Schedule and Events 
Love Revolution, the first Free Mom Hugs national conference, is coming to the Oklahoma City Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, September 7-9, 2023. Join fellow LGBTQIA+ community members and allies from around the country to learn from keynote speakers, breakout sessions, discussion panels, advocacy training, and more.
Thursday, Sept. 7 5 – 7 pm | Registration
7 - 9pm | General Session One • Introductions & Welcome • The Journey of Free Mom Hugs • Sara Cunningham, Keynote Speaker • A conversation featuring Parker and Sara Cunningham • Liz Dyer, Keynote Speaker • A conversation with Liz Dyer & Sara Cunningham
Friday, Sept. 8 8 - 9 am | Registration
9 - 10 am | General Session Two Nicole Garcia, Keynote Speaker 10:15 - 11:00 am | Breakout Session A A-1: Parenting Gender in the New World
Cristina Olivetti (she/her) shares her experience to help you learn to navigate care for your trans child and become a fierce ally in the process of fighting for your child’s life, fertility and joy.
A-2: Affirming Pastor's Panel Discussion: The Process and the Promise
Rev. Kayla Bonewell (she/her), Jeremy Coleman (he/him), Israel Hogue (he/him), and Mitch Randall (he/him) share their journeys of becoming affirming pastors and discuss the promise to advocate within the church to create change.
A-3: LGBTQIA+ Advocacy 101
Cathryn Oakley (she/her) explains advocacy basics from the perspective of the Human Rights Campaign and shares how to make your voice heard and your story most effective to create change.
1 - 3pm | General Session Three Kathy Baldock, Keynote Speaker
3:15 - 4:00 pm | Breakout Session B B-1: Back to School Advocacy
Liz Dyer (she/her) shares about being an effective advocate for your LGBTQIA+ student and how to keep the lines of communication open between administration and your family. B-2: Gender Self-Care and the Trans Experience
Rev. Nicole M. Garcia, M.A., LCP (she/her) discusses the crucial self-care within the LGBTQIA+ experience of self-discovery and expression and why it is so hard to accomplish.
B-3: Love Wins
Panelists Katrina Kalb (she/her), Maleea Shaver Kalb (she/her), Mandy Fletcher-Rollins (she/her) and Karrie Fletcher-Rollins (she/her) share their journey from conversion therapy/ex-gay ministry to living an authentic, fulfilling life. Hear two incredible stories of healing and coming out late in life to find love. 4:15 - 5:00 pm | Breakout Session C C-1: Dad-vocacy
Volunteer dad huggers Rodney Foster (he/him), David Pezant (he/him) and Jeff Woodyard (he/him) discuss their important role in the life of those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Hear the stories of dads who are fully affirming as fathers or allies of the community we serve.
C-2: Why LGBTQIA+ Representation Matters
Panelists Alex Ruggiers (he/him), Jena Nelson, Marcus Jones and Leah Esker discuss getting involved locally and understanding how decisions affect the daily life of those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Learn the importance of voting and how grassroots advocacy can make an impact where you live. C-3: Two-Spirit Aunties Tell All
Sarah Adams-Cornell (she/her), Kelley Blair (they/them) and Kendra Wilson-Clements (she/they) host this panel discussion of two-spirit aunties and the Indigiqueer community. Dive into fluidity of gender and sexual identity in pre-colonial, Indigenous communities and what that looks like today.
7 - 9 pm | Special Guest Speaker + Book Signing Chasten Glezman Buttigieg grew up in Traverse City, Michigan. He is a teacher, advocate and husband of former presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg. Chasten lives with Pete; their two children, Gus and Penelope; and their rescue dog, Buddy, in Northern Michigan. “I Have Something to Tell You—For Young Adults” is his second New York Times bestselling book. Saturday, Sept. 9 9 - 12 pm | General Session Four
• Introduction • Conference Closing Optional Post-Conference Events 12pm | Free Range Hugging at Scissortail Park 8pm | Sara’s Birthday Concert at Frankie’s OKC EXPLORE OKC If you’ve never been to Oklahoma City, take time to explore all that abounds. Free Mom Hugs’ founding city has been named one of the Best Places to Visit by Frommer’s Travel and Travel + Leisure. It’s easy to see why.
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