here, or by calling 1-866-488-7386, or by texting START to 678-678.
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Jemma (she/her), who has an advanced brown belt in karate, and her parent, Michelle (she/her), talk about how she’s grown into the happiest version of herself, including new clothes, name changes, and navigating gender dysphoria from a young age.
To learn more, please visit NH Outright, especially the page for Out! and Into Open Arms, and the additional resources section. For crisis support, please consider the Trevor Project. You can access their 24x7 text line, chat line, and phone line here, or by calling 1-866-488-7386, or by texting START to 678-678.
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Peter (he/him), an aspiring young actor, and his parent, Mary (she/her), share his experience of coming out, including fearing rejection, sense of belonging, and navigating conflict with unaccepting family members.
To learn more, please visit NH Outright, especially the page for Out! and Into Open Arms, and the additional resources section. For crisis support, please consider the Trevor Project. You can access their 24x7 text line, chat line, and phone line here, or by calling 1-866-488-7386, or by texting START to 678-678.
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
In this episode, we talk about the power of community. All four families share how leaning on the LGBTQ+ community has helped them and their child be more resilient in the face of adversity.
To learn more, please visit NH Outright, especially the page for Out! and Into Open Arms, and the additional resources section. For crisis support, please consider the Trevor Project. You can access their 24x7 text line, chat line, and phone line here, or by calling 1-866-488-7386, or by texting START to 678-678.
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
In this episode, we talk about how parents can support youth as they navigate social challenges, and hear from the families on topics like: how and when to tell the school, how to handle peer rejection or bullying, how to find your path in the world of sports, and how to share your kid’s identity with others.
To learn more, please visit NH Outright, especially the page for Out! and Into Open Arms, and the additional resources section. For crisis support, please consider the Trevor Project. You can access their 24x7 text line, chat line, and phone line here, or by calling 1-866-488-7386, or by texting START to 678-678.
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
In this episode, we hear from families and talk about navigating unique challenges like being misgendered, dealing with the binary bathroom problem, and accessing inclusive healthcare.
To learn more, please visit NH Outright, especially the page for Out! and Into Open Arms, and the additional resources section. For crisis support, please consider the Trevor Project. You can access their 24x7 text line, chat line, and phone line here, or by calling 1-866-488-7386, or by texting START to 678-678.
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
In the final episode, we want to leave you with words of wisdom, hope, and optimism as you embark on your own adventure of supporting youth who are coming out. Stick around until the end of the episode for a surprise!
To learn more, please visit NH Outright, especially the page for Out! and Into Open Arms, and the additional resources section. For crisis support, please consider the Trevor Project. You can access their 24x7 text line, chat line, and phone line here, or by calling 1-866-488-7386, or by texting START to 678-678.