The moment my son was born I froze. I was in shock. My first child and I couldn’t move. The doctors around me chuckled as I am sure they had seen this many times before. A father unable to comprehend the emotions crashing into him. I saw my son and my life changed. My code was rewritten. In an instant everything I was living for adjusted and my son went to the top of the list. It wasn’t a realization that dawned on me over time. It happened in the blink of an eye, the beat of a new heart. My life simply changed. I would die for this small child in my arms, without question or hesitation. I had never felt anything like this before. I had never known the love that I was feeling. I watched the doctors as they cared for him, not wanting to miss anything. I laughed and cried at the same time, completely overcome and riding the wave of joy.
I love my son. Completely. He is ten years old now. His voice is changing. He is almost as tall as his mom. He has a little sister with fiery red hair. She has me wrapped around her finger.
The idea that I would toss either of my children aside if I find out they are gay, is infuriating to me.
I love my children. Without question. Being gay is not, and should never be, a reason for me to stop loving them.
Period.
There is no gray area of IF I will love my children.
The answer is I will ALWAYS love my children.
There should not be a National Coming Out Day. There never should have been a situation where it was needed. Being gay should not need to be justified or adapted to.
National Coming Out Day was formed in the 80s to help give voices to those afraid of coming out because of the reaction they may receive and to educate the world.
Shame on us for ever creating a world where we would need groups like this.
Where we would need to let people know they are safe to be who they are.
But that is our history and we have created unsafe worlds for more than just the gay community.
Yet those unsafe worlds are being torn down all around us. It may be slower than we would like. The walls of hate may be reinforced over time, but we will tear them down with greater numbers and stronger love.
I am a father, a husband, a son, and I stand with those who would be told there is something wrong with them because of who they love.
I stand for my children and for the children who were shunned by their own parents.
My children are the world to me. Nothing will change that. Ever.
