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Personal Stories - Gay Parents
I met a wonderful woman and could not be happier
Added May 12, 2011
I tried to conform to the way everyone wanted me to be. I got married right out of high school had two children and was miserable. My husband always wondered why I never wanted to make love. It didn't feel like love. I felt like I was dying inside, no doubt a part of me died each day for 21 years. I was angry, hurt, and took it out on my children until one day I had had enough and I left. I gave my children the choice to stay with him or come with me. My daughter came and my son stayed with his dad. One day my daughter and I were having a conversation and she just came out and said "mom you’re gay and if you ever want to be happy accept it" I was floored. After that I decided to let my true feelings come out. I met a wonderful woman and could not be happier. My son accepted me for me. About 6 months later I moved in with my partner soon after that he decided he wanted to be with us. Now my life is finally whole and I can look in the mirror and say thank God for my blessings.We are now open, proud individuals (and a proud couple!)
I'm 38 years old and I've been with my wife now for over 17 years. We lived in a small town in South Dakota when we first met in 1993. I was 21 and she was 29 with 2 small children. We were in the closet for several years and while nothing bad ever happened to us, we definitely endured subtle (and not so subtle) discrimination from people who figured out we were a couple. After six years together, but NOT living together, the four of us moved. We moved to a town of about 150,000 people so needless to say the attitudes were much more open! My wife and I each learned that the more we came to truly BE OURSELVES, other pieces of our lives fell into place. We found an open and affirming church (United Church of Christ) in 2001 and we were married there in 2006. 150 people were at our wedding, and over 100 of them were members of our church! We are now open, proud individuals (and a proud couple!) We have 2 very loving supportive children who are now 22 and 24 and we're also grandmas to a beautiful 15-month old granddaughter!
I'm saying all of these things to say IT GETS BETTER!! I started my "journey" of coming out to myself and others at the age of 20 (although there were many "signs" that I couldn't put a name on years before that). It started out feeling so scary and like no one could understand or accept me. PLEASE know that there are resources and people LIKE YOU who can support you and tell you that your journey will get easier and LIFE IS GOOD!! God bless every person who visits the LIKE ME site and perhaps takes something away from my story. Peace to you all my brothers and sisters!
Divorced mother of….
I am the divorced mother of a little boy with special needs. I am in the process of coming out to my family. I have a relative who is gay, so that makes it easier. However, I have also been a foster parent for 6 years, and in my state, gay couples are not allowed to foster/adopt children, so that complicates the matter. "Equality. Not tolerance." "Dare to be different. Dare to be true." :)
Happy & Proud Gay Father…
I'm 28 years old and grew up in Oregon. I came out when I was 16 years old. I have been lucky to have a great group of friends and a loving supportive family. My story has been good. Reading about other people’s hardships makes me very grateful for my experience. I'm not saying that I have not received prejudice for my sexuality. I have just had an amazing support system. I think that helps. I'm Happy to say that I am a Single Gay Father to a beautiful two year old daughter. My life is good. I had struggles as a teenager but it does get better! I am a Happy, Proud Gay Father!!