My younger brother is gay. Gay as laughter. Gay as the day is long. One of the finest moments in my life, and one of the greatest compliments anyone has ever paid me, was the day he felt safe to come out to me. He’s in his mid-30s now, but he’ll always be my little brother. And man, I love that kid. He’s brilliant, he’s funny, and he’s kind. And he just married a phenomenal man.
I was always predisposed to like his husband because, y’know, he’s my brother’s partner and therefore has automatic status in my heart. The wonderful bonus is that I really like him. He’s brilliant, he’s funny, and he’s kind. He’s a cool dude to hang out with. He also stood by my brother like a rock when my brother had a life-threatening cancer that cost him his left eye.
They married in May. It was a wonderful ceremony in which I was honored to stand by my brother, supporting him in his vows. My eyes teared up like they always do at weddings. I had the joy of watching two people commit to a lifetime together. It filled my heart.
Folks started posting photos from the wedding on Facebook, and I proudly reposted photos of the ceremony (with me looking awesome in my new suit, of course). Shortly after that, I received this message from a FB friend:
“Hey David, I am removing you from my friends list…sorry man, that latest post is way over the top! Homosexuals joining in “Holy” matrimony…I don’t think so??? The Holy Bible speaks out against homosexuality and speaks highly of Holy matrimony between a man and a woman. It’s nothing more than a slap in the face to those who choose God’s Word, for homosexuals to join in a Holy marriage. I’m only defriending you so I don’t have to look at your anti-God stuff anymore…nothing personal!”
Wow.
This came from a man I used to work with. A man I respect in his dedication to his family, and in his desire to live a moral and ethical life. A man with whom I have had some very interesting religious debates. He has become a Baptist preacher since we last spoke in person, and I suppose that makes this message unsurprising.
But, I was still surprised. I was taken aback. I needed a moment. I was hurt.
I was inclined to hurl some expletives in his direction.
But, only for a moment. He’s not really that important of a person in my life. I had actually at times grown rather tired of his Facebook postings…I don’t have a great need for fundamentalist dogma in my day. So, on some level, good riddance.
I sent him a letter at his church, expressing my disappointment in his withdrawal. I had a few friends read the letter before I sent it, to make sure that it didn’t contain too much bile. I’m not surprised that I haven’t heard back from him.
The situation got me thinking: What if this hadn’t been about my brother’s wedding, but about MY wedding? What if it hadn’t been from a distant friend, but from a beloved family member?
Ouch.
How many millions of gay kids (and adults) have had that exact thing happen to them? How many millions more will in the future?
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry for that pain. I’m sorry for that rejection. I’m sorry for that isolation.
I’m straight. Straight as a yardstick. Straight as an arrow. I am in your corner. If I could take on that pain for you, I would.
I love you.
If you’re gay, I think that’s wonderful, and I’m truly happy for you. I wish you all the love and joy in the world.
If you’re straight, I think that’s wonderful, and I’m truly happy for you. I wish you all the love and joy in the world. And I charge you, I charge you to imagine the above scenario played out with YOU as the target of rejection. Imagine the people closest to you telling you, essentially, “You are fundamentally flawed and I want nothing to do with you.” Our LGBTQ brothers and sisters face this everyday. Please don’t forget that.
The poor, misguided soul is no longer in my life. That’s okay. My brother and his husband still are. I just hung out with my brother a few weeks ago, and it was a blast. He’s brilliant, he’s funny, and he’s kind. I couldn’t be prouder to call him my brother. I love him, and love wins, period.
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Beautiful! Thank you.
From,
A progressive Christian, straight-ally with a gay sister
Thank you for being an ally!
I was truly touched by this post.thank you so much for sharing, we can never have enough messages of love and support on the community. Your love is felt.
So glad, thank you!
On the opposite side of things, I defriended a relative-in-law for spewing hatred this year. I had explained that someone in my family had come out, was having a hard time, and I didn’t want that junk to reappear in my “recent activity”. I really thought that would be enough. You know, if I’m politically one way and someone tells me that what I’m saying is hurtful, I try to back off — I’m capable of taking my remarks elsewhere. The response I got told me basically that my relative needed to repent, that what he was doing was evil, against the teachings of the bible, and that I needed to tell him so. I was so aghast that I deleted the response and defriended my nephew-in-law immediately.
It took two days for me to see some humor in it. The biblical version of marriage is already illegal. We call it polygamy. Most of those old testament guys had a couple of wives and a concubine or two. It used to be okay to stone a woman if she had sex before her wedding, though this particular relative had knocked up his fiance before they were married. And I’m not innocent either. If God really had a problem with women not being virgins on their wedding night, I’m pretty sure he would have opened up the heavens and rained boulders on me. My nephew-in-law’s claims were so stupid as to be laughable.
Then I lost the humor all over again, because I realized that the only thing there can be behind all of this is a desire to keep a percentage of our society oppressed. So I’m not sorry I defriended him and I’m not able to laugh any more. In general, I think we are better off without bigots in our lives. If someone defriends you for celebrating the union of two people who love each other, I say “good riddance.” If anything we need a little more love in the world, and a lot less hate.
Yes, yes, yes! I couldn’t agree more. What a terrific response!
YES! More love, bring on the LOVE! Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you. I’m a straight girl with a gay sister
and I totally identify and appreciate your words.
And I’m sure your sister appreciates YOU!
I’m sorry that you were spoken to in the tone, and way, that you were however please do not allow this one man’s rude opinion stereotype your opinion of all Christians. I’m a Christian myself and do not support same-sex marriage, however I would NEVER harm or otherwise intentionally verbally bash someone who happens to be gay or otherwise holds an opinion different than mine. I have personal friends who happen to be openly gay and, just because I do not support their lifestyle nor condone it, we still are friends and maintain great working relationships.
Sorry Brandon, but you are no friend to the “personal friends who happen to be openly gay…” Friends don’t take it upon themselves to not “condone” who their friends are, nor trivialize it by referring to it as a “lifestyle.” Friends don’t join institutions (like marriage) which their true friends are not allowed to be a part of. Friends think for themselves about conflicts like when their church tells them they are better than somebody else and deserve better treatment, and they make the right analysis. Ask your “friends” who happen to be openly gay what they think. But it’s cool — you are on your way, as we all are. I imagine you’ve changed your attitudes to land where you are today, and society as a whole is rapidly coming to see that this last frontier in “legitimate” bigotry and discrimination is no less real because it’s the last one. I’m not suggesting you will marry one of your openly gay friends — but give yourself a little time, and you might just find yourself in the wedding party. Good luck on your journey to being universally loving — a noble Christian ideal. And while you’re asking that we not stereotype Christians…
Thanks for the share, Brandon. Kudos to the kindness of your gay friends to work and support you when you have made your disdain about their lives known. They are truly wonderful and kind to treat you that way. I hope you cherish them.
Hi Brandon,
Thanks for commenting.
I’d love to know what you mean by not supporting gay marriage or condoning their lifestyle.
Thanks!
Dave
Thank you for this. I’m straight and my “little brother” is also gay. I was the first one in the family he came out to. He has a wonderful partner that I call my brother-in-law because I see him as such. I will always fight for their right to marry as we should all be allowed to love whom we love. Those who choose to cut themselves from our lives are the ones with the problem. Funny how so often they are bible thumping Christians who claim to follow every word of a man for whom loving one another was his most basic teaching.
Family is family, love is love, and ain’t it grand!
Thanks for commenting.
The rejection of LGBTQ individuals by their biological families goes beyond the theoretical and even the truly emotional; it is estimated that 1 in 4 LGBTQ teens is disowned and thrown out on the streets by their families. As corroborated by a recent nation-wide study performed by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, this results in LGBTQ youth comprising about 40% of the homeless youth population in the United States – a hugely disproportionate percentage. Yet public funding for homeless youth in general, and LGBTQ homeless youth in particular, is so woefully inadequate that in NYC (a seemingly enlightened city) there are over 15 homeless youth for every bed in youth-oriented shelters. If you really care about familial rejection of LGBTQ teens, please advocate for a stronger social safety net for them. A good first step might be to contact the Ali Forney Center of MCCNY Charities in New York City. These kids are dying, and it is a national disgrace.
I intended to write “A good first step might be to contact the Ali Forney Center OR MCCNY Charities in New York City.” My apologies.
Thank you Kevin. As a PFLAG mom, I’ve met too many young (and older) LGBT people who have been discarded by their families. Many people think that LGBT youth turn to drugs and alcohol, and contemplate suicide, BECAUSE they are LGBT. That is not true! They often turn to those things because SOCIETY TREATS THEM SO NEGATIVELY. These kids, many of whom are very bright and can have good futures, are literally being thrown away by their parents and society. The Ali Forney Center is a bright spot for these kids. And, if they aren’t in NYC, they can always contact a PFLAG chapter in their area for other resources. http://www.pflag.org.
Kevin,
Thank you for the information and for the resource contact. You are correct that this is a national disgrace and a cause well worthy of our attention and resources.
Peace,
Dave
Loved this article! It’s sad that there are people like your co-worker (and it’s true what someone said: it IS personal! there’s no point in pretending otherwise). I’m glad there are people like you, and like your brother and brother-in-law, that put love above prejudice, bigotry and related BS.
Thank you for speaking up!
Thank you for speaking up with me, Dani!
I’m somewhat speechless at the moment. If these damn tears would just go away. Thank you!
I look forward to the day when a brother loving his brother is nothing at all special.
Thank you for commenting.
Thank you so very much. Thank you for your post. Thank you for sharing it with us. And, most of all, thank you for being so open to your brother and his new husband.
I just got married to my wife a little over two weeks ago. We got married in Canada so it was even legal which thrills me to no end.
Here family was there. Our friends were there. My family was not there. My brother told me, when I came out to him, not to tell his kids about it. He told me he would never accept it and he would “pray for me”. I tried for several years to be okay about this. Then one day I’d had enough and I just walked away. I walked away from him and from the rest of the family. Most weren’t as blatantly unaccepting as he was but they supported his “opinion” and said he was free to feel that way. Even if it was hurtful to me. One whole side of my family considers me an “abomination” and continually votes to take away my rights.
Now I am married. To a wonderful woman. The most wonderful woman. I do wish I could share it with them, but I am so glad they weren’t on my facebook page when friends started posting pictures of our wedding day. We had nothing but support and love and that’s as it should be.
Hi Carry,
I am so sorry that you do not have the support of your birth family. While it’s easy to say that they are the real losers, I am sure that the pain of loss for you is nothing trivial.
I wish you and your wife a lifetime of happiness and companionship, and I pray that your family will one day allow their love for you to overcome their preconceived notion of the “right” kind of love.
Peace,
Dave
Your story has brought tears to my eyes. You personify love and what it is to be a good man.
Aw, jeez, thanks Judith! But at the end of the day, I’m just a guy who loves his brother.
Reblogged this on krak Daily.
Cool, thanks!
I think this is one of the few articles that I have read that I was actually able to read through all of the comments with a smile still on my face. Thank you commenters and thank you OP for a beautiful post and so much lovely support for the LGBTQ community. For those of you still struggling in this harsh environment, know that you have supporters. When the going gets tough, we WILL be there for you.
Well said, Julia. I agree about the comments. I hope they remain positive.
Right on, Julia! Let all of us Allies raise our voices!
Just please remember that fundamentalists do NOT speak for all Christians. I am an Episcopalian and our church does blessings of same sex unions (same sex marriage is not legal in my state). I wish much happiness to your family.
This is why I love Episcopalians!! (The REAL Episcopalians, not the Anglicans of the Southern Cone who have recently broken away from the Episcopal Church over the issues of ordaining a gay bishop.) My brother is going through the process of becoming a priest. He just recently got the approval of the Bishop in our diocese. He is now looking at semenaries to go to. He has told me that one of the main fellowships he wants his priesthood to be about is the acceptance of homosexual youth. He told me “I want them to know that no matter what other churches/denominations are saying, Jesus does love them exactly as they are. I want them to know that they aren’t wrong, they aren’t evil, and that they will always be welcomed in our church.” I love my brother so much, because he truly means this. He is a completely straight man, with a beautiful wife and three gorgeous children. And both he and his wife believe and preach this. That all of us are loved by Jesus and God and that none of us are evil. They are such beautiful examples of true Christians, and the great thing is the Episcopal Church believes this too. I always try to tell people about Episcopalian churches when they express the desire to find a church that will accept them.
🙂
I was so moved by this blog posting! Of course of course of course ALL people should have the same rights and be treated with respect. Lately I have been wondering why there is so much moralizing about sexual orientation to begin with. Yes, I know that SOME religious wingnuts think it’s wrong, but that is not historically or scripturally supported. Saying a gay person is morally corrupt is the equivalent of saying everyone under 5’2″ is evil or everyone with brown hair is bad. When did we get so flipping uptight over which people married anyway? Isn’t the standard of a quality relationship based on how each party is treated by the other- with true lovingkindness and respect? My ex-husband was about the meanest person I ever met and he certainly did not exemplify lovingkindness and yet our hetero marriage was considered holy? WTF? Looking back, it was certainly most UNholy! I guess my point is that holiness is conveyed through love, not hate and we need to quit looking at the external packaging and start looking at the Spirit which resides inside.
And for all you religious superfreaks….it says in the Bible that God created man in his own likeness, male AND female, he created them. It sounds like God is BOTH male and female combined. Try to wrap your brains around that one. And if you ever tell me you are able to know the mind of God and understand his thoughts, I would like to direct you to Isaiah who pointed out that God’s thoughts are above our thoughts and …well, in short, it’s impossible to really comprehend the mind/thought/being which is God. So how about you’all quit trying and start working on His more applicable marching orders? You know the one about loving YOUR neighbor as you love yourself and to love God with your whole being. That ought to keep you busy enough to stay out of everyone business but your own.
Your brother sounds like a gem! And I am so glad that a major church is coming around on the issue.
No worries, Kathleen. I have many wonderful Christians in my life, including my parents who stood proudly at my brother’s wedding, as well as several of my co-bloggers on Evolequals.com.
Thanks for commenting!
But why did you send him a letter at his church? It’s his personal beliefs that drove that “friend”‘s decision,so why not address him personally? Seems like a lot more work to hunt him down at his place of worship, and just slightly vindictive, no?
Hi LaleFig,
It was not vindictive at all. If you read the article carefully, you will see that the church was where the man worked, not just where he worshiped. He had cut David out from all other points of contact. That was the only way that David had to , as you say, “address him personally”.
My guess is that the author of this post didn’t know the other person’s home address, but could easily find the church address. Since the letter writer was a pastor, this seemed, to be a good option.
Ugh, disregard that last comma. Thanks
I’m not sure of the situation, but I’m going to guess addressing him personally wasn’t an option. You can set your Facebook settings so people not on your friends list can’t send you messages. Also, as they were only distant friends, I’m guessing he probably didn’t have the man’s phone number, e-mail address or even home mailing address and just showing up at the guy’s door probably wouldn’t have been a great option. My question would be for the preacher? Why send a message so mean spirited in the first place? Why send a message at all? If you disagree with what someone is posting on their Facebook around, just remove them from your friends list and be done with it. Sending the message in the first place was disrespectful and completely inappropriate.
Thanks, guys. I did read, but perhaps not as carefully as I thought! I still, to be honest, don’t agree with sending a personal letter to someone’s work. There are plenty of search engines out there that’ll nail down someone’s address. HOWEVER, the real message here is one that I completely applaud and appreciate- let’s not address intolerance with more intolerance. If Mister Anti-Gay Marriage doesn’t approve and is, in fact, so bothered by the issue that he simply cannot have a facebook connection with the author, then better to let him enjoy life as a non-FB friend. And BTW, kudos to those of you who responded to MY inquiry without getting super defensive or ugly. What a lovely community forum here!!!
I’m guessing because that was the easiest way for him to track the guy down, if he didn’t have his home address handy?
How is it vindictive? He sent him a private letter to his place of work instead of his home where his family might see it. It’s not like he painted it on the church wall. He’s a minister, that is his work. He did address him personally. It wasn’t written to the church as a whole, just to the minister.
Because that is where the “friend” works. I believe the letter was addressed personally to him.
Based on the reasoned level of the writing, in which there was neither name-calling or cursing, If I had to guess, perhaps he doesn’t know where the man lives, only knows where he is working. I know plenty of my Facebook friends have no idea what my address is, but based on my FB posts, they know where I work, which does have public address listings. Just a guess, of course.
Hi LaleFig,
As was puzzled out here, I had been blocked via Facebook, and I in fact did not have the man’s home address. I no longer live in the same town as he. I probably could’ve tracked down his address, but frankly it was much easier via the internet to find the address of the church where he preaches. I sent the letter in a nondescript envelope to Pastor _______ at the church.
I sincerely hope that he did not take the letter coming to the church as any kind of vindictive action.
As you said, I appreciate the level of discussion that occurred on this thread, without a whole bunch of finger pointing and name calling. Hope for peace!
Take care,
Dave
Awesome! Well written and I am with you all the way. I too am straight…and so what! It is about who I am, how I treat my fellow man and how I treat other people. Religion is not a stick to be used to beat people into believing a certain way…it is.. or should be…a way of life where we accept our fellow humans in an open loving way..no strings attached and no judgements made.
Hear hear!
PLEASE know that there are plenty of people who believe in the Bible out there who consider that defriending and deliberate hate act appalling. I’m so very sorry someone did that to you.
Very true. I have a lot of friends / family that fall into that group.
Thank you, Sophia. Actually several of my co-bloggers on evolequals.com are Christians. Not to mention my parents (who stood proudly at my brother’s wedding). So no, I don’t consider his actions those of a Christian, though he happens to consider himself one.
Peace,
Dave
Wow, this article is amazing for 2 reasons…. one because of the love that it imposes and two because there is not a single comment on this that shows hatred towards the author when this is such a “delicate” subject to talk about….
Maybe we’re making progress! Thanks for commenting.
Yup – I had a civil union (because marriage wasn’t yet available ANYWHERE in the US) to someone who was without hyperbole the nicest, kindest, wonderful man I’d ever met. Everyone loved him – he taught me SO MUCH about being a better person – just by example.
My brother refused to have anything whatsoever to do with the CU saying “It would set a bad example for the (his) children.” Really.
Sadly, my hubby passed away four years ago – suddenly. In total we had had 17 years together and I cherish every minute of them.
You can guess who WASN’T at the funeral and never actually acknowledged that someone in the family had died.
So – yeah – it happens. Far too frequently.
My heart feels for you on so many levels, But i really guess its just the memory’s that you got to spend with your husband that matter. As for your brother.. well… I would have some choice words for him if i knew him..
People need to view it its way, its not gay love.. its love.. its not gay marriage, its marriage. No one parks there gay car or goes to their gay job… no matter what everyone is equal when it comes to that.
All this stuff pertaining to anti gay.. it really reminds me of A. when people of black skin were not treated equal, or those of Japanese were put into camps.;…and B. The USA and some other countries i swear just want to always have something to fight over.
Hi ursomniac,
I am so sorry that your brother couldn’t see past his stuff. I am glad that you and your husband had so many good years together, and I hope that you are surrounded by good, loving people who can appreciate you for everything that you are and the special gifts that you bring to this world.
Peace,
Dave
Thank you!! As a mother of two gay sons, God bless you for posting this! One son is married to a wonderful guy for a little over a year(they have been together 15 years or more). The other son still lives at home with me and I feel so blessed and sad at the same time. He has loved and lost once many years ago but I hope that he will find love and fulfillment in his life again one of these days. As for the guy that de-friended you, shame, shame on him! He is more alone than he realizes!
Hi Shirley,
Your sons are blessed to have you in their lives. I wish them both (and you!) a lifetime of happiness and companionship.
Thanks for commenting!
When it comes to people who think that they’re religious (there’s a million reasons how they’re only deluding themselves on that point) it is no longer just having a small mind, it really takes a small soul to not just fail to be happy about a friend’s happiness, but to stop being someone’s friend because they’re happy about someone else’s happiness.
Hi Spijder,
May all of our hearts and souls open to the happiness all!
Thanks for commenting.
Peace,
Dave
awesome.
i feel the same as u- i wish all- straight and gay people all the love and joy in the world. I too on my facebook get enough religious quotes and dogma to fill a lifetime with.
Love and joy for all! Thank you for commenting.
Awesome expression of love.
It’s interesting how people (especially leaders of a church), will pick which parts of the bible they feel are important… when there is no one sin greater than another. But ignorance & the inability
to accept people is just life.
Sometimes I think that all we can do is continue to express that love. Thank you, Valerie.
They cannot say “nothing personal” when it’s their personal beliefs making the choice for them. They take something not about them and MAKE it personal. Even if one’s personal beliefs don’t match another person’s beliefs, he or she should still show respect and common decency. If they don’t want to go, then don’t go, but do not belittle another person’s choice of who they love. Amazing article. Many kudos to the author.
Thank you, Lottie. I’ve heard it said that, “The political IS personal.” And that’s just it, especially in the case of gay marriage. “Nothing personal” translates to second-class citizenship for a whole lot of “persons”. Thanks for commenting.
Beautiful; thank you!
You’re welcome, sir, thank you!
in a word … beautiful, no wait … in two words … touchingly beautiful.
So pleased you liked it, thanks!
If only others could just understand that the same bible they claim bans gay marriage also bans judgement of other people and their personal beleifs. But as always some use the bible to validate their hate.
Thank you for commenting, Carolyn.
You are AWESOME, and very brave! Last nite my daughter (14) posted a “personal musing” over how it was “OK” to love whomever you loved and no one has the right to judge. I am very proud of her for standing up for the things she believes. Immediately her (former) best friends grandma began writing very descriptive accounts of what goes on in the bedrooms of homosexual lovers. I was in SHOCK! There were several young teens in on this conversation, they were talking about holding hands in the hallway. I immediately logged in to her acct, unfriended & blocked this drunken homophobe who began spewing her vitriol all over my wall. I can take it, heard it before but I am still amazed that the haters are so violently verbal and will assault anyone, especially young people who are most vulnerable to verbal attacks from people they see as authority figures. I am also thankful that I can choose. . .
Yikes! I’m glad that your daughter and her friends have YOU as a sane and involved role-model. Keep up the good work, the tide is turning!
Brought tears to my eyes. Thank You!!!
Thank you, Kevin!
awesome article. Had me in tears!
So glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
What an awesome story. Really well written and touching. If only everyone would realize these sentiments and just how hurtful their failure to accept others actually is. If they could only understand what their brand of hate does to children, they might be different. Maybe their Gods can forgive them. I don’t think I can.
And if they could realize what they are missing out on! Thank you for commenting.
I don’t know what to say. Just beautiful.
Thank you, Todd.
This touched me very deeply, as a “straight as an arrow” woman with a gay brother-in-law, whose partner I call my brother-in-law too. I couldn’t be prouder to call them my brothers-in-law. “I love them, and love wins, period.” Someone quite special once said that. Thank you.
A good man is a good man, eh? So happy for you that you have them in your life to love and appreciate!
Thank you for sharing your story! These are the seeds that someday must blossom into love for every living thing. It’s no longer enough for us to merely tolerate one another – it’s time for us to CELEBRATE each other, and take joy in all our differences!
CELEBRATE is right, Anne! Thanks for stopping by.
A friend of my wife refused to be the photographer at our wedding because it conflicted with his religious beliefs. ‘Nothing personal.’ He hoped they could still be friends. I think the definition of friendship was lost on him and needless to say, she defriended him. If our love and family life were so offencive, what was left to be friends over? You’re totally right; love wins and those who can’t see our love as equal are not worthy of our friendship.
Hi Deb,
I’m so sorry that your wife’s friend couldn’t see past his own “stuff” and help the two of you celebrate your wedding. I look forward to the day when a wedding is just a wedding, and the gender of the two people at the altar is a non-issue.
Peace,
Dave
Hey Mister!!!!?……………….Thank you. I wish my brother would think like that about me. …this is a great story….can i copy and use it?
Of course you can copy it. I hope your brother can come around.
Peace.
I think you are brilliant funny and kind
Thank you, Joy!
I am “straight” also – shared this awesome article on FB
So glad you liked it and shared it, spread the love!
Peace,
Dave
Thank you
You are welcome. Thank you!
I posted on my facebook that, while I am a woman engaged to a man, I am in favor of gay marriage. How many people unfriended me? About 60. Including an uncle, and my brother.
Hi Kaleena,
Ugh, I’m so sorry that you had the experience of rejection. Please keep the faith. The world is moving forward, and we are on the right side of history.
Peace,
Dave
I’d say that these are happy tears that I’m shedding now. Good for you and a big hug to your brother and his partner.
I am so pleased that you were touched. I will pass on the hugs!
This is just beautiful. A friend posted it on my FB wall and I’m sharing it right away. You’re an extraordinary writer, and a very sensitive and tolerant person, it would seem. Congratulations on having such a special family – one my now-lesbian parntered friend calls “the new normal.” Hope you’re a fan of Modern Family on ABC!
Hi Dr. Susan,
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I have a wonderful and special family and am indeed blessed. Haven’t actually seen Modern Family, but I’m a big fan of Glee.
Take care,
Dave
Thank you so much for writing this wonderful article, it actually made me tear up. I am gay and came out to my family at 26 years old, after being with men my entire life and having 2 children. I have never been happier with my life, and with a new wife our family is content and stable and thriving. My family chose to disown me as well at my 6 year old and 9 year old sons. They feel that being gay is a mental illness an that I need “help” and that now after 9 years of being a wonderful mother in their eyes I am now an unfit parent. It is a shame that my 2 innocent children were brought into an ugly situation, but from this I hope they learn tolerance and unconditional love. I refuse to bring them up in a household of hate and judgement. It is people like you that will help my boys see a world of love an acceptance. Thank you
Hi Pamela,
I’m so sorry for your difficulties with your birth family. Hopefully time and love will bring them around. I wish you, your wife, and your boys every happiness.
Peace,
Dave
PS-I’m sure you’ve heard of him, but if not: http://www.zachwahls.com/
Thank you for this amazing article and heartfelt message. I appreciate you and people like you for fighting the good fight on my side.
Thank you, Alex. You are not alone.
hats off to you, and congrats to your brother!
Thanks, Renee!
Wonderful story, I hope it helps at least one person to not judge someone on who they fall in love with gay or straight
Agreed. Even one softened heart would make this world a friendlier place. Thanks for reading.
I love this. Well done you, and good riddance to him!
Thank you, Lizzie. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
You rock! 🙂
Aw, shucks, thanks!
Wow, you know what is important in life. We need more people like you in this world. Thank you so much for posting this!
And more people like you, I’d bet!
A brilliant article, by a beautiful human being!
Thank you, Carla. I’m so glad it was meaningful for you.