Today begins Pride Month.
My daughter came out in April, a few weeks before her 12th birthday. I was so proud of her. Correction, I am so proud of her. I am proud of her for living her truth and being her authentic self. I am proud of her for knowing who she is and being completely unafraid of it.
I can say without hesitation that she is loved just as much, if not more, than she was before she came out. I love her unconditionally and support her wholeheartedly. I know this isn’t the case for most people when they come out, but it should be.
Love is love is love is love. Full stop.
I made the graphic below to share with the world how much I love my daughter. I asked her permission before posting on social media. It wasn’t my story to tell, so I wanted to make sure that she was comfortable with me doing so. The response has been so unbelievably supportive, and the amount of love that was shown to my baby is touching.
She is just starting her journey. She has a long way to go and will stumble and fall countless times. My job is to pick her up, get her back on her feet and help her keep going.
All any parent should ever want for their child(ren) is to be happy, find love and fulfillment. How those things are accomplished and with whom should never cloud the issue.
It shouldn’t be news when someone comes out and shares that they’re somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum. I didn’t announce that I was straight, so why should people feel the need to announce to the world that they’re gay? Who you love is your business, and the world doesn’t belong in your heart or bedroom. But, that’s not the way things work. In a society so bound by heteronormative ideals and morals, people feel that they have to either hide who they are or they come dancing out of the closet.
It makes me so happy that my husband and I have created a safe space and a loving home, one where she felt she could share such a deeply personal and intimate part of herself. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if she hid this from us for years, or felt that we wouldn’t accept her.
I love her for who she is.