"Dad, Im in love with a woman and I'm moving to Florida". Those were the very words I used. I always thought of my dad being a bit judgmental. Stuck in his old ways with traditional opinions and values so telling my dad that I was gay seemed to be a daunting thing. The reaction I got took me very much by surprise. "What did you say?" He said. I repeated what I had first told him. "I'm in love with a woman and Im moving to Florida".
My dad looked at me and smiled. "This definite then?" He said. "Yes" I said as I calmly poured water from the kettle all over my toast.
"You're my daughter Louise. I'll love you no matter what decisions you make." Bob wasn't my real dad. He'd stepped in when I was three years old and got together with my mum. He was step dad to my brother Daniel and I and treated us like we were his own. "So you're gay then?" he said. "Yes dad. I like women, not men". He gave me a hug and said he was with me all the way if i needed him. And that was pretty much that. I thought that if anyone would be against this it would be him but i was delighted with how he reacted. It made my life feel alot less stressful.
Mum was easy. "As long as you're happy. It makes no difference to me babe". And that was that. I've been treated no differently by parents and have their full support and love. I am one of the lucky ones. I've met and known young people from across the UK that have had top deal with the traumatic aftermath of "Coming out". Young people being thrown out onto the streets, abandoned by their loved ones for loving the "wrong" gender. Women and men with no one to turn to as their lives turn into turmoil. In this day and age, the 21st century and with all the controversy that already exists in the world we live in, we are still being judged. What happen to the quote Live and let live"?
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