Moms offering free hugs during P.E.I. Pride Week and beyond

Teressa Peters of Charlottetownis a huggershe has founded Free Mom Hugs Canada, a group of peoplewho want to offer hugs and support to P.E.I.'s LGBTQ community.

The group is Christian-basedand is modelled on a similar groupin the United States. On the weekend some of its 60 members attended the P.E.I. Pride kickoff barbecue to offer hugs.

"It's just about being present and providing hugs to people who may be disowned from their families or maybe just are having a bad dayand they just want a hug," said Peters, adding "I'm a doer."

The group will be at Peake's Quay this comingWednesday to offer hugs or talk. They will also have a corner at the Pride parade Saturday where anyone can get a hug.

Peters said she hopes Free Mom Hugs grows beyond P.E.I.'s bordersinto a national movement.

"Hopefully in every major city and town there can be at least one person who is willing to say 'I'll be a free mom hug[ger],' then I can help them do pop-ups," she said.

Wedding hugs

Petershas already received an invitation to support a complete stranger at their wedding in a few weeks.

Jaime Barnes isfrom Souris andreached out to theFree Mom Hugs Facebook page about her upcoming wedding. She is marrying a woman and much of her family is unable or refusing to attend from out-of-province, she said.

Peters said she didn't even have to think twice before saying yes.

"We spoke for an hour and a half last week on the phone and I was like, 'Absolutely, I will be at your wedding,'" said Peters.

'There are a lot of allies'

Barnes said the supportmeans a lot.

"Everybody deserves to feel like they have some support. And sometimes that support can be from your family, and sometimes it can't. You never really know what you're going to get with your family," said Barnes.

Having Peters at the wedding will help send a message to others as well, said Barnes.

"[It will] showother people that are coming that there are a lot of allies and that they don't have to be afraid to support us as well," Barnes said.

Peters also took Barnes's fiance shopping for a wedding dress.

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