In 2021, Daniel Blevins posted a TikTok video which sparked his global movement.
Inspired by his upbringing in rural East Tennessee, US — where he said LGBTQ+ representation was nonexistent — the 48-year-old offered to be a “stand-in dad” for LGBTQ+ people whose families wouldn’t attend their weddings.
To date more than 1,000 people have acted as stand in parents for people who didn't have a mom or dad to stand by their side, during important life moments.
Inspired by his upbringing in rural East Tennessee, US — where he said LGBTQ+ representation was nonexistent — the 48-year-old offered to be a “stand-in dad” for LGBTQ+ people whose families wouldn’t attend their weddings.
To date more than 1,000 people have acted as stand in parents for people who didn't have a mom or dad to stand by their side, during important life moments.
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FunTranscript
00:00Hi Alex, I have been summoned. My name is Daniel and I'm a stand-in dad and I have a group called
00:06Stand-in Pride where we connect members of the LGBTQ plus community with other members and
00:11allies for emotional support or to physically stand in at live events like weddings or graduations.
00:17Stand-in Pride was created to help people just like you find chosen family. We have members
00:23all over the world. More moms, dads, uncles, aunts, siblings, cousins, grandparents than you could
00:29even imagine and they've all come together for one reason. They have extra love to give. They want
00:34to be there for you even if it's just a text message or a FaceTime call, holiday dinners,
00:39no matter the occasion, through the good and the bad and it's all free of charge and it's not
00:46temporary. It's a lifetime relationship. Check out the links in my bio to learn more.
00:52Three and a half years ago I posted a video to TikTok offering to be a stand-in dad for LGBTQ
00:57couples whose parents wouldn't or couldn't attend their wedding. That video led to the creation of
01:03Stand-in Pride, an organization that helps members of the LGBTQ plus community find
01:09chosen family. We help those members connect with other members and allies for emotional support
01:16or to physically stand in at live events such as weddings or graduations. We started the group
01:22over on the Book of Faces and it quickly grew to more than 26 groups internationally
01:30with thousands of members around the globe. But from the very beginning I've had complaints saying
01:38I'm not on the Book of Faces. I don't use the Book of Faces. Is there another way to be part of this?
01:44And until now the answer was no, but that changes this week. Today is October the 1st and by the
01:52end of this week Stand-in Pride will be available worldwide to iOS and Android users and it's free.
02:03Members of the LGBTQ plus community and our allies will now be able to connect
02:08regionally based on your zip code. There will be a support directory that you can just search for
02:14people in your area. There's a Stand-in Pride University and I'm very proud of that's going
02:18to help us all educate ourselves about the LGBTQ plus community. There'll be groups where you can
02:24connect with other members based on hobbies or common interests and the list goes on and on.
02:30We have tons of plans for more versions that are coming soon. So now is the time to celebrate
02:36because it's happening. The countdown begins. If your family didn't choose you, you can choose your family.