Katie tells Jaimie about how she went from not wanting kids to ending up with 10 of them. As a queer mom who built her family through fostering and adoption, Katie shares her journey of embracing a queer identity while married to a man, and navigating the unique challenges of parenting a big family. Together, they dive into themes of love, chosen family, and the deep connections that come with fostering and adoption. Katie also talks about her work with Camp Quest, a summer camp dedicated to critical thinking and inclusion. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about creating safe spaces and empowering young minds.

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🏳️‍🌈Key Takeaways:🏳️‍🌈 

• Katie Hladky-Grant's journey underscores the intersectionality of queer identity and foster care, highlighting how LGBTQIA individuals often excel in nurturing environments for adopted and fostered children.
• The complexities of balancing personal identity, family dynamics, and the societal perceptions of queer relationships provide enriching perspectives on modern family structures.
• Camp Quest serves as a beacon for encouraging critical thinking and individuality among children, standing in opposition to traditional gender and heteronormative segregation.
• This episode intricately discusses the role of foster care within the LGBTQIA community, advocating for more inclusive and expansive definitions of family and parental roles.
• Jaimie and Katie’s dialogue illustrates the broader implications of chosen family and community, emphasizing the strength and resilience often found in non-traditional family settings.

🏳️‍🌈About The Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈

• Katie Hladky-Grant is a queer foster parent and Camp Quest leader from Ohio, dedicated to supporting vulnerable children and fostering critical thinking in youth education.

🏳️‍🌈Resources mentioned in the episode: 

• Camp Quest - an organization focused on promoting critical thinking and fostering an accepting environment for children. www.campquest.org 
• The founding executive director of Camp Quest, Amanda Metskas, co-authored Raising Freethinkers, which includes a chapter about Camp Quest and reflects their secular humanist approach to youth development. You can explore the book here.

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🏳️‍🌈Edited by Jerson Barajas. Theme song: ⁠⁠⁠Tiffany Topol⁠⁠⁠\ Logo art: Daneen Stevenato.

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