The Queer Family Podcast – LGBTQ Families & Queer Parenting Stories · Jaimie Kelton – Queer Parenting & LGBTQ Families'.

Come Out. Make Art. Repeat. | Coming Out Later in Life + Raising a Trans Teen

·49 min·1 clip

I need to let myself be the person I wanted to be in relationships fully.

This episode of The Queer Family Podcast features host Jamie in conversation with guest Hildy Festerling, a queer mom, author, and podcaster. They explore Hildy's journey of coming out later in life and parenting a transgender teenager. Hildy discusses leaving her marriage after realizing she is a lesbian, not bisexual as she long believed. She details co-parenting amicably with her ex-husband and her children's supportive reactions to her transition. Hildy's older child, AJ, is a non-binary trans teen who began their gender journey during early adolescence. Her younger son, Felix, who is dyslexic, became a profound ally who never misgendered his sibling. Hildy's current partner, Mandy, is a poet who acts as an "auntie" figure rather than a step-parent. The creation of Hildy's all-ages podcast, "The Goat American Novel," became integral to her family's story. The podcast features voice acting from her children, siblings, ex-husband, girlfriend, and even her father. Hildy began writing the barnyard gothic story for Felix during the tumultuous period of leaving her marriage. The writing process became a joyful exploration of alternative family structures and ways of living. Her children became active collaborators, serving as a "writer's room" that ensured no plot points were left dangling. Felix, despite reading challenges, conceived a clever, multi-layered ending for the story's villain that solved several plot problems. Recording the podcast provided a sacred, conflict-free space for Hildy and AJ during AJ's difficult early adolescence. AJ voiced a character inspired by them, and Hildy witnessed them grow into a more confident, heroic role through their acting. Hildy navigates a tension as a children's creator between being openly queer and creating work accessible in conservative areas. She notes children's literature has a deeply queer canon, with many classic authors being LGBTQ+. Her podcast includes queer characters and themes, like a butch goat matriarchy and a yearling goat's slow-burn coming out, but doesn't lead with that identity. The tone is warm, conversational, and deeply personal, blending heartfelt parenting stories with creative process insights. Listeners interested in late-in-life coming out narratives, queer parenting, and family-centered art projects will love this episode. Those seeking a highly structured debate or purely political discussion might find it less aligned with their interests.

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