Blog
Articles, questions and insights from the field
Articles
Diversity in Organizations — Not Just a Value, but a Business, Human, and Social Decision
Why organizations that invest in diversity and inclusion show stronger business performance, higher employee engagement, and a stronger employer brand — plus five practical steps you can start tomorrow morning.
Organizations
The Day After Pride: What Does True Organizational Commitment Look Like?
Every year, as June approaches, organizations get into the Pride spirit. Companies change their logos to Pride colors, HR and welfare teams rush to book a lecture, workshop, drag show, or panel with employees from the LGBTQ+ community. Bakeries work extra hours to design a colorful line of branded snacks for Happy Hour. This year…
Podcasts
Podcast 'Modern Family' — Pride Month 2025
Sarit is a guest on the podcast 'Modern Family' in honor of Pride Month 2025. A conversation about parenting, identity, and acceptance — through her family's personal story.
Gender Adjustment
Gender Identity Among Children
"The difference between support and rejection is life". On the importance of family support. Listen starting at minute 01:09:45 https://youtu.be/knNjvX6eoBI
Gender Adjustment
Gender Transition Among Children
"Expanding Gender" As society becomes more tolerant of diverse gender identities, girls and boys will feel safer expressing the gender they identify with. Jean Malpas, certified psychotherapist and global expert on gender issues https://youtu.be/TCQEcR7pi_Q
Gender Adjustment
Gender Transition Among Children and Consistency of Gender Expression Among Children
A study conducted by Dr. Kristina Olson and published in the American Academy of Pediatrics. Olson and her research partners conducted a continuous follow-up among children under the age of 10 who identified as transgender and gender diverse and began a process of social gender affirmation. One conclusion of this study is the fact that within a span of 5 years after the transition,
Journalism
Herzliya Pituach News – Alef Bet
Herzliya Pituach News – Alef Bet Opinion piece in the local newspaper on dealing with an LGBTQ+ child. For the full article.
Journalism
Morning Show "Choose Right – with Michal Tzafir"
An interview in the morning show with Michal Tzafir regarding the initial shock and the choice for an optimal future. For the full article.
Journalism
Parents is not a program of your choosing, we do not choose our children
Until Sarit's son told her that he is a boy in a girl's body, she "did not know what transgender people were." The same goes for Adi, whose daughter asked him to refer to her in the masculine form. Family Day is an opportunity to remember all kinds of families: "The home must be a safe space for everyone who shares it with us" for the full article.
Journalism
Kan 11 – "Also Culture" with Goeil Pinto
Kan 11 – "Also Culture" with Goeil Pinto, focusing on children and parents of transgender children and at what age this topic becomes significant – featuring Sarit Ben Shimol, a Proud Mom to a transgender youth, who consults families navigating their children's coming out process. For the full article.
Journalism
The First Social Radio – Teenagers About It
How do we cope with our teenager's coming out? What is a transgender spectrum? And more fascinating and interesting information that we should know as parents of teenagers / to the full article
Journalism
Mako Pride – Joint Interview with Mothers from the "Lionesses Alliance"
When a child in kindergarten says they feel like a girl, when a daughter realizes in tenth grade that she is actually a boy, this is a complex challenge for them and a test for the parents. The mothers of the "Lionesses Alliance" face this together, learning to support at home and fight outside. "People allow themselves to ask if he has undergone surgeries, say it’s irreversible, advise waiting. What are they..."
Journalism
Radio Five Live – Podcast Segment
Ayelet Gilad – personal and couples coach hosts Sarit Ben Shimol – who supports families in gender diversity change processes. Read the full article
Journalism
The First Social Radio – Ritmo in the Morning with Roni Logasi
Roni Logasi in conversation with people who dream and act for the benefit of society in Israel and around the world, hosting Sarit Ben Shimol, director of the Lioness Alliance – an organization for families of transgender children. For the full article
Journalism
Galey Tzahal – A Brotherhood of Brothers and Sisters with Dr. Elazar Ben Lulu
"The difference between support and rejection is life." On the importance of family support. Listen starting at minute 01:09:45 for the full article
Journalism
Kan Public Broadcasting – Pride Window with Itzik Yoshua
Sarit Ben Shimol, a Proud Mom of a transgender young adult, helps parents cope with their children coming out. Listen starting at 5:56 for the full article.
Journalism
The People We’ve Been Waiting For with Sarit Ben Shimol – The First Social Radio
The program The People We’ve Been Waiting For, broadcast on The First Social Radio and hosted by Iris London-Zolti, introduces listeners to people who dream and take action for the sake of society in Israel and around the world. This time, Sarit Ben Shimol, director of the Lionesses’ Alliance – an organization for families of transgender children, visited the studio. For the full article.
Journalism
Jerusalem Radio – Coming Out with Mor Lerman
In an interview with Mor Lerman, we discussed sexual identity, gender identity, and the status quo regarding the LGBTQ+ community in Israel and around the world. For the full article.
Journalism
Galatz Interview – Lucy Aharish
An honest conversation between two women about gender, parenthood, and unconditional love. Listen starting at minute 37:44 for the full article.
Journalism
Proud Mom: Sarit Ben Shimol's transgender son enlisted in combat
After her son, Dean, told her he is transgender, Sarit Ben Shimol underwent a transformation: she left her job after 17 years, studied coaching, and today travels around the country with her lecture "Proud Mom." And Dean? "He's over the moon," she says for the full article.
Podcasts
Podcast ‘Business Time’ — On Parenting, Identity, and Organizational Growth
Sarit Ben Shimol is a guest on the ‘Business Time’ podcast for an open and thought-provoking conversation about the connection between parenting and management, developing mental flexibility, and human leadership.
Gender Adjustment
How can you know what gender identity is at a young age?
Gender Adjustment
Recruiting Partners for the Coming Out Journey
Gender Adjustment
Concealment Does Not Erase the Existence of Gender Incongruence
Gender Adjustment
It’s just a trend – it will pass!
Journalism
Wow Health – The Child Came Out of the Closet, Now What? 5 Tips for Parents
What happens to a parent after their child shares their sexual orientation with them or tells them they are transgender? After experiencing this firsthand, Sarit Ben Shimol has some important insights for parents. What would you do if your child shared with you that they are attracted to boys? What would your reaction be if your daughter told you she loves girls?…
Journalism
YNET Studio – with Atalia Shompalbi
"Parenting is not a choose-your-own-adventure, we don’t choose our children." Until Sarit’s son told her that he is a boy in a girl’s body, she "didn’t know what transgender meant." This is also the case for Adi, whose daughter asked him to refer to her using male pronouns. Family Day is an opportunity to remember all types of families: "The home must be a safe space for all…
Podcasts
Podcast 'Straight Friendly' — Coming Out of the Closet of Parents (Part A + B)
Sarit Ben Shimol guests on the podcast 'Straight Friendly' in two fascinating parts. A conversation about family as a result of coming out of the closet of relatives — and the inspiration for establishing the Pride Alliance.
Parents
The Lioness Alliance: When the Parent Needs Support
When a child comes out as transgender, parents find themselves in a reality for which they have no map. My journey as the CEO of the Lioness Alliance taught me that genuine support for parents is not just comfort, but a foundation for deep and stable family acceptance.
Journalism
I Wish I Had Been Exposed to Gender Diversity at the Beginning of My Journey as a Proud Mom
Last week, a Hebrew translation of the book "I Am Jazz" based on the life of transgender girl Jazz Jennings was published. The book was written with delicacy and sensitivity, but there were those who sought to exploit the launch for hatred and division. Read the full article