Mom gave son love to last a lifetime

I grewup in an extremely conservative, rural area of northeast Mississippi in the

’60s. I came out as gay tomy mom when I was 13 in 1970, and she said three things tome that set the course for a lifetime of love. As she hugged me, she said, “I will always love you, no matter what.” Then, looking me straight in the eye, she thanked me formy honesty before again pulling me into her arms and whispering, “I’ve known since you were a small boy.” I was overwhelmed by her acceptance. Our relationship became somuch closer and stronger. We traveled together. And when she became ill, I returned to the small town where I grew up and looked after her until her death at 87. We had a wonderful final six years together. My mother was obviously before her time.

Out and Proud in Louisiana

Thank you for your heartwarming letter, which I am printing today, National Coming Out Day.

It brought to mind a letter I published in 2007.

Read on:

My husband and I raised two sons and two daughters. One son and both daughters married well. Our other son, “Neil,” is gay. He and his partner, “Ron,” have been together 15 years, but Neil’s father and I never wanted to know Ron because we disapproved of their lifestyle.

I was 74 whenmy husband died, leavingme in ill health and nearly penniless. No longer able to live alone, I askedmy married son and two daughters if I could “visit” each of them for four months a year. (I didn’t want to burden any one family and thought living out of a suitcase would be best for everyone.) All three of them turned me down! Feeling unwanted, I wanted to die.

When Neil and Ron heard what had happened, they invitedme to move across the country and live with them. They welcomedme into their home and even removed a wall between two rooms so I’d have a b’edroom with a private bath and sitting room — although we spend most of our time together.

They also include me in many of their plans. Since I moved in with them, I have traveledmore than I havemy whole life and seen places I only read about in books. They never mention the fact that they are supporting me, or that I ignored them in the past.