We’re back for more of our Being Seen and Heard series! In a time where it feels like we are struggling to really see and hear one another, there are some bright lights who make it their mission to help one another understand each other a little better. Our guest today, Sara Cunningham, the founder of FreeMomHugs.org, is one amazing example of what can happen when we really see people for who they are and begin to hear their stories. Sara was on the show right at the beginning of her journey with Free Mom Hugs, and now the org—which started with the simple idea of attending Pride parades and holding up a sign that said “Free Mom Hugs,”—has become a national and world wide phenomenon. She uses her own experience as a guide to how she advocates, and is absolutely passionate about connecting with faith, civic, business, and government leaders in efforts to make the world a kinder safer place for our LGBTQIA+ family.  

Sara and Jen touch on these topics:

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Thought-Provoking Quotes:

“I remember there was a time, at the beginning of that journey, I call from the church to the pride parade. It was like reality was setting in. The bubble that I was in, the evangelical conservative mainstream bubble that I was in where everyone looked like me and talked like me, had just shattered. And I wanted to take a banner and put it outside of my house on the front door, like, welcome to the real world. And suddenly it's like my eyes are truly open.” - Sara Cunningham

“I think about [my son] Parker early on in his journey of self-discovery and then coming to live authentically. He had people in his life that had survived the loss, who had survived being outed, kicked out of their place of worship and losing their family. Just seeing them go beyond that and thriving and having a place of their own and working and contributing to society; he saw people that had faced what he feared and then came out on the other side of it.” - Sara Cunningham 

“Our mission statement is that we empower the world to celebrate the community through visibility, education, and conversation.” - Sara Cunningham, about FreeMomHugs.org

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Mama Bears

FTL Episode ft. Sydney Hatmaker 

Kai Shappley’s Website

Free Mom Hugs Revolution Conference

Kimberly Shappley’s Website

Glennon Doyle’s Website

How We Sleep at Night: A Mother’s Memoir by Sara Cunningham

Good Friend with Jamie Lee Curtis ft Sara Cunningham

HRC Oklahoma

ACLU Oklahoma

Freedom Oklahoma

Guest’s Links:

FreeMomHugs Website

FreeMomHugs Facebook

FreeMomHugs Instagram

FreeMomHugs Twitter

FreeMomHugs Youtube

Connect with Jen! Jen’s website

Jen’s InstagramJen’s Twitter

Jen’s FacebookJen’s YouTube

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