Jamie Lee Curtis and the Lifetime network announced that she will be directing and starring in a movie about GLAAD Media Institute alum Sara Cunningham and her organization Free Mom Hugs.
Sara Cunningham attended a GLAAD Media Institute course in Oklahoma City in March of 2018, with her son Parker. Cunningham is the Executive Director of Free Mom Hugs, an organization of LGBTQ-affirming parents who work on educating other families, places of worship, and civic leaders. Free Mom Hugs takes its name from Cunningham’s role as a “stand-in Mom” at same-sex weddings, where she attends in place of parents who are not accepting of their LGBTQ children.
The movie, called How We Sleep at Night: The Sara Cunningham Story, will tell the story of how Sara Cunningham came to terms with her son being gay in terms of her Christian faith. Learn more about How We Sleep at Night and other upcoming Lifetime movies and shows here. Jamie Lee spoke a bit about How We Sleep at Night in video for Lifetime:
Jamie Lee Curtis got excited about Cunningham and Free Mom Hugs, and the two started talking. Eventually, Curtis bought the rights to turn Cunningham’s memoir of the same name into a scripted project. They even appeared together at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2019.
Over the past couple of years, Sara Cunningham has gotten a lot of attention for her work with Free Mom Hugs. Cunningham has appeared in numerous outlets, including the Today Show, RuPaul, NBC News, CBS News, Buzzfeed, and many others. Now she, with the help of Jamie Lee Curtis, will get to share her message of unconditional love and acceptance on Lifetime.
Sara Cunningham is an alum of the GLAAD Media Institute, which is offering virtual courses and workshops to activists and advocates around the country, and world, in the weeks to come, including a workshop on May 22nd. Click here to learn more about how to join a course or workshop and use your voice as a GLAAD Media Institute alum.