{"podcast":{"title":"You Can Be Both","slug":"you-can-be-both-7576307","podcast_index_feed_id":7576307,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/10b47a908/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/you-can-be-both","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/44742130/44742130-1762547217244-a90f5ddea203c.jpg","author":"Lauren Lanzaretta","episode_count":36,"summary":"You Can Be Both is hosted by singer/songwriter Lauren Lanzaretta, who shares honest conversations about being both gay and Christian—two identities often seen as incompatible. The podcast creates space for LGBTQ+ people of faith to find healing, community, and a deeper connection with Christ while fully embracing who they are. As a first step to your healing journey, I recommend the “LGBTQ+ Healing & Resource Guide” - go to www.youcanbeboth.com for this and other resources. Join the You Can Be Both Community App https://youcanbeboth.mn.co/plans/1984569?bundle_token=a02f1c1a95e905aa187210545","last_synced_at":"2026-07-05T14:19:26.748663+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/you-can-be-both-7576307"},"episode":{"title":"From Rejecting Her Gay Son to Hugging Thousands of LGBTQ — Founder of FREE MOM HUGS Shares Her Faith Journey","slug":"from-rejecting-her-gay-son-to-hugging-thousands-of-lgbtq-founder-of-free-mom-hugs-shares-her-faith-journey","published_at":"2026-06-21T15:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/you-can-be-both-7576307/from-rejecting-her-gay-son-to-hugging-thousands-of-lgbtq-founder-of-free-mom-hugs-shares-her-faith-journey","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/you-can-be-both-7576307","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/you-can-be-both/episodes/From-Rejecting-Her-Gay-Son-to-Hugging-Thousands-of-LGBTQ--Founder-of-FREE-MOM-HUGS-Shares-Her-Faith-Journey-e3l1l88","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/10b47a908/podcast/play/121737928/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-20%2F426490593-44100-2-55438ed698fa9.mp3","summary":"Sara Cunningham, founder of Free Mom Hugs, shares the powerful story of how she went from rejecting her gay son to leading an international movement that has impacted hundreds of thousands. It wasn't easy. When Sara's youngest son came out to her at 21, she didn't take it well. She was frozen in fear — terrified he would be condemned to hell, convinced that accepting him would make her a sinner too. She shamed him with the very best of intentions. But everything changed in 2014 when her son invited her to her first Pride parade. There, she met a girl who hadn't hugged her mother in four years because she was a lesbian. That hug — that moment — became the spark that ignited Sara's journey toward understanding, acceptance, and ultimately, unconditional love. Today, Free Mom Hugs is an international nonprofit movement with over 40,000 volunteers and 250 groups across the country. Sara has been featured on the Today Show, RuPaul's show, in People Magazine, and the Washington Post. But more importantly, she's helping thousands of LGBTQ+ people and their families find healing, belonging, and acceptance. In this episode, Sara opens up about: -The moment she found out her son was gay and how she initially responded -How her theology deconstructed and reconstructed-Finding an online community of 250 moms going through the same journey -The pivotal moment at Pride that changed everything -How Free Mom Hugs grew from a simple gesture into a global movement -Why visibility, education, and conversation matter -Her message to parents still struggling with their child's sexual orientation This episode is for anyone struggling with faith and LGBTQ identity, parents coming to terms with having an LGBTQ child, or anyone interested in the power of radical love and acceptance. You Can Be…","meta_description":"Sara Cunningham, founder of Free Mom Hugs, shares the powerful story of how she went from rejecting her gay son to leading an international movement that…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3156,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/you-can-be-both-7576307/episodes/from-rejecting-her-gay-son-to-hugging-thousands-of-lgbtq-founder-of-free-mom-hugs-shares-her-faith-journey/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/you-can-be-both-7576307/from-rejecting-her-gay-son-to-hugging-thousands-of-lgbtq-founder-of-free-mom-hugs-shares-her-faith-journey.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}