One of a closeted gay man’s biggest fears is that their parents and family will no longer love them because of their lifestyle. Unfortunately, in some cases, their fears are far from baseless.
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On a message board on Reddit, “James,” 33, uploaded a picture of a letter his father sent him in which he disowns him, shortly after he came out to his family.
James reveals he called his father to tell him the news in August 2007:
“I finally built up the courage to tell my father I was gay. The moment I said it, the phone got quiet and he got off the phone after a few “Okays.” I decided to give him time to process the news. About a week later, and not long before my birthday, I received the following letter.”
“This is a difficult but necessary letter to write… I hope your telephone call was not to receive my blessing for the degrading of your lifestyle. I have fond memories of our times together, but that is all in the past. Don’t expect any further conversations with me. No conversations at all. I will not come to visit, nor do I want you in my house. You made your choice though wrong it may be. God did not intend for this unnatural lifestyle. If you choose not to attend my funeral, my friends and family will understand. It concludes: Have a good birthday and a good life, no present exchanges will be accepted. Goodbye, Dad.”
James decided to publish the letter in the wake of the Chick-fil-A controversy, in which CEO Dan Cathy said he was ‘guilty as charged’ when asked if he opposed gay marriage and that those who supported it evoked God’s judgment.
We feel for James and pray his father sees the error of his ways for his, and his family’s, sake.
