07. Talking Queerness: Gender-Affirming Perspectives and Resources with Lindz Amer

Camp Wild Heart

When I was a kid, nobody talked to me at all about queer people, except maybe to tell me that they were sinful and going to hell. I don’t think I really even started to learn about queerness in any way other than the negative until I was in high school. And even then, it wasn’t exactly what I would call affirming. And I know my experience isn’t uncommon.

Times have really changed when it comes to the acceptance of the queer community by the dominant cishet society that we live in in the U.S. and it has opened to door to having conversations with kids about queerness and gender much earlier and in a much more positive way.

The problem is because so few of us parents had a positive introduction to this, there are lots of questions about when and how to start these conversations with our kids.

We need resources for talking to kids about queerness.

And that’s where today’s guest comes in.

Lindz Amer (they/them) is the founder and CEO of Queer Kids Creative, a digital entertainment company spreading queer joy and queer-focused intersectional, all-ages media. They wrote, produced, and co-hosted Queer Kid Stuff, an original LGBTQ+ educational web series for ages three and up, for four season and over 50 episodes. They continue to perform QKS music and stories at schools, museums, libraries, and local LGBTQ+ centers all over the country.

They also produce and host a family-friendly podcast called Activist You, where they explore social justice topics through interviews with kids and youth activists. And they just launched a new podcast called Rainbow Parenting.

Their work has been featured by Good Morning America, Kids Screen, NBC Out, Teen Vogue, Shondaland, and Parents Magazine, among others, and their TED Talk, Why Kids Need to Learn About Gender and Sexuality, has been viewed almost 3 million times.

Check out the full episode to hear about:

• How Queer Kid Stuff evolved as a way to meet kids where they already were with “queer theory meets Mr. Rogers”
• Lindz’s practical and emotional advice for helping your kiddo navigate social media
• Why Lindz is making parent and adult-focused content that helps them create affirming environments for their kids
• Why every human needs an education on gender and sexuality

Find our more about Lindz Amer:

• Queer Kid Stuff
• Activist You Podcast
• Rainbow Parenting Podcast
• Instagram: @lindzamer
• Twitter: @lindzamer
• TED Talk: Why Kids Need to Learn About Gender and Sexuality
• Preorder Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies
• Subscribe to the Queer Kid Stuff Newsletter

Find out more about Mackenzie Dunham:

• Wildheartsociety.org
• wildheartsociety.org/downloads
• Wild Heart Society on Facebook
• Wild Heart Society on Instagram