By Beth Dorsey
In 2014, a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ+ kids was created and those
moms would end up helping to make the world a kinder, safer, more loving place for all
LGBTQ+ people to live. Daresha Kyi made a movie about a young lesbian and two of these moms titled ”Mama Bears.”
On October 15, 2024, eight of us from Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Menomonee Falls attended the screening of this movie presented by Germantown Community Coalition.
The film profiles two mothers of LGBTQ+ children and their journey to advocate for them
as they navigate complex and sometimes difficult relationships with their families and
church, as well as that of a young lesbian who struggled for self-acceptance most of her
life. The movie is about their touching acceptance journeys and how they eventually
became fierce advocates for this community.
“Where there is love, there is life.” Mahatma Gandhi
This is important work. I am active in the Reconciling in Christ Ministry Team at Holy
Cross. We were eager to invite others from our church to attend and support this event
as we work to advocate for the LGBT community. Reconciling in Christ is the
designation given to congregations that openly welcome members of the LGBTQ+ and
BIPOC communities into the lives of their congregations.
This film screening was a great opportunity for us to share why the work we do is so important. We believe that hate and discrimination have no place in our world and especially in the church. It was wonderful to see how many people from the Germantown, Menomonee Falls and surrounding communities supported this event through their attendance.
After the movie, GCC invited a panel of pastors, teachers, students and local
advocates to discuss the movie. They each provided further personal insight about their
individual missions and what they see first-hand as the challenges facing the LGBTQ+
community.
This event and others like it give us the tools to work toward kindness and
inclusivity. Thank you GCC!
