Dad Writes Letter and Saves His Son From Coming Out

This week, a photograph of a letter was posted to the Facebook page of FCKH8.com, a pro-gay clothing and accessory website, and quickly went viral. This letter from a father to a son has been herald as a source of inspiration about acceptance after the father overheard his son talking on the phone about his plans to come out to his parents.

When I came out to my parents, it was in person amidst a flurry of tears, mostly on my part. The sentiment I got from that experience and from telling my family over the course of a few days was very similar to what the father in the letter wrote: “We’ve known.” It wasn’t like I never knew – it was coming to terms with it and what it meant for my life. I completely understand the sentiment in the letter and how it’s such a ‘dad thing’ to do, but I really wonder what Nate (the son) will think about this in the future. Maybe he feels complete relief? But the thing about coming out, at least for me, was that it wasn’t real until I said the words “I’m gay” aloud.

The world keeps changing and accepting people, especially your children, as LGBTQ just gets easier and easier. We don’t know much about either the father or son at this point as they wanted to remain anonymous, but the posting of this letter is another step in showing the progress the world is making.

FCKH8 released a statement about the letter in the aftermath of its unexpected popularity:

I don’t know if I completely agree with their statement about it being “shared by so many sadly means that this kind of acceptance is both too rare and deeply craved by LGBT people so used to being rejected by families” meaning what it means. I tend to believe in the power of social media and how easy it is to share something like this. I do believe that it is a powerful statement and one that may make it easier for parents to accept their children when they see other people doing the same.

Image via Facebook