I want to know your stories!

Your struggles, your bravery, your strength behind closed and closeted doors,

Are you out? How did it go?

Not out? What's the biggest barriers?

I've been gay my entire life, but only came out around my mid-20s. My parents were some astute variation of Catholic/Christian (one of the niche ones, there's too many, I can't remember which specifically).

I had just watch Happiest Season, and for all its 'eh', it sat with me for a few days. Comedy aside, I really felt from Kristen's character, I imagined equal pain and awkwardness had I ever showed up one day with a girlfriend and a wife, and I couldn't bare the idea of having somebody go through that,

The following day, I called my mother first. It was a hard conversation. The news itself wasn't too shocking for her, she, being my mother, always kind of knew. She ended up breaking down about halfway through, saying she felt she failed as my mother for not provided an atmosphere comfortable for me to come out sooner,

She wasn't my initial concern in holding back, so we celebrated, had a solid cry, and then I called my father,

My dad has some of the worst traditional values to date. He solely believes a woman's value lies with the amount of children she gives birth too (he's an arse, I know - but there were aspects of him that did provide me with a good quality of life, so take it with a little nuance),

I can't say I've ever felt somebody physically tense over a phone call, but he absolute 100% did. He was torn between being a dad and fighting his beliefs. It was not met well, nor did it end well. He started tangents about my future, about the perception of the family and how people talk, how he was embarrassed and uncomfortable (I responded with "imagine how I feel").

We had a period of back to back fights. At one point the snarky comments and petty jabs at me not giving men a fair chance got too much, and told him off. We had some dark days of him threatening to disown me, or chastising me in a way that spoke of me as if I were already not part of the family,

Our next open talk was equally as awkward, and he made jokes about artifical insemination (bad connotations, I know - but he's an awkward chauvinistic tradman who's uncomfortable talking about periods, so I'd take it as a little growth).

Most extended have dropped me entirely, but they're all dealing with their own toxic demons demons (wrapped up in a nice alcoholic bouquet), so I don't consider the detachment too much of a loss,

In my current state, it's acknowledged but still looked at with side-eyes, but I don't really care anymore. I have yet to bring somebody home, but when I do (as I usually host my own holidays) I'll be ready :`),

I wish yall the best of luck on your journeys, and look forward to all the stories