This Woman Offered To Be A Stand-In Mom At Same-Sex Weddings And People Love It

[demmiblue]

"I'm simply doing what I wish someone would have done when I was trying to figure things out, being a woman of faith and a mother with a gay son."

This is Sara Cunningham, she's a mother of two from Ohio who works at an architecture firm.

She's also an ordained minister, and an LGBTQ+ advocate. Cunningham told BuzzFeed News that having a gay son has directed her activism.

"I thought 'if my son is going to hell for being gay I'm gonna fight for him like my hair is on fire,'" she said. "Since then I've gotten educated and no longer believe that- so now I've fighting for him and the LGBTQ community like my hair is on fire because I've seen the power of what fear and ignorance can do."

Since 2016, Cunningham has married people all over Ohio, including lots of LGBTQ+ couples.

On Friday, Cunningham shared a post on Facebook volunteering to attend the weddings of any same-sex couples who don't have support from their parents.



https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hanifahrahman/this-woman-has-offered-to-be-a-stand-in-mom-lgbt-weddings?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc

What a wonderful woman, and what a wonderful response!

[Wounded Bear]

1. K & R...nt

[Initech]

2. This mom rules!

[ProfessorPlum]

3. note how freeing it is to just decide that

"gay people going to hell" is just bullshit and can be ignored. Would that everyone came to that conclusion.

[IronLionZion]

4. Awesome sauce!

[irisblue]

5. Correction by Buzzfeed...Oklahoma Mom. It got better. 💘💘

CORRECTION/Buzzfeed
July 24, 2018, at 10:33 a.m.
Sara Cunningham is from Oklahoma. An earlier version of this article said she was from Ohio.

[demmiblue]

18. Thank you for posting the correction!

[irisblue]

19. That makes it even sweeter

[B Stieg]

6. America still has a heart!

Beating somewhat faintly, perhaps, but still there despite the heinous vulgarity and punitive governance of Trump's.

Thank you, Sara! (and demmiblue)

Vote!

[RedSpartan]

7. THIS is what Jesus would do.

All you fake Christian evangelicals can take a hike.

[3catwoman3]

11. Exactly right.

This is ministry.

[Aristus]

8. In the twenty-five years that I've known her, Mrs. Aristus has gone from "gay people are going

to Hell" to "If the Bible says gay people are going to Hell, then the Bible is wrong!" plus having a lesbian co-worker whom she loves like a daughter and is fiercely protective of.

Watching loved ones grow and improve is a wonderful thing to behold...

[Solly Mack]

9. What a wonderful person!

[marble falls]

10. If there's anyone within 200 - 300 miles of Marble Falls, Tx who needs a dad ...

to stand in and walk them down the aisle, this semi presentable old man would be honored.

There's never been a right "given" to anyone that ever ate into my rights. If two people want to make the difference in each other's life than I would be tickled to be part of their moment.

I come into the deal with a designated mom, too. She'd be tickled to be part of your happiness, too.

[ChazInAz]

12. I was thinking the same.

Anybody who needs a dad in the Tucson area to give someone away, give me a shout. (Don't have a Mom for you, though...I'm a widower.) When cleaned up and put in a suit, I look like Bela Lugosi, which might be a plus in some circles! You don't even have to worry about me getting drunk at the reception.

[marble falls]

13. The next time driving through Tucson we can meet up and discuss our children's love ...

filled weddings. I do have a sister in Globe, (my nephew lives in Tucson), she just might stand in with you ...

[colsohlibgal]

14. That Is One Awesome Lady!

Compassion and perspective, qualities this lady has and what the Trumpsters lack.

[AwakeAtLast]

15. I would do that in a heartbeat!

I'm in So. IL, but I like road trips!

[nitpicker]

16. Where was the support for a person I knew?

Who got pressured to join his mother's church on Easter Sunday.

And died three days later from a heart attack.

[demmiblue]

17. And there's more:

The 'Free Mom Hugs' movement offers support to LGBTQ youth in need of love and acceptance

When Sara Cunningham's (@MamaBearOk) son came out, it was initially difficult to balance his sexuality with what she had been taught by her church. But she ultimately came to the conclusion that her religion would not stand in the way of her relationship with her son and became an "accidental activist," starting the @freemomhugs support group that travels the country to support LGBTQ youth. Cunningham will even go to your wedding if you need a loving stand-in.

As I travel with the @freemomhugs message I often hear from the older LGBTQ community "I wish you were around 20 years ago!" I like to respond with the following. 1. Thank you for paving the way for my son. 2. Forgive me for taking so long to get here and 3. I ain't leavin'!

Link to tweet

@MamaBearOk I know u weren’t personally in Lexington, KY 6/30 for our Pride Festival, but I encountered a FreeMomHugs group. This was my first Pride Festival and first encounter w/FreeMomHugs and I was moved to tears. I’m a newly out gay christian ❤️

Link to tweet

https://twitter.com/i/moments/1021835995287699457

Phenomenal women!