The #GayWithStevie Movement

It started the way unitentional discrimination usually does, with a backhanded slap masked in lighthearted humor. She never saw it coming, especially not from her own mother (someone who would never be called homophobic or cruel). But when a beautiful mommy named Stevie Ramsey dressed herself and her son for the day, wrapped him up in her favorite beautiful Girasol rainbow (a RR DW Cream Weft, for you wrapaholics), and walked out of her bedroom, she was greeted by the joke that she looked "gay as shit". Stevie's heart sank while her mother giggled at her own witty jest.

The thing is, Stevie IS gay. It wasn't a joke to her. It was a proud moment for this babywearing mama, a moment that made her feel beautiful and capable as a mother. Instead it was reduced to a cliche about her sexual orientation. She wanted to run back into her room and cry. After struggles through a recent divorce, post partum depression, and  moving back home to a not-so-accepting community, Stevie simply could not laugh along or brush it off. She had no idea that what she would do next would spark a movement. 

Stevie went to the only place she could think of for understanding, a Facebook group called Girasol Love #alltherainbows. She posted a picture of her son and herself all wrapped up and shared her story. She hoped for support. Turns out support came in droves. Hundreds of Likes and comments came pouring in. Amongst them came a statement of solidarity from fellow babywearer Rhys Roseberry: "I'm wearing a rainbow to Seabreeze tomorrow. So I can be #gaywithStevie". Soon pictures were being posted by the minute of mothers babywearing with their rainbow wraps, using the hashtag #GayWithStevie. Don't have a rainbow wrap? They improvised using hats, socks, t-shirts, toys, coloring books, food--you name it! Not gay? Support didn't have a sexual orientation today. Anyone could be #GayWithStevie and everyone was proud to be a #loverofrainbows. 

Stevie could not believe it. She went to sleep with a renewed joy from being wrapped in love by her Girasol-wearing community. But the support wasn't over. In fact, it was only growing stronger. The next day, the founder of #GayWithStevie started a new post with a brilliant idea--why not make a wrap inspired by Stevie? Her spark ignited like fireworks, with design concepts, pre-order requests, and even an offer to run it by babywearing retailer Imps & Pixies!

Stevie is quick to defend her mother, as she understands that it was merely a bad joke told at the wrong time. She assured her supporters that her mother is "a great mom and an even better Grammy" And "just didn't understand the heaviness of what she said". And who hasn't told a bad joke at some point and regretted it? The important part of this story is not its disappointing beginning, but its incredible rainbow-loving journey that we hope never a ends!

***If you want more information on the progress of Stevie's wrap, be sure to Like Imps & Pixies Facebook Page!