Danish
Discovering, accepting, and cherishing your s*xual orientation or identity is a journey known as “coming out” in the LGBTQ+ community. It involves understanding who you are and bravely revealing this truth to others. This journey varies: some gradually embrace it, while others have a sudden realization.
However, confiding in parents or caregivers adds a layer of vulnerability. For many LGBTQ+ individuals, this moment is nerve-wracking, ranging from freeing to bewildering, even life-altering and emotionally devastating.
How parents react becomes paramount. “How should a dad respond to ‘I think I’m gay’?” a Reddit user asked, resonating with many who shared their heartfelt stories. The response to this pivotal moment can shape the LGBTQ+ person’s sense of self and their relationship with their family.
Scroll down below to enjoy!
1. Dad wasn’t a fan of men either.
Lesbian here. When I came out to my dad he said “that’s ok honey, I don’t like guys either.”
Source: wafflemaker9093, Image
2. It is your preference, son. Nothing changes between us.
My stepdad, who I consider my dad, was the man that raised me, and he’s a big redneck steel worker. I came out at 18 and he sat me down and said “son, I’ve loved you like you were my own for the past 14 years. Why the h*ll would I stop now?”
Source: KeyboardRoller, Image
3. Grandma knew all along.
In the 90s, when my girlfriend finally told her traditional Italian mom and grandma at 19, they sighed in unison and grandma said, ‘oh thank baby Jesus, I was worried that I was going to have to tell you.
Source: DifficultAccident9, Image
4. His dad fully backed his s*xual orientation.
When I came out to my dad when I was 16 I thought he would disown me. He said: “Son, If anyone ever hurts you for that, I’ll f*****g k*ll them”. In that moment I realized that I had the best dad in the world.
Source: Winterpegs, Image
5. The son was worried but his dad knew all about it.
One of my friends from high school was gay, and when he came out to his family his Dad literally didn’t look up from his newspaper & told him his sister didn’t need to tell him she was straight so why would he need to explain that he was gay? He’s known him his whole life and already knew that.
It was cute because he was so worried.
Source: 0Diamond0, Image
6. People accepted it in every age of time.
“I thought you were about to give me bad news! Don’t scare me like that!” – My granny when my uncle came out (in the ‘70’s!). She was decades ahead of her time…
Source: LongjumpingCake1924, Image
7. There were some signs.
I drunk-dialed my dad my freshman year of college in a sobbing mess and told him I was Bi. Went something like this:
Me: I’m bis*xual.
Dad: Yeah, I figured.
Me: Huh? What?
Dad: There were some obvious signs. Go to sleep id*ot. You have class in the morning.
8. Kind of a cute way to let your kid know that “I know”.
I want you to know that no matter who you love, I still need you to take out the trash. It’s full. And replace the f*****g liner this time.”
Source: 1beerattatime, Image
9. As long as you become a doctor, I don’t care if you marry a man or a woman.
Asian Dad: But are you a Doctor yet?
Source: DaneDuaPooja1729, Image
10. It is only the dad who doesn’t like guys…which is fine.
It’s okay, your mother likes guys too, maybe I am the weird one.
11. It is perfectly fine for a girl to date another girl. Just take all precautionary measures that you would take with a guy.
I was getting ready to go to a sleepover with a girl I was totally crushing on and my mom was like “you look like you’re getting ready for a date!”
And I paused and was like “would it be okay if I was…. Going on a date with a girl?”
My mom just said, “Of course just remember to practice safe s*x. You can get STDs from girls too!”
Source: Psychological-Run679, Image
12. My happiness is in your happiness.
Well… My dad said “I know… And I don’t care. As long as you are happy, I’m also happy for you.” and then asked me if I wanted a beer or scotch to celebrate that I finally had the confidence to tell him.
Source: OneMorePotion, Image
It is not a taboo anymore and these stories are living proof of it. All children require is support from their parents and that is exactly what all of these kids coming out in these stories got. It makes you so much more confident when you know your parents are behind you. You take decisions that otherwise you won’t even think about. That is the true power of love.
Let’s enjoy some more reactions of parents to their children coming out to them. Scroll down below to continue!
13. This must have been such a cool moment. An old dad dancing with his dad-bod flying everywhere…happy for this daughter.
I came out a few months ago at the age of 42. My 80 year old dad stood up, started dancing, and tone deaf sing-yelling ‘I have a gay daughter and I love herrrrrr!’ It was adorable.
Source: lesbianshlesbian, Image
14. An unplanned coming-out experience.
I’m Bi. When I came out to my parents, It wasn’t exactly planned.
My older brother knew I was dating a girl and he accidentally let it slip in front of my mom. My mom looked at me, and asked if I had a girlfriend. I said yes, she then proceeded to ask when I’m bringing her over for dinner. It was the most normal conversation about dating I’ve ever had with my mom.
I later found out my mom is also bi so it really wasn’t as big of a deal as I thought it was at the time.
Source: mysticalbulls, Image
15. Dad found his benefit in it. Cute!
When I came out my dad had the best response ever: “Wow! Now maybe I’ll get a son-in-law that I really like!” and then he hugged me.
Source: Gracie305, Image
16. He started playing around with her.
When my daughter told me she was gay, I just told her I loved her, and that none of that would change my feelings. Then I began giving her the heads up when hot ladies would walk by.
Source: PloddingClot, Image
17. That is the best reaction I have seen a parent have to her child coming out.
So my aunt is kind of old school and doesn’t know how to address things. She is kind of in the middle between baby boomer and Gen X so she is a bit more tolerant, but she is still awkward. My aunt has 3 boys and they are all gay lol. The youngest one was like 9 or something when he told her and he goes “Mom, I think I’m gay” and she looks at him dead in the eyes and says “So? what the f**k you want me to do about it!?” Lol
She’s fully supportive and tried to be nonchalant but her reaction was probably not what he was expecting.
18. His grandmother knew he was gay from the time even he didn’t know.
This story does not involve a dad, but it involves a very religious grandma. One of my friends was very nervous about telling his grandma that he was gay, and put it off for a long time. But when he turned 18 he decided that he had to get this done. When he told her she just looked at him calmly answered “of course you are. I have known that since you were 10”. At the age of 10 he didn’t even know it himself yet.
Source: Ashtar-the-Squid, Image
19. The mother was disappointed but not because her daughter came out.
My mother was disappointed. Disappointed because, “You told your cousin Shirley before you told me? I think I should’ve been first.”
Source: Dontneednodoctor, Image
20. You were being nervous for no reason.
My daughter was looking extremely nervous one night while I was cooking dinner. I could see her talking quietly with her mom but she continued to look uneasy.
After a bit of time, she came into the kitchen and I asked her what was wrong. She didn’t want to tell me at first but I could tell she was uneasy so I said she could always tell me anything.
She finally said that she was pans*xual. I just looked at her and said “that just means twice as many people that can turn you down for dates now” and she busted out laughing as I went back to cooking to finish dinner.
She was apparently really nervous about telling me for some reason and was glad I wasn’t upset.
Source: tahquitz84, Image
21. Parent supported son’s choice.
Our son came out to us a month ago. We already suspected, so it wasn’t a shock.
When he told me I thanked him for telling me, told him that I loved him, then explained that who he wants to tell next and how he wants to tell them is 100% his choice and we will support him however he wants and needs. He gave us a list of people to tell, and by the end of the week he wanted everyone to know.
Love and acknowledgement and support.
Source: Feetyoumeet, Image
22. “Make sure they deserve your love and make you a better person.” Best thing I have read in a long time.
My high school aged daughter told me this exact thing while in the car a couple of months ago. I told her “Thanks for being brave enough to tell me, honey. I don’t care who you love, only that they love you back as much as I do and are worthy of the love you give them. Make sure they deserve your love and make you a better person, and I’ll be happy.”
Source: 96-ramair, Image
23. Her mother was a bit shocked when she first came out but things settled down eventually.
When my daughter came out, I was a bit shocked, but I told her that I loved her completely and didn’t care who she loved. It completely softened her demeanour in our relationship and she has been far more open with me ever since. I think in the months leading up to that she was terrified to tell me, which made her distant and cold. After telling me that, she has been back to normal. Just tell them how much you love them, and get back to business as usual.
Source: Mr_Mister247, Image
24. That is a great strategy.
My wife asked me this when we found out we were having a son.
I told her I’d make sure he knew how to fight before he told anyone else.
I love the boy no matter what, but we live in rural Montana. Of course folks are more accepting than they were in previous generations but you never know.
Source: CheeseburgerKarma94, Image
25. Gay people don’t like mushrooms? What?
“So that’s why you don’t like mushrooms”. At least that’s what my friends dad said to him when he came out. We still don’t know what he meant by that.
Source: narnababy, Image
I really hope you guys enjoyed this one. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Stay tuned for more goodness!
Via Tarostar
Animal tax.
“My mom’s mini-horse got into the house and stole a banana.”
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings