Inward & Onward

Though some parts of our personalities feel written in stone (an aversion to black licorice, an undying love for Dusty Springfield), the truth is that all of us are capable of altering our perspective. And sometimes that shift proves seismic, setting us on an entirely different path. Meet women who’ve looked within, refreshed their conclusions, and gone on to make positive change in the world.

- Zoe Donaldson & Molly Simms

TRUTH BE TOLD

Mothers helping mothers of LGBTQ kids.

Wendy VonSosen, a lifelong Mormon, grew up believing homosexuality was a sin. “I also believed that if I followed all the rules, none of my kids would choose that lifestyle,” says VonSosen, a mother of four. When her then-13-year-old son, Erik, tearfully came out five years ago, her world crumbled. “Erik was my rule follower, so I knew he wasn’t making a choice,” she says. “Being gay was as natural to him as having ten fingers and ten toes. But anyone who’s LGBTQ can’t participate in certain temple ordinances that allow you to get to the highest kingdom of heaven. I thought Erik would be cut off from me for eternity.”

VonSosen knew her son was scared and needed support—but reaching out to religious friends for counsel and comfort simply wasn’t an option. After nearly a year of stumbling and struggling, she found Mama Dragons.