National Coming Out Day Revisited
The Inside Out post didn't include my story, which (at least in this context) has nothing to do with comics. It's pretty much the least traumatic coming out story ever, because my parents are awesome.
Setting:
My mother's car, at the beginning of an hour-long drive. No escape.
Dramatis Personae:
Me (Two months shy of seventeen. I've known for a couple years that I like girls--about as long as I've known I like boys--and have just finished my first, heart-wrenching, whirlwind relationship with one. My parents know I'm sexually active, but I've never discussed being queer with them, and as far as I know, they think I'm straight.)
Mom (Is smarter than I give her credit for.)
Scene:
Mom: So, I was wondering--were you involved with [name of girl I was, in fact, involved with]?
Me: ...Yes.
Mom: Are you bisexual?
Me: ...Yes.
Mom: Okay. I want to talk to you, because even if it might not seem like it, it's really important that you use protection with women as well as men.
Me: You are the coolest mom ever.
She really is, too. And my dad is likewise awesome. I did not take traditional paths to either sexuality or relationships (and am still pretty far left of center in terms of both), and they've responded to every revelation by doing their best to understand where I'm coming from and not only accept but embrace my choices. Having parents who remember at the end of each phone call to send love to both my husband and my girlfriend makes me feel like the luckiest kid in the world.
Setting:
My mother's car, at the beginning of an hour-long drive. No escape.
Dramatis Personae:
Me (Two months shy of seventeen. I've known for a couple years that I like girls--about as long as I've known I like boys--and have just finished my first, heart-wrenching, whirlwind relationship with one. My parents know I'm sexually active, but I've never discussed being queer with them, and as far as I know, they think I'm straight.)
Mom (Is smarter than I give her credit for.)
Scene:
Mom: So, I was wondering--were you involved with [name of girl I was, in fact, involved with]?
Me: ...Yes.
Mom: Are you bisexual?
Me: ...Yes.
Mom: Okay. I want to talk to you, because even if it might not seem like it, it's really important that you use protection with women as well as men.
Me: You are the coolest mom ever.
She really is, too. And my dad is likewise awesome. I did not take traditional paths to either sexuality or relationships (and am still pretty far left of center in terms of both), and they've responded to every revelation by doing their best to understand where I'm coming from and not only accept but embrace my choices. Having parents who remember at the end of each phone call to send love to both my husband and my girlfriend makes me feel like the luckiest kid in the world.