I have never been prouder of my parents (both die-hard RW evangelicals)

[11 Bravo]

I wasn't going to post this, but I spoke with my little brother, and he said to go for it. Last Saturday my niece got married, and the entire family gathered to celebrate the occasion. At a family dinner, my baby brother (a USNA grad and ex-fighter pilot), informed us all that he is gay, and that this was the last family gathering he would be attending without his partner. With not a second's hesitation, Mom and Dad both stood up, walked to him and embraced him, telling him that he would always be their son, and they love him unconditionally. Just typing this chokes me up all over again. Mom and Dad are both in their 80's, and Dad is a retired senior naval officer, so while I may not agree with them on one single political issue, on that day I was awfully proud of them.

[Straight Shooter]

1. And *that* is what family is all about, a real family.

Unconditional love, straight from the heart.

:hug:

[Matariki]

47. That's beautiful

I have to tell you - every gay pride parade I've gone too, I get choked up and cry when PFLAG goes by. Gets me every time.

[Habibi]

2. That's awesome.

Kudos to Mom and Dad. Sounds like they'll happily accept his partner's appearance at family functions, then?

[wryter2000]

3. That's wonderful.

Give them a big kiss next time you see them. On edit: You probably already have. :)

[terip64]

4. K & R for your parents' wisdom and your pride!

[bluestateguy]

5. I have a friend whose parents disowned him for being gay

A year later his parents thought they were being "tolerant" when they said he would be welcomed back into the family if he attended "reparative" therapy to become a heterosexual. He refused.

[knitter4democracy]

42. Me too.

A friend at college was disowned by her dad when she told her parents, and that prick even repossessed her car and sent her a bill for everything he'd ever spent on her. He cut her off from all contact with her family, including her mom.

My hubby try that, he'd be kicked to the curb. My kids are my kids, no matter what. Who the hell cares if they're gay or straight or bi or transsexual? I sure don't. They're my kids.

[kestrel91316]

43. How you feeling, BTW?

[knitter4democracy]

48. Better. Thanks.

We're still waiting for the pathologists to figure out what the surgeon took out of me. Ugh.

[FVZA_Colonel]

49. I really hope you don't mind my asking this, but do you know how she is doing now?

It just... it is utterly incomprehensible as to how any person could be so hateful towards their own child.

[knitter4democracy]

58. The last I heard was awhile back, but she's well.

She was in a good relationship, talking marriage, even, and everyone said she seemed the happiest they'd seen in ages. Her poetry still rocks, too.

I still can't fathom that kind of anger and hate. It was his own daughter, for crying out loud. Still makes me shudder.

[Oceansaway]

6. TOUCHE !!..n/t

[JuniperLea]

7. That's a beautiful story

Thanks for posting! I'm chills, head to toe.

[judaspriestess]

8. how anyone could disown their children for being gay

is beyond me and that is wonderful your parents did not do that. Love is love

[donsu]

56. parents disown for other reasons too - I was called crazy and dissed

because of being a feminist.

as a little girl I was told that if I was bad they would send me to live at the bad girls school. and they meant it.

way back then they had schools for bad girls, (and for girls who got pregnant) for real.

my father was a republican, among other things.

[salin]

9. Love wins out

sounds like a very proud and moving moment for all.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

10. 11 Bravo, you have a wonderful family and have every

reason to be proud of them.

Here's a :hug: for you and for them.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

11. Wow. Good on your parents.

[jwirr]

12. On that day they were showing a good example of the unconditional

love they claim to believe in.

[Rowdyboy]

13. Hell, now I'm choked up....

Thank you for sharing this (and your brother for agreeing). The class your parents show is impressive. You should be proud!

[nini]

14. My mom was like that with my brother

Actually, all of us were. His partner always was grateful for all of us since his family disowned him.

Props to your parents. You have a great family!

[lisa58]

15. I choked up just reading it...

congratulations!

[blm]

16. I am so happy that it worked out like that for your family.

Just as it should. Very, very touching.

[IndyOp]

17. Please tell your Little Brother how proud I am of his courage...

He must've been in knots about that event for a long, long time before speaking up.

Most people lead lives of quiet desperation... Courage is required to overcome. One human victory en-courages all who see it.

:applause:

[applegrove]

18. Great news. And so sorry your brother had to hide who heis & loves for

such a long time.

[HockeyMom]

19. We knew for years before she came out to us

when she was 21 years old. As my husband said to her, "Ok, so what else is new?" SHE was in a state of shock, not us.

She has been seeing an absoultely wonderful woman for the past 5 years. I would just love to someday call this woman my daugther-in-law. My husband totally agrees.

[BR_Parkway]

20. Happy for you, your brother and the rest of your family.

[seabeyond]

21. Just typing this chokes me up ... you put me into tears....

of pure joy. i simply love love

hugs to your family

[calimary]

22. Well, they certainly walk with Christ on that one. He did say "judge

not, lest ye be judged."

SO glad to hear this! Thanks so much for sharing, and be sure to thank them also. That was VERY dear. Very dear. They really must love him - and the rest of you, too.

[stepnw1f]

23. Nobody Can Prevent Love (nt)

[VOX]

24. Your parents are terrific, 11 Bravo; their hearts are bigger than any dogma.

I'm so glad they embraced your baby brother at the most emotionally vulnerable moment of his life. And good for your brother for having the courage to make his case!

My older brother is gay, but he never told our parents -- they both passed away before he could do so. I'm sure that they "intuited" his orientation over the decades, and they would never have cast him out of the family. But regrettably, the don't-ask-don't-tell dynamic became a habit with all parties.

Thanks so much for sharing your encouraging and heartwarming story. :hug:

On edit: Recommended!

[gully]

25. Marvelous.

Thanks for sharing.

[SeattleGirl]

26. Reading your story gave me goosebumps, 11 Bravo.

And bless your parents for letting their love for their son lead the way.

[Nicole]

27. The REAL family value

Unconditional love. You have every right to be proud of your parents. :)

[Aristus]

28. I choked up a little, too, 11 Bang.

I'm so happy for you, your brother and your whole family. That's real love.

[Rex]

29. A toast to you and your parents!

:applause:

[bobbolink]

30. Do you think they had suspected it for a while?

I'm certainly glad they responded like loving parents, but I just wonder if they maybe "knew", and that's why there wasn't a "second's hesitation".

:applause: all around-- for your brother for drawing the line, and for your parents for being true parents!

[StatGirl]

31. That was my thought, too

It sounds as if they've known for some time, and have perhaps even discussed how they would respond when told. They are truly walking the talk. What wonderful people!

[bobbolink]

33. Kinda sounds that way. I know *my* parents wouldn't have

reacted that way! :cry:

It sounds like they are rather tough-skinned people, but at least in this circumstance they were able to overcome that.

That's one step.

Maybe now that he's come out, they join PFLAG! :hi:

[Maraya1969]

32. It is so heartwarming to see people lead with love.

:grouphug:

[guinivere]

34. Now that shows family values.

Every family member is loved and valued.

[Kurovski]

35. We DUers loves your parents!

:loveya:

[Pacifist Patriot]

36. I love your parents.

[PicketFence]

37. I didn't actually register here to talk about this but here goes.

My daughter semi-came out of the closet a few months ago. There are only 2 of us in the family that knows. It is kinda funny she was the one going to church every Sunday, she blasted me for listening to devil music(rock n roll), and she is far more RW than I am.

[11 Bravo]

38. This may sound presumptous of me, but please, hug her..

tell her you love her, and allow her to seek her own way.

[NMDemDist2]

39. welcome to DU PicketFence!

:hi:

[BattyDem]

40. Now THAT'S what I call "family values"

Big hugs for you and your family. :grouphug: Thanks for sharing. :-)

[EFerrari]

41. i'm so happy for your family.

:hug:

[WillyT]

44. That Is Just Wonderful !!! - K & R !!!

Got me crying just reading it!

:grouphug:

[VeggieTart]

45. Good for your parents

And I hope your brother and his boyfriend have many happy years together.

I am sorry, though, that he felt he had to hide himself for so long.

[donco6]

46. Nice story, but . . .

can I ask, why did your brother feel compelled to lay out this ultimatum? Maybe I'm just reading it wrong.

My mom died years before I came out, but my Dad - an old Kansas farm boy - was as accepting as could be. He stayed at our house many times and even went on trips with us to Vegas. Wish I'd come out to him earlier.

[mnhtnbb]

50. Good for your parents. As the mother of a gay son, I find it hard

to imagine having a heart so cold that you could respond any other way than how your parents did.

[Ferret Annica]

51. You are lucky, I am envious

My Mom died not wanting her homosexual son anywhere around her death room. Some people enhance their wisdom as they grow older, others compound their ignorance.

[Erechtheides]

52. Thank you for posting this

That warms me on a cold morning.
I'm proud of your parents, too.

[wicket]

53. Congrats to you all

:hug:

[PurpleChez]

54. Yea! Mom and Dad rokk!

[lyonn]

55. People are waking up to the fact that all of us are different

This bush bunch have set rules for how we should all think and do. How dumb is that? No abortions? No birth control? Must be christian, "Other" will get lip service. As Bill Mahr says, "New Rules". This applies to bushcos' reversal of our basic laws protecting our right, like being locked up because the King (Decider) has decided you are a terrorist, rebel rouser, etc.! Apparently many people are afraid to protest since you are definitely subject to arrest for just being there. Can't protest the Decider!

[lyonn]

57. Sorry about my rant slightly off subject!

But, I feel this admin. has caused those that are "gay"(?) to feel like second class citizens, are they allowed to vote? SARCASM

Years ago, late 1970's and early 80's my bestest friend and I were deep into raising kids and trying to keep in touch with who "we" were in the process. She had 3 boys and I had 2 boys and 1 girl and they were driving us up the walls with their antics. We once discussed that if one of them turned out to be "gay" then we would have some real problems to deal with. Let me explain, we had no doubt it wouldn't change our feeling towards them, we were concerned about society accepting them and the quality of life issues since back then it was not talked about as much. When you have a govt. that want's to make an issue of a persons sexual orientation it is demeaning to the American way of life. Choice and acceptance of lifestyles should be what most should vote on the 7th. I won't hold it against anyone who is deeply religious and votes their belief, but don't judge my character for disagreeing.