New doc 'Mama Bears' follows Christian mothers who fiercely advocate for their LGBTQ+ children --From a press release. Video below 2023-06-02
This article shared 2213 times since Fri Jun 2, 2023
(San Francisco, CA) March 17, 2023 Spread across the country and connected through private Facebook support groups, a network of women call themselves "mama bears," because of the ferocity with which they fight for the rights of their LGBTQ+ children. Though many of these mothers may have grown up as fundamentalist, evangelical Christians, they are now risking losing friends, families, and faith communities to champion their kidseven if it challenges their belief systems.
From Emmy® Award-winning director Daresha Kyi, "Mama Bears" makes its broadcast debut on INDEPENDENT LENS, June 20, 2023, at 9 p.m. and also will be available to stream on the PBS App.
"Mama Bears'' follows the journeys taken by Kimberly Shappley and Sara Cunningham, two mama bears whose profound love for their LGBTQ+ children has turned them into advocates for the queer community. Shappley shares her story of wrestling with the conservative Christian beliefs and values she grew up with while raising her young transgender daughter, Kai. Reconciling her faith with Kai's identity leads Kimberly to navigate new territory during the controversial bathroom bill legislation introduced in Texas.
Similarly, Cunningham opens up about connecting with and finding support from other mothers of LGBTQ+ children through the mama bears' private Facebook group. Through her son's journey to come out, Cunningham begins to reconcile her own conservative Christian beliefs and eventually creates Free Mom Hugs, a nonprofit and movement that brings groups of fellow mama bears to Pride Parades and events across the country every year to offer hugs.
At the heart of the film is the story of Tammi Terrell Morris, a young African American lesbian whose struggle for self-acceptance exemplifies why the mama bears are so vital. The documentary shows how Morris battled with her identity for years, walked away from the church to explore her sexuality, and then later denounced her lifestyle within the LGBTQ+ community. She ultimately comes to embrace her authentic self and embarks on a journey to become an LGBTQ+ advocate within the church.
Through these stories and others from the mama bears' Facebook group, the documentary illuminates the unequivocal power of unconditional love in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The mama bears' movement continues to surge, as their Facebook network lists membership at tens of thousands of members.
"When I first learned about the mama bears, I felt instantly compelled to tell the stories of these amazing, fierce women who have been transformed by love for their children. From the beginning, my hope was that by sharing their journeys, the film would bridge seemingly insurmountable divides between conservative Christians and the queer community, and help bring healing to LGBTQ+ people who may have been rejected by religious family members," said filmmaker Daresha Kyi. "With the film's broadcast on INDEPENDENT LENS, I'm excited for it to reach even larger audiences and find the people who need its message of hope the most."
"Mama Bears" received co-production support from ITVS through its Open Call funding initiative, which supports projects through completion for broadcast on public television.
Daresha Kyi creates both narrative and documentary film and television in Spanish and English. Her second feature, "Mama Bears," is about how conservative, Christian mothers are transformed when they accept their LGBTQ+ children. Her short, "Texas Strong," won two Webbys and an Emmy, and her first feature, "Chavela," screened in over 40 countries.
Laura Tatham, Producer
Laura Latham is a creative documentary producer working on the feature "What We Carry," having most recently completed the feature "Mama Bears" and the short "Black Beauty." In 2022, Laura was selected for DOC NYC's "40 Under 40" list. She has been a fellow of the Film Independent Documentary Lab and the WIF/Sundance Institute Financing Intensive.
ABOUT INDEPENDENT LENS: INDEPENDENT LENS is an Emmy Award-winning weekly series airing on PBS, Monday nights at 10:00 p.m. ET. The acclaimed series, with Lois Vossen as executive producer, features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by ITVS, the series is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding from PBS, Acton Family Giving, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more, visit pbs.org/independentlens. Join the conversation: facebook.com/independentlens and on Twitter @IndependentLens.
ABOUT ITVS: ITVS is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that has, for over 25 years, funded and partnered with a diverse range of documentary filmmakers to produce and distribute untold stories. ITVS incubates and co-produces these award-winning films and then airs them for free on PBS via our weekly series, INDEPENDENT LENS, as well as on other PBS series and through our digital platform, OVEE. ITVS is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The National Endowment for the Humanities: American Rescue Plan, Acton Family Giving, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Wyncote Foundation. For more information, visit itvs.org .
This article shared 2213 times since Fri Jun 2, 2023
Out and Aging
Presented By
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Chicago International Film Festival to open with Chicago-style block party Oct. 11 2023-10-04 --From a press release - CHICAGO, Illinois (Oct. 4, 2023) - The Chicago International Film Festival today announced details of this year's ChiFilmFest Opening Night Block Party, to be held Wednesday October 11, 2023 from 5 - 10 p.m. all along ...
Beyonce concert film 'Renaissance' debuting Dec. 1 2023-10-03 Media outlets have reported that the theatrical release date for Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncea movie chronicling the superstar's most recent world touris Dec. 1. Advance tickets are already available for sale on major theater chains ...
SHOWBIZ Outfest, Halo, 'Sex Education,' trans singer, 'Doctor Who' 2023-09-28 Outfest announced that it will honor Oscar winner Shirley MacLaine with the James Schamus Ally Award and trans actress Trace Lysette with the Trailblazer Award at the 2023 Legacy Awards presented by Genesis Motor America, per ...
Reeling Film Festival chooses Family first for opening night 2023-09-24 Reeling: The 41st Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival kicked off a night of festivities with its first feature The Mattachine Family at Music Box Theatre on Sept. 9. One of the longest-running film festivals in the ...
2023 REELING REVIEWS 2023-09-21 Reeling: The 41st Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival kicks off Sept. 21. As is our annual tradition at Windy City Times, writer Steve Warren took a look at a few of the festival highlights this year. ...
Reeling premieres a queer coming of age story told through a Southern Gothic lens 2023-09-21 Ganymede, a Southern Gothic horror film that explores a teenager's experiences as he discovers his sexuality, will premieres Sept. 23 as part of the 41st Reeling Film Festival. The film, according to Chicago filmmakers Colby Holt ...
WORLD French fund, mausoleum, Abrazo Grupal, Biden, Billie Jean King 2023-09-21 French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced a fund to help promote the rights of LGBTQ+ people, French24 reported. She made the announcement at the 15th anniversary of an LGBTQ+ group at the United Nations at the ...
SHOWBIZ John Waters, Madonna, Miriam Margoyles, Angelica Ross, 'Cassandro' 2023-09-21 Openly gay film director John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Serial Mom, Cry-Baby) received his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, The Hollywood Reporter noted. (Actors Ricki Lake and Mink Stole as well as photographer Greg Gorman were ...
WORLD Quebec lesbians, violence study, Rugby World Cup, Ugandan bill 2023-09-15 The hidden history of Quebec lesbians is being explored, the CBC reported. Between 1985 and 1996, a group of lesbians leased the Plateau-Mont-Royal school and ran it as a community center. The school was also home ...
SHOWBIZ Kim Petras, LGBTQ+ movies, TIFF, canceled shows, yachts 2023-09-15 Video below - Ahead of her Feed the Beast world tour, Grammy-winning international trans pop singer/songwriter Kim Petras has shared reimagined, symphonic, seven-piece string-ensemble performances of fan favorites from her debut album Feed ...
SAG-AFTRA and WGA join GLAAD in releasing Studio 11th Responsibility Index 2023-09-14 --From a press release - HollywoodSept. 14, 2023 — GLAAD released its annual Studio Responsibility Index in a joint press event in Hollywood alongside the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio ...
Lesbian chef Susan Feniger coming to Chicago for Reeling 2023-09-13 Susan Feniger. FORKED—a verite-style documentary by award-winning filmmaker Liz Lachman that captures moments and the impactful career of her life partner: culinarian, author, entrepreneur and James Beard Award winner Susan ...
Dykes to Watch Out For Audible series returns listeners to the '80s 2023-09-08 By Ro White - From 1983-2008, Alison Bechdel's comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For captured the drama and hilarity of lesbian life. Now it's been adapted into an Audible Original series that draws parallels between the queer past and ...
SHOWBIZ 'Sex Education' star, Rotten Tomatoes, Jessica Lange, Queer/Art 2023-09-08 Video below - Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa officially came out during an interview with Elle UK, according to Out. "I remember being at Manchester Pride, going through the streets with all my boys, shaking my cha-chas, living it ...
Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.
All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).
The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.