Great video! I'm sorry your dad said the things he said to you when you were 14, but I'm so glad things have gotten better for you! And yes, it does get better! You are an inspiration and a hero - on so many levels! Thank you for sharing!

My parents had both died before I had a long term lesbian relationship. I had been married to men three times. As far as my family knew, I was hetero. Dad would have disowned me. He threw my brother out of the house at Thanksgiving (early 70's) when he came in with an earring in one ear. Richard tried to explain that 'left is right and right is wrong', but dad didn't care. hmmm...I was probably about 15 at the time, and my brother 26. I idolized my older brother. I probably was able to accept my 'alternate lifestyle choices' and live more comfortably in my own skin because I watched him struggle for his own freedom. (BTW, as far as I know, he is totally hetero.) Mom would have accepted me...disagreed with me, but accepted me. As far as 'coming out' to the rest of the family, I didn't really have to do it. It seems that they had already made their minds up about me, and accepted me for myself, before I got around to mentioning it to them...LOL...:ohwell: They have even accepted my Pagan beliefs. I was more afraid to come out to them about that than my sexuality. :embarassed: A few of the holy rollers have told me how wrong I am, but most of them just shrugged and said, 'whatever'.

I am a very lucky woman.

I was lucky in the fact that I have a very open family as well as an older brother who is also gay and sort of paved the way. With that said, I didn't come out until the age of 21 because I still had my doubts as to just how accepting my dad was. I'm my dad's only child, my other siblings have different dads, and I was worried that I would disappoint him by not carrying on the family name. I didn't go home for two days after I came out because I didn't want to have an awkward encounter with my father. I went home and made small talk with my parents and then went off to my room. My dad came into the room and told me he would never be disappointed in me, because I can't change who I am and that it wasn't that big of a surprise because I was the "family fashionista" That was the first time I had cried in a while and since then the flood gates have been open. lol I am out to nearly everyone I know, but I still don't tell everyone unless it comes up. I don't feel it's necessary information because it doesn't change who I am as a person.

Thank you for your Service. I love how in the military Male, Female, Black, White, Asian, (AND now finally, Gay Straight).. mean nothing. Like they say in boot camp, you are one color. GREEN.

Thank you and be safe!