Better on the Outside: Part II

[nashvilleheart]

We decided to go to Nashville, Tennessee on our vacation. I had been to Nashville once before, but this was Alex’s first visit. So, we jumped in the car early one morning and drove to Nashville. We were two gay people on a road trip from Arkansas to Tennessee, so you can imagine what was going through our scared little minds

Comments

[st_martin_a]

Thanks for sharing.
Sorry to hear about your mum.

I've not really appreciated how difficult it must be to tell people.
When my son told me he was gay I just said: "Alright, I thought you might be", and that was about it.
I'm not sure if I should have said more...?

I'm just glad that attitudes have changed considerably over here, even in the last year.

[nashvilleheart]

Thank you. My heart is so broken.

There's not much a parent can say to a child when they come out of the closet except to support them, tell them you love them, accept them and be there for them. That's the most comforting thing a child needs after getting up the courage to come out.

How is your son doing these days? Are you guys close?

[st_martin_a]

...we get on well.
I've been taking him to university open days recently which has been quality time.
I'm not sure how much he'd share with me though.
He talks to his mum more about more personal stuff.
He's told us and his siblings but nobody else in the family yet.
I think most of them will be cool with it although some have made derogatory comments about being gay in the past.

[nashvilleheart]

That's good at least. It takes time. In time hopefully he'll open up to you more. It does take time. It's not easy. Just be there for him, let him know that. It's not easy talking a father about being gay. It's hard for him too.