Cunningham Earns Ally of the Year; Wheeler Wins Drew Griffin Beacon of Light Award
St. Paul, Minn. (October, 3, 2024) – The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance recognized Sara Cunningham as its Ally of the Year and Tom Wheeler as the winner of the Drew Griffin Beacon of Light Award at the conclusion of the Experience: The Alliance conference held last week in Las Vegas.
The Ally of the Year honors an individual who is not LGBTQ+ but works to empower, support and advocate for community members.
Cunningham is an author, activist, and the founder of the non-profit organization Free Mom Hugs. Her advocacy journey began as a Christian mother in her conservative Oklahoma community after her son came out as gay. After years of study, research, and personal growth, she reconciled her faith with her love for her son and the LGBTQ+ community and attended the 2015 Oklahoma City Pride Festival wearing a button reading, “Free Mom Hugs.” Her first huge was to a woman who said, “It’s been four years since I got a hug from my mom because I’m a lesbian.” Sara embraced her and hundreds more that day, and many shared similar stories with every embrace. Cunningham’s mission to offer love and acceptance evolved and today the organization has chapters in all 50 states with thousands of volunteers who annually participate in Pride events and offer a hug to those in attendance, many who unfortunately have been shunned by their own families.
“We need more people in this world like Sara,” said Ryan Weyandt, CEO of the Alliance. “Her unwavering passion for changing society’s perspective toward the LGBTQ+ community and her commitment to helping parents and children build authentic, loving relationships is truly inspiring. Sara’s ability to inspire others to join this important movement is not only transforming lives but is also helping to shape a future where love and acceptance thrive. The Alliance is thrilled to have her in our corner.”
The Beacon of Light Award honors the late PFLAG Pacific Northwest Regional Director Drew Griffin, who served on the Alliance’s original Steering Committee, and annually recognizes an Alliance member for real estate and LGBTQ+ community service.
Wheeler, a co-founder of the HomeFound Boise team with Keller Williams and founding member of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance and President of the Alliance Idaho chapter, was recognized for his advocacy and dedication to the Nampa, Idaho, LGBTQ+ community. He had been granted permission to run the first Pride event in Canyon County on June 9 despite disapproval from Nampa’s mayor. Local media attention on the controversy grew leading to national interest in Wheeler’s effort. He overcame the backlash, attracted thousands to the event which sparked important conversations and strengthened local support for LGBTQ+ individuals.
“Tom’s astonishing work in Idaho truly embodies what it means to be a Beacon of Light for a local community that had been held back,” says Weyandt. “It is clearly not easy to take on a project of this magnitude, let alone doing so without the full support of local leaders. Tom welcomed the challenge and opened so many eyes to the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces. He showed so many that LGBTQ+ people are people and deserve the same rights and respect as anyone else. Despite facing many challenges and backlash for organizing the Pride event, Tom overcame it and did so with grace. We are proud to have him as a leader of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance.”
ABOUT THE LGBTQ+ REAL ESTATE ALLIANCE
The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance is a 501(c)6 non-profit dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ+ community on the path to homeownership as we also advocate on behalf of the community on housing issues. The Alliance, founded in June 2020, is an all-inclusive organization that works to improve the professional lives of its members through a public-facing Alliance Referral Community. The Alliance began accepting members in October 2020 and has more than 4,000 members and dozens of chapters in North America. It was named the 2022 Inman News Innovator of the Year in the MLS, Association, or Industry Organization category. It was nominated for the same award in 2023. Its consumer facing LGBTQplusHomes.com provides information on home buying and selling along with allowing the LGBTQ+ community the opportunity to easily contact Alliance members for their real estate needs. For more information visit realestatealliance.org.
