Jamie Lee Curtis making film about ‘stand-in mum’ at gay weddings
Mark Metcalfe/Getty (L) Jamie Lee Curtis with Sara Cunningham (R).
Jamie Lee Curtis is set to make a film about an Oklahoma woman who stands in for absent mums at gay weddings.
Curtis has bought the rights to Sara Cunningham’s 2014 memoir, How We Sleep at Night, which tells the story of how she came to terms with her son’s sexuality.
Cunningham became internet famous last summer after she announced on Facebook that she would stand in for mums who refused to attend their sons’ or daughters’ weddings because of their sexual orientation.
Fans had speculated that a film could be in the works when Curtis posted a tweet in September which showed a photo of herself with Cunningham.
“I hope to do justice to her story and the story of so many marginalised people in the LGBTQ community.”
– Jamie Lee Curtis
The tweet read: “Spent the day with my doppelgänger, inspirational mama bear, leader, author and social activist, Sara Cunningham, whose program @freemomhugs offers support to LBGTQ members whose families don’t. As we say…. stay tuned #hero #freemomhugs.”
The Washington Post has now revealed that Curtis spent three days with the Cunningham family in September and decided to make a film about their story.
Curtis told the publication that she was moved by Cunningham’s journey.
“I continue to be thrilled as her movement is catching on. I hope to do justice to her story and the story of so many marginalised people in the LGBTQ community.”
Sara Cunningham: LGBT+ hero
Sara Cunningham is the founder of US non-profit Free Mom Hugs, an organisation that is “all about Moms who love LGBTQ+ kids,” according to their Facebook page.
The charity advocates and educates on behalf of children who have been rejected or discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“PSA. If you need a mom to attend your same-sex wedding because your biological mom won’t, call me. I’m there. I’ll be your biggest fan. I’ll even bring the bubbles.”
– Sara Cunningham
However, she became an internet celebrity last summer when she said in a Facebook post that she would stand in for absent mums at gay weddings.
“PSA. If you need a mom to attend your same-sex wedding because your biological mom won’t, call me. I’m there. I’ll be your biggest fan. I’ll even bring the bubbles,” the post said.
Mark Metcalfe/Getty
Speaking to Buzzfeed News last summer, Cunningham said: “The post came from hearing from several same-sex couples — how their parents refuse to attend their wedding, or even acknowledge their relationships,” Cunningham told the news site.
She added: “People need hope — I sure do — and we need to be that for each other in any way, shape, or form. Hope never disappoints.”
Sara Cunningham: an accidental activist
Cunningham has also opened up about how she became an accidental activist after her son came out as gay in 2011.
Her memoir looks at her struggle with her son’s sexuality.
“Not only was I living in constant fear as a gay kid in conservative Oklahoma, we were fighting a spiritual battle inside the walls of a non-affirming church.”
– Parker Cunningham
Sara Cunningham’s son, Parker, told the Washington Post: “Not only was I living in constant fear as a gay kid in conservative Oklahoma, we were fighting a spiritual battle inside the walls of a non-affirming church.
“My mother and I were both struggling with what we thought was a literal ‘life or death’ situation when it came to my soul and how I’d spend eternity,” he continued.
After learning about high rates of suicide in the LGBT+ community in 2014, Cunningham became an activist.
Jamie Lee Curtis: advocate for gay rights
Meanwhile, actor Jamie Lee Curtis has also proven herself to be an advocate for LGBT+ rights over the years.
In March 2012, she was featured alongside Martin Sheen and Brad Pitt in a performance of Dustin Lance Black’s play ‘8’, which is a staged re-enactment of the trial that overturned California’s same-sex marriage ban.
Curtis also featured in a video for the Human Rights Campaign in 2016 in the aftermath of the Orlando gay nightclub shooting. The video told the stories of the people killed in the homophobic attack.
As of yet, there is no release date or title available for Curtis’ upcoming project about Sara Cunningham.
