Dear John —

As a Christian mom of a gay kid and as the founder of Free Mom Hugs, I was thrilled to share my story and collaborate with the It Gets Better Project. Our work on behalf of LGBTQ+ young people aligns closely. In fact, the word empower is in both of our mission statements, and I firmly believe it’s because when you empower the world to celebrate LGBTQ+ people — and when you empower LGBTQ+ youth to celebrate themselves — anything is possible.
 
Today, I fight like my hair is on fire for my son, for all LGBTQ+ people, and for their rights. But there was a time when I felt like I couldn’t. I felt like I had to choose between my faith and my child because I had absorbed this idea that being gay was wrong, and if I approved of or celebrated him, that was a form of condoning.
 
When I saw other people celebrate my son, it allowed me to search myself and to search what I believed. I got educated on the history of human sexuality, on science and theology. I started hearing from other wonderful gay christians who allowed me to continue in this faith and on my journey.
 
Education helped. Stories helped. And that’s what the It Gets Better Project seeks to do. Their focus is on LGBTQ+ youth, using storytelling and education to empower and uplift them. But those stories can be equally helpful to those who are still searching and seeking out answers.
 
I shared my story with the It Gets Better Project for the same reason I founded Free Mom Hugs — to keep families from having to go through the hurt and the loneliness that mine did. And so that other parents can ask questions and then get to the most important work of all — celebrating their children.

I hope you’ll watch and enjoy my story — and if someone you know needs to hear these words, please share it with them.

Simply put, stories save lives.

Sara Cunningham
Founder
Free Mom Hugs

The It Gets Better Project is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

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