Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

A wedding is meant to be a joyous occasion, a day filled with love and support from family and friends. But for many in the LGBTQIA+ community, that support isn’t always guaranteed. A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology found that 70% of LGBTQIA+ individuals experience some level of parental rejection.

Megan knew that reality all too well. When she married the love of her life, Brittany, her parents chose not to attend due to their religious beliefs. But rather than dwell on their absence, Megan’s siblings stepped up in a way that moved everyone to tears. They gave her a surprise father-daughter dance—one that she would never forget.

A dance that spoke louder than words

TikTok | @zach.luke

The heartwarming moment was captured and shared on TikTok by Megan’s brother Zach Luke (@zach.luke), quickly amassing over 3 million views. The video begins with Megan and Brittany sharing their first dance as newlyweds, completely immersed in the magic of the moment. But the real surprise came when the dance floor cleared, and Megan’s siblings took turns stepping in for what should have been a traditional father-daughter dance.

They chose “The Village” by Wrabel for the occasion—a song that speaks directly to the struggles of the queer community and serves as a reminder that the problem isn’t with them, but with those who refuse to accept them.

"No dry eyes in the house after this!"

First up was Kelly, the eldest sibling, who pulled Megan in for a heartfelt dance. Then she passed Megan on to Luke, who twirled his sister across the dance floor as the room erupted into applause. Next was Alex, the youngest of the siblings, and by this point, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Finally, Megan’s new mother-in-law, Robin, stepped in for the last dance. The two held each other close, signifying that while Megan’s parents may have been absent, she was now part of a family that welcomed her with open arms.

"Chosen family is everything."

A moment that resonated beyond the wedding hall

Screenshots from a TikTok video from a wedding. Megan didn't get the dance she thought she would, but got something better instead. TikTok | @zach.luke

At the end of the video, Luke added an emotional message:

“We are so proud of you, Megan. You and Brittany are perfect for each other. Kelly, Alex, and I are so happy to have you as our sister.”

via GIPHY

Even Wrabel himself saw the video and commented, congratulating the couple and sharing in the joy of their special moment.

The overwhelming love in the video deeply moved viewers. One commenter, @dgot_game1, summed it up perfectly:

"Y’all don’t know how bad we need the VILLAGE when our parents ‘don’t agree.’ Thank you for being there for your sister."

Megan herself, under the username @meganbaltus, responded to the outpouring of love:

"I have the best siblings ever. Thank you guys so much for being there for me and giving me another great memory to look back on this incredible day."

Love always finds a way

While it’s heartbreaking that Megan’s parents chose not to attend, her siblings’ actions sent a powerful message—love isn’t defined by blood, but by those who stand by you no matter what. Their beautiful gesture ensured that Megan felt cherished on her big day, proving that family is ultimately about love and support, not just genetics.

If this story moved you, consider supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals in your community. Whether it’s attending their milestones, speaking out against discrimination, or simply showing up when it matters, small acts of love make a world of difference.

heroeslgbtqiasibling lovefamily

The Latest

HOA regrets trimming homeowner's mulberry tree after homeowner's dazzling display of revenge
Past Events

HOA regrets trimming homeowner's mulberry tree after homeowner's dazzling display of revenge

Mom left speechless after seeing what her son drew about their daily life
Past Events

Mom left speechless after seeing what her son drew about their daily life

bad photoshop, photoshop, reddit, viral
Past Events

Man tries to Photoshop bangs onto wife’s photo to ‘scare her off.’ The results are hilarious.

A screenshot of Taryn Compton speaking in her TikTok video about her frustrating bank experience.
Past Events

Woman tries to withdraw her own money—but the bank’s strange new rule said no

More For You

HOA president tried to stop kids from playing outside. Dad shut her down instantly.
Representative photo by Canva

HOA president tried to stop kids from playing outside. Dad shut her down instantly.

With screens dominating so much of modern life, the sight of kids playing outside has become increasingly rare—but for some, even that seems to be a problem. A viral TikTok video from Daily Dose Of Masculinity (@masculineessence_) has sparked a debate after a Homeowners Association (HOA) president confronted a father, demanding that he keep his daughters indoors because neighbors had complained about the noise.

@masculineessence_

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

An unexpected confrontation caught on camera

Footage captured by a doorbell camera shows three young girls screaming and running inside as the HOA head approaches their house. Moments later, she rings the doorbell, and their father answers. Wasting no time, she immediately makes her demand:

"So, I am going to ask you to keep them inside," she says.

Clearly puzzled, the father responds with a simple but firm question:

"For what reason?"

Her reasoning? Multiple noise complaints from irritated neighbors.

"I have like 10 houses now contacting me. They are like barking at me and running," she explains.

Kids frolicking Representative photo by Katherine Hanlon | Unsplash

Dad isn’t backing down

At first, the father tries to reason with her, explaining that his daughters are just playing outside, as kids do. But as the conversation continues, his patience wears thin.

"That's what's wrong with this world because people like you and those other people don't let kids be kids, okay?" he says, his frustration growing.

Not interested in further debate, he firmly ends the conversation with:

"We appreciate you stopping by. Have a nice night."

Giphy


The video, captioned "HOA president gets mad at girls for playing," quickly took off online, with thousands of viewers chiming in on both sides of the argument.

TikTok reacts: Is the dad right, or was the HOA head reasonable?

The viral clip sparked a heated discussion, with some siding with the father and others sympathizing with the HOA president.

Some viewers believed the HOA head was being overly strict and that kids should be free to play outdoors.

@d33dspizza shared a wholesome perspective, writing:

"Our neighbors stopped over and said they loved hearing our kids playing and yelling outside… because theirs are all grown and moved out and they miss hearing it."

Representative photo by MI PHAM | Unsplash

Others, however, thought the volume level mattered—especially if the noise was disturbing residents at night.

@syb1375 pointed out that the HOA head had handled the situation calmly, saying:

"She was being respectful and came to reason with him instead of calling the police after getting so many complaints. It’s nighttime… people work in the morning."

Some commenters saw both sides but noted that ten different households complaining was significant.


"Not looking for a fight, but when 10 different households send a noise complaint, that’s a problem. We don’t know what noises they are making, so I can’t really take a side here."
— @Ilovehentaixdd

Meanwhile, @martin_arce acknowledged the HOA head’s position, writing:

"I wouldn’t be rude to her though. His neighbors demand it from her, and she’s gotta do it as her responsibility. And also, your neighbors’ demands aren’t unreasonable."


Giphy


Where is the line between community rules and personal freedoms?

At its core, this situation highlights a larger debate: how much control should HOAs have over residents' daily lives? While some believe neighborhood rules help maintain peace, others argue that they often overstep boundaries—especially when they interfere with something as simple as kids playing outside.

Whatever the case, one thing is clear: this father had no intention of keeping his daughters cooped up inside just because some neighbors complained.


Follow Daily Dose Of Masculinity (@masculineessence_) on TikTok for more videos.

Keep ReadingShow less
Three panels depicting a post on TikTok by Summer Pfleger.

Summer Pfleger caught the moment she met her husband on camera.

TikTok | @summerwa101

She was dared to tell a stranger he was cute—now they’re planning their forever

Love can bloom in the most unexpected ways, and for Summer Pfleger, it all started with a dare. The TikTok user, who goes by @summerwa101, shared a heartwarming video documenting how a playful challenge from her mother led her to the love of her life.

It all began when Pfleger noticed a handsome employee at the front desk of a Holiday Inn. Encouraged by her mom, she nervously picked up the phone and made a call that would change everything.

Keep ReadingShow less
A man and a woman in wedding attire share a dance together.

Representative Image: A first dance can create memories that last a lifetime.

Canva

When her dad refused the father-daughter dance, the father-in-law gave something even better

Some wedding moments are unforgettable for all the right reasons, while others carry unexpected heartache. For bride Jess Anastasi (@jessanastasi_), her wedding day brought both—a deep disappointment and a beautiful surprise that made the occasion even more meaningful.

Anastasi had always dreamed of sharing a father-daughter dance, a tradition that symbolizes love, support, and the bond between a father and his little girl. But when the moment came, her father refused.

Keep ReadingShow less
kimberly dowdell, reunion, down syndrome

Brothers Blake and Jack have an emotional reunion.

thekimberlydowdell/Instagram

Teen with Down syndrome travels hundreds of miles for incredible reunion with brother

Going off to college is the break-free moment that most young adults long for. While the newfound freedom is an amazing change, it is also a time of transition--which can bring a lot of uncomfortable feelings with the adjustment. It can be overwhelming, scary, and unfamiliar. So when mom Kimberly DowDell (@thekimberlydowdell) received a message from her son Blake that he was feeling anxious and overwhelmed during his second semester at college, she knew exactly what to do. She loaded up the family, including her husband and Blake's brother Jack (who has Down syndrome), and got on the road to go see him. And the brothers had an emotional reunion that was shared on social media.

"Blake is in his second semester of college, and being away from home can be hard. When he told us he was feeling anxious and overwhelmed, we didn’t even think twice—we jumped in the car and drove 286 miles just to be there for him," she wrote in the post's Instagram caption. "To remind him he’s not alone. To give him words of encouragement. To wrap him in a hug that says, we see you, we love you, and we’re always here for you."

Keep ReadingShow less
A child's hand in an adults hand.

Representative Image: A mother and son found their way back together.

Canva

She gave her baby up for adoption. Years later, he named his son after her.

Choosing adoption is never easy. It’s a decision filled with love, sacrifice, and hope for a better future. When Schauna Austin gave birth to her son at 20 years old, she made the difficult choice to place him for adoption. But thanks to the openness of his adoptive parents, she remained an important part of his life, proving that family isn't just about biology—it’s about love.

A mother’s love, even from afar

After giving birth, Austin named her son Riley and treasured every moment she had with him before saying goodbye. She held him close for 72 hours straight, making sure to soak up every precious second.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025