Mama Bears

Connected through private Facebook groups across the country, over 30,000 mothers in America — many from conservative, Christian backgrounds — fully accept their LGBTQ+ children and call themselves "mama bears" for their warm, fuzzy love and ferocious fight to make the world kinder and safer for all LGBTQ+ people. The film explores the journeys of two mama bears and a young lesbian whose struggle for self-acceptance exemplifies why the mama bears movement is vitally important.

Once Kimberly Shappley accepted her transgender daughter, Kai, she transformed from a Tea Party Republican to an award-winning "LGBTQ Activist of the Year" as she joined forces with the ACLU and Equality Texas to battle the anti-trans bathroom bill that would prevent her child from using the girls' bathroom in their small Texas hometown. Sara Cunningham went from repeatedly forcing her gay son to deny his sexuality to becoming a founder of Free Mom Hugs, a national movement of mothers offering love, acceptance, and hugs to the LGBTQ+ community. Tammi Terrell Morris, a lesbian whose struggle with self-acceptance led her to marry a man in the hopes of earning the promise of heaven, learns to live her truth through the support of the mama bears.

In growing into their roles as fully supportive mothers, many mama bears meet stiff resistance from their families, friends, and communities, sometimes losing entire support networks as they strive to give their children the best lives possible. Each of the women featured in the film, after initially struggling to reconcile their deep faith with their children's gender identities and sexual orientations, finds a firm basis in Christianity and scripture to fully support their children. Shot in a poetically intimate style, Mama Bears combines a wide array of material, such as social media posts, home movies, personal journals, and interviews to compellingly explore the complex intersections of politics, religion, faith, and true, unconditional love.

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5-page Discussion Guide Included with Purchase of Film

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FILMMAKER'S STATEMENT: "As a queer, politically progressive African American woman, I never imagined I'd have much in common with conservative, white Christian women. The stances many took on social issues near and dear to my heart were often anathema to me, and I considered such women my political adversaries — until I learned about the mama bears. I'm deeply intrigued by the journeys these women have taken from living as comfortable members of the not-so-silent-majority to becoming not just minorities, but even social outcasts. In the face of religious, familial, and social judgement and condemnation, they opt to do the hard, often painful work of learning to view the world through fresh eyes. It's an amazing, heroic journey into the depths of the 'dark night of the soul.' But man! When they emerge into the light, many become fierce warriors who fight tooth and nail for the rights of the very communities they once abhorred.

I believe I was chosen to tell this story because I am a true believer in the all-encompassing power of love. In fact, I consider myself a 'Warrior of Love' who believes it is my responsibility to do everything within my power to shift the balance in our world away from death, destruction, and hatred, and toward stronger, deeper love. I hope Mama Bears will inspire viewers to greater acceptance through the examples set by these humble but powerful women and their all-consuming, soul shaking LOVE. It is a profound honor to use my art to amplify their message of love and inclusion and help spread the mama bears' movement."