Member-only story
As a Proud Mother of an LGBTQ+ Child, I Worry All the Time
I shouldn’t have to!
I thought that as time went on, my worry for my youngest child would abate due to what I expected to be an increasing acceptance and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community.
That isn’t happening.
My child came out to me, the first time, in 2009. The second time was in 2012. I will not go into detail about our story, because I don’t believe it’s mine to tell, and I no longer feel safe to tell it. At one time, I did.
When my child came out, as a teenager, navigating their identity, trying to figure themselves out, we had a leader who encouraged their journey. He was president of the free world, and say what you will about him (not to me, don’t bother), but he made it clear that he believed in freedom.
It was clear not only from the eloquent and intelligent way he spoke, but also from the way he carried himself. He respected others, and he had respect for himself.
He didn’t get up in front of a podium and spew nonsense that could be interpreted in any way the audience chose to. He knew how to speak, he held himself accountable for his words, and he visibly showed an ability to care about others, no matter their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender. Without knowing him personally, I…
