Tyanna’s Corner

How to be an Indestructible Human Being

Many of us take for granted the fact that we have food, a comfortable bed, and are safe. But there are people who are starving, homeless, and abused and still able to build their life despite the challenges of living without shelter and acceptance.

As a child, Tyanna suffered physical and mental abuse because her mother rejected her for being herself. At the age of nine, she had suicidal thoughts and was placed in a foster home. For most of her 20s, she was homeless.

Today, our special guest Tyanna Thompson shares her story of coming out as a black beautiful human being and how she was able to publish her book in a homeless shelter. She also talks about her traumatic experience at home and in church. Tyanna overcame the challenges life threw at her and now she is stronger and fearless.

‍Highlights
• Tyanna’s story of coming out and escaping her mother’s abuse
• Discover how she published a book in a homeless shelter
• Her battles on depression, suicide, alcoholism, and being homeless
• Learn the damage that religion can do a child who is questioning their sexuality; and
• Learn what makes Tyanna indestructible

‍Links
‍Follow Tyanna Thompson on Instagram @bomw_inc and grab her book Uncensored: Revised Edition 2021

Follow Dr. Lulu on her socials to learn more about queer parenting: On Instagram and Facebook @askdoctorlulu; on Tiktok @uuchenna; on Twitter: @UchennaUmeh9; on YouTube Ask Doctor Lulu; and on LinkedIn Dr. Lulu

Grab Dr. Lulu’s book: A Teen’s Life: looking at Teen’s Lives Through Their Daily Struggles and visit her website https://www.dr-lulu.com/

Feel free to share this podcast with your family and friends if you find it useful. Also, join her Facebook group: Positively Parenting Your LGBTQ* Child(ren) and talk with other parents and allies about anything LGBTQ-related.

Jamie’s Corner

If You Know Your Child, You Know

How do you know your child?

All parents want the best for their children. We should support them regardless of who they are or what they want to do. As parents, we also look for people who have a similar experience as ours to talk to about our children.

Today, our guest Jamie shares her story of being a mother to queer human, how she knows her child, her awareness and understanding. She stresses the importance of accepting people exactly the way they are without conditions, not blaming anyone, and celebrating what makes each person unique.

‍Show Highlights:
• How Jamie was able to bond and connect with her queer son
• Learn when did Jamie realize that her child was unique
• Find out how a toxic environment affects children’s mind
• Discover how Jamie keeps her child out of the closet; and
• Her advice to parents to accept their children with no condition

‍

Links:
‍Follow Jamie on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about how she helps mother and daughter relationships as a coach.

Follow Dr. Lulu on her socials to learn more about queer parenting: On Instagram and Facebook @askdoctorlulu; on Tiktok @uuchenna; on Twitter: @UchennaUmeh9; on YouTube Ask Doctor Lulu; and on LinkedIn Dr. Lulu

‍Grab Dr. Lulu’s book: A Teen’s Life: looking at Teen’s Lives Through Their Daily Struggles and visit her website https://www.dr-lulu.com/

‍Feel free to share this podcast with your family and friends if you find it useful. Also, join her Facebook group: Positively Parenting Your LGBTQ* Child(ren) and talk with other parents and allies about anything LGBTQ-related.

Kayla’s Corner

Overcoming The Shame And Fear Of Rejection

We’ve heard several coming-out stories in the past, but this one is something worth listening to. Kayla, a therapist, shares her story about overcoming the shame and fear of rejection she felt prior to her coming out to her family and friends made her the empowered woman that she is today.

In this episode, let’s hear Kayla as she shares her stories of coming out to a religious family especially to her grandparents, her struggles as a black queer,  being open about herself before opening up to anyone, and how she works with parents with queer kids as a therapist.

‍Show Highlights:
• Kayla shares her coming out story
• The levels of coming out
• She talks about what it’s like being queer and black in today’s society
• Her road to acceptance and how it contributed to who she is now
• How her experiences helped her in her profession as a therapist
• Her message to her younger self and to other girls who experiences the same struggles with her
• Her message to parents who have queer children
• Her advice to the LGBTQIA+ community especially those who are in the closet

‍Links Mentioned:Kayla is a therapist and mental health advocate who loves to talk about things that matter on Instagram @questionkayla28 and Youtube.

Catch more episodes of Pride Corner on Youtube and hear more on Dr. Lulu on Clubhouse @drlulu.

Shannon’s Corner

Stay-at-home Mom of 7 Kids

Raising 7 kids seems like a tough job, but not for Shannon. She’s been a stay-at-home mom for 20 years and has been graced as a parent for 17 years which molded her to be the mom that she is now.

Being a mother of 7 and being classified as an interracial couple, she’s prepared for whatever comes their way. So when her 12-year old daughter came out as queer to her and her husband, their home was filled with nothing but love and acceptance.

Now, Shannon speaks about how having a queer child doesn’t make any difference to her unwavering love and support for her children, and that immersing yourself in the knowledge and resources about LGBTQIA+ available to you can help you be prepared for possible situations that may arise in the future.

‍Show Highlights:

• The coming-of-age story of a 12-year old and how she came out to her parents
• Why Shannon doesn’t think it’s not a big deal and issue for her child to be queer
• How being open to talking and listening to your children about broad topics can positively affect your home and relationship with each other
• Shannon gives advice for parents who are struggling to accept their queer children

‍Links Mentioned:

‍Follow Dr. Lulu on her socials to learn more about queer parenting: @askdoctorlulu on Instagram and Facebook,@uuchenna on TikTok, @UchennaUmeh9 on Twitter, and search Dr. Lulu on LinkedIn. For more information about life coaching, visit her website at dr-lulu.com‍

If you find meaningful information in this podcast, feel free to share it with your loved ones. You can also join our Facebook group to chat along with fellow parents and allies about everything and anything about queer parenting.

For supplemental reading, you can check out Dr. Lulu’s book about anti-racism, female empowerment, and parenting on her website at drlulubooks.com

For a queer, coming out to family would be one of the most intimate, vulnerable, and important moments they will ever share together. But what if the family struggles to accept? This is how it happened with this episode’s guests, Rebecca and Carla.

Rebecca came out in 2013 and gained a positive response from her family, including her stepdad. But her mom, being known as religious and strict, didn’t take in her revelation that well.

For Carla, the reaction of their family when they came out was expected, with their background as a religious Latin family. Fortunately, they found an ally with their little sister, who is 8 years younger than them.

Both stories feature how every journey of acceptance is personal and can be shared with others who are going through the same path.

‍Show Highlights:

• The coming out story of Rebecca and Carla
• Their message to parents who struggle to accept their queer children
• How they overcame the lack of acceptance within their own families
• The importance of chosen families and friends
• Advice to the queer people who are not accepted by their own families
• How Rebecca and Carla both created their own world and safe space where they fully embrace themselves

‍Links Mentioned:

‍If you’re a parent of a queer or know someone who is and needs to be educated, join the Facebook group Positively Parenting Your LGBTQ* 🏳️🌈 Child(ren).

For questions, comments, and suggestions, you can message Dr. Lulu on Instagram @askdoctorlulu, or email her at coach@dr-lulu.com. You can also visit her website at dr-lulu.com for more queer parenting tips, life coaching advice, and consultations. You can also reach her at 8027681180.