Chris Tomkins is an uncle to five children, a TEDx speaker, spiritual life coach, and LGBTQ inner advocate. Chris has been a staunch LGBTQ+ advocate for over 15 years working with organizations like the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD.

What began as a letter, he wrote to his family to address a conversation that was not taking place, became an article, a TEDx talk, and is now a new book called Raising LGBTQ Allies, A Parent’s Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground. It is the first parenting book to focus on the prevention of homophobia, transphobia, and bullying, before they even begin.

He joins us today to shed light on the deeper multifaceted layers of homophobia and his book that encourages families to have open and authentic conversations in a practical, timely, and inclusive way.