Mama Dragons
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| Founded | 2014[1] |
|---|---|
| Founder | Gina Crivello |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Purpose | "Support, educate, and empower mothers of LGBTQ children" |
| Headquarters | Utah, United States |
| Services | LGBTQ+ support, suicide prevention training, educational programming for parents |
| Members | 10,000+[2] |
Executive Director | Liz Welch[3] |
| Website | www |
Mama Dragons is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that supports, educates and reaffirms mothers of LGBTQ children. It provides online guidance to prevent LGBTQ youth suicide, depression, and homelessness as well as to affirm parenting practices for families with religious backgrounds.[4]
Since its founding in 2014, Mama Dragons has grown to include approximately 10,000 members and establish home security for over 20,000 LGBTQ individuals across the United States and 18 other countries. While Mama Dragons originated in Mormonism, the organization is accessible to mothers of all faiths and beliefs. The nonprofit has been labeled as a "faith-based affirming resource" and alternative to conversion therapy by advocacy groups such as Conversion Truth for Families.[5]
Mama Dragons formed January 2014 by Gina Crivello, starting as a "small online community of Mormon mothers looking to support one another in their respective journeys with their LGBTQ children".[1]
In November 2015, the Latter Day Church of Christ issued its "Nov 5th Exclusion Policy", which excludes married gays from the Mormon religion. A subsequent rise in LGBT suicides after the church announced this policy received media attention from NPR and other media outlets. Mama Dragons also garnered media attention for its advocacy and efforts to prevent LGBT Mormon suicides, as well as for bringing a spotlight to the intersection of religion, family, sexual orientation, and gender expression.
In 2017, the organization opened its support group to those outside of the LDS faith.
Mama Dragons became a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in June 2018 and shortened its mission statement to, "We support, educate, and empower mothers of LGBTQ children". In 2019, the organization shifted its focus to all moms of LGBTQ children while maintaining specialized support for mothers from non-affirming religions and cultures. In May 2019, Mama Dragons were featured in Oprah Magazine.
In September 2020, Mama Dragons hired its first Executive Director, Celeste Carolin, a queer businesswoman that had previously been on the Mama Dragons board of directors.
In 2021, Mama Dragons updated its membership policy to allow members to self-identify being a mother or being in a mothering role for admission to their support groups, making space for more diverse gender identity and expression. As of 2022, 5% of Mama Dragon members do not identify with being a cisgender woman.
In 2024, Liz Welch became Executive Director of Mama Dragons. Prior to her appointment, Welch co-facilitated a transgender education and advocacy project and worked at the ACLU, leading a National Faith Coalition to advance LBGTQ+ protections in communities of faith.[3]
