For your LGBTQ film programming, Mama Bears is an inspirational documentary from director Daresha Kyi about holding onto one’s faith while growing out of religious intolerance–and growing into love and acceptance for the queer community.
“Choosing children over church” is a tagline used by the marketing team for Mama Bears and a perfect encapsulation of what Kyi’s inspirational documentary is all about. The film follows three mothers and their queer children, and the challenges their relationships underwent due to conservative Christian teachings that indict LGBTQ lifestyles. For Kimberly Shappley, these were difficult obstacles to overcome, but ones that had to be tackled when her transgender daughter, Kai Shappley, repeatedly insisted that she was not a boy. Kimberly couldn’t grasp the serious nature of Kai’s feelings until she saw that the 4-year-old wanted to die if she couldn't be seen as a girl.
That realization that their children would feel irreparable harm for hiding their queerness was the wake-up call for Kimberly and other Mama Bears–the name of a Facebook group for mothers committed to loving their LGBTQ children. It was the final straw for Sara Cunningham, a woman whose incredible transformation provides the heart of this inspirational documentary–from a heartbroken mother of a gay son to a proud Mama Bear activist. Other transformations are quieter, and perhaps still ongoing–as seen with Tenita Artry’s refusal to compromise neither her firm love for her gay adult daughter Tammi, nor her belief that homosexuality is a sin.
In Mama Bears, Kyi takes care to show us different stories driven by compassion and hope for the possibility of holding both faith and acceptance together in one’s heart. That hopefulness is a breath of fresh air, but it’s missing some more substantial counterparts. The documentary too easily glides over the fact that it took actively hurting their own children for these mothers to change. It fails to ask what we can do about the many parents with hateful beliefs–the ones who either do not have LGBTQ children or the ones who never learn about the truths their kids are hiding about themselves.
Seeing conservative Christian mothers grow to become not only affirming people but activists is of course a fascinating and beautiful story, but one that could stand to hold a stronger sense of accountability, hold more space for the voices of queer children, and provide a more concrete message. Still, Mama Bears is an inspirational documentary fit for LGBTQ film programming and screenings for church settings and activist groups. Recommended.
What public library shelves would this title be on?
Daresha Kyi’s Mama Bears belongs on public library shelves for documentaries categorized as LGBTQ+, religion, political issues, social issues, and activism.
What can this inspirational documentary be used as a resource for?
Mama Bears would be an inspiring screener for church groups and activist groups seeking ways to support their LGBTQ+ community.
What type of library programming could use this title?
For your library’s LGBTQ film programming, Kyi’s documentary is a good choice for a screener–especially for library programs for parents of LGBTQ children.