Review: Former Fundamentalists Fight LGBTQ+-Hostile Laws in 'Mama Bears'

As American Christofascists target marginalized LBGTQIA+ youth across the country with bathroom bans and an onslaught of terror tactics, former fundamentalists strive to fight back. These women are part of a growing Facebook group called Mama Bears, pushed by cruel and violent legislation to step up and protect their children, as shared in Daresha Kyi's timely 90-minute documentary "Mama Bears."

Three families are featured in this bittersweet film. First is Kimberly Shappley, a former church leader in Texas whose child Kai was born a boy, but told mom she was a girl at age three. Kim's religious practice had her spanking and giving time outs to Kai for defending the gender she felt, or for requesting "girl toys." Since 41% of non-cisgendered children consider suicide, Kim had to decide, "Do I want a dead son or a living trans daughter?"

Oklahoma's Sara Cunningham was also born and raised in the church – "where we voted and ate many dinners" – so was also at a loss with her beliefs when her son Parker came out as gay at age 21. She learned about the Robertson family, whose son had killed himself (explored in the documentary For They Know Not What They Do), and reached out to the now-activists for advice on how to keep her son alive and protected.

In California, Tammi Terrell Morris figured out she was a lesbian in high school, when she put up posters of Queen Latifah, Nia Long, and Angela Bassett rather than boy bands. Her mom, Tenita, and their Pentecostal upbringing convinced Tammi to marry a man, though, and she had two boys. But, after Tammi survived the 2015 San Bernardino shooting attack, she thought, "I cannot die, because I haven't lived yet." She divorced her husband and found a committed female partner. At first, her mother moved in with her to support her after the terrorist attack, and began to accept her daughter's homosexuality, but the church was a powerful magnet that continued to pull their relationship apart.

All three families were lectured, shunned and ostracized by their faith communities, the doc chronicles, so they and many others decided that there was "no other option but to change the world around you to protect your child." Kim and her child, now named Esther after the young one's favorite Biblical character, decided to move to more progressive Austin, since tormenting trans kids, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's favorite cause, was rampant in her community. Tammi joined The Reformation Project, a Christian organization advancing LGBTQ inclusion in the church. Sara started Free Mom Hugs, literally embracing, supporting, and even walking down the aisle with people whose families have abandoned them for being their authentic queer selves. She's taken her love campaign to many Pride parades and on tours around the country.

There are now 50 chapters of Free Mom Hugs, and over 30,000 members of the Mama Bears Facebook group. An interviewed member says, "This group for me is church, and I don't really feel like I need any other church."

"It is love in action," the Mama Bear adds.

"Mama Bears" screens as part of the OUTshine Film Festival.

Karin McKie is a writer, educator and activist at KarinMcKie.com

This story is part of our special report: "OUTshine 2022". Want to read more? Here's the full list.