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A mother's journey to encourage gay pride in a hug

Nonprofits aim to revitalize the LGBTQ community

Oklahoma City is filled with music, rainbow flags and hugs The Pride Fest was held. Sarah Cunningham and her group "Free Mom Hugs". 

For some people, those hugs give them a sense of support rather than unknown. 

"My parents don't support me being gay, so I'm glad I let someone say that," Angel Gomez told CBS News.

Cunningham may now be supportive, but there was a time when devout Christians did not always embrace the LGBTQ community. 

When her son Parker came to her, she first rejected him. For a while she thought he was going to hell. 

"I really thought he would burn in hell forever. If I accepted this about him, I thought he was as sinner as he was," she said. .. 

Parker still remembers how she felt when her mother didn't support him, but says these stories help spread the message of acceptance better. .. 

"You will never forget. I mean what was said or done, but I think it really helped us to better understand the journey. Through telling our story together, "Parker said.  

"He shared the gentlest and intimate part of himself, and I denied him that," his mother said. 

Her first refusal still bothers her. 

"The guilt he probably felt, and what I'm certainly doing now, and we've done a lot, but you get rid of those memories I can't, "she said. 

Cunningham experienced a rather deep soul quest, which led to a change in her mind. 

"What I learned as the beloved God who created her son // I couldn't reconcile him throwing him into hell," Cunningham said. 

"Did you have a moment to tell him, I listen to you and I accept you." CBS Mornings Reed National Correspondent David Benyo Asked. 

"Parker and his friend were in the backyard and his friend shared his story. There were signs of self-harm on his arm and he was a family member. And how he was alienated from his family. Being there with a group of churches, I felt unconditional love for that person, which I knew very little, "Sara replied. ..  

She shook her heart when she heard the story of a stranger. In 2015, she launched Free Mom Hugs and has been enthusiastic about participating consistently in the LGBTQ community. 

Sarah Cunningham said the hug happened naturally because she was a "hug" and could give love in a "mother's way". .. 

In 2018, Cunningham used social media and she said she would be there if a mother was needed for a same-sex wedding. This resonated with people all over the world who said they would also appear. 

Cunningham has been or has been a substitute for more than 12 weddings. But it came at a cost. She lost her friends and her family who didn't support what she was doing. Some have contacted her when she fell into a similar situation and her loved one came out. 

Melissa Williams turned to Cunningham after learning that her daughter was a lesbian. Williams is currently the co-leader of the Texas branch of FreeMom Hugs. 

She was one of the people who attended the Oklahoma City Pride Festival and handed out free hugs. 

Harrod Aspen's mother died before she came out. She said the connection she got from her "her free mom's hug" was what she was anxious for. 

"It's very important to accept someone who represents your mom, and having someone like me or someone else knows that one hug means everything. "I am," Aspen said. 

Almost 10 years after she hugged her first mom, Cunningham traveled with her son to parts of the country, shame her, and her I forgot my fear and joined the joy. 

"Given the overflow of love and community, it's eye-catching," she said. 

David Begnaud
David Begnaud

David Begnaud is a major national correspondent for CBS Mornings based in New York City.

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