My daughter, Mary Lou (my phantom name for her), came out at age fourteen, ten years ago. I can’t say I was totally surprised after years of her tearing the heads and couture off my vintage Barbie dolls, favoring WWF wrestlers and Ninja Turtle figurines instead, as well as her collection of matchbox cars. She also refused to wear dresses and any shoe other than Converse high tops to the symphony, opera, or even my wedding to Number 2, in which she was the flower girl. She was the only girl on the flag-football team, the only girl playing point guard on the church basketball team, and plays a mean slide guitar. Before and since the defining moment, I’ve always been and always will be her biggest supporter. I took her to hundreds of youth pride meetings and marched proudly carrying my PFLAG banner at the Atlanta Gay Pride Parade. She graduated from one of the top business schools in the country, magna cum laude, a year ago and has a fabulous job in the financial services industry. Oh, and I forgot to mention she is tall, blond, and looks like a supermodel. She’s my love, my heart, and my pride and joy.
Mary Lou has had two serious relationships. Her first was with a wonderful Latino artist type, Lola (also not her name). I still adore her to this day, and hate that their relationship ended so badly. Lola, I hope you and Mary Lou will connect in the future because you were so special in her finding herself as a lesbian. Her current girlfriend just graduated from a prominent women’s college and is heading to law school. They have been together for two years. Whether they end up together long-term or not, I know that my daughter wants to live the life that all Americans long for. This means building a life with a loving partner afforded the same rights and privileges as any straight married couple. It means having children who are shown acceptance in their schools, living in neighborhoods akin to those of their straight counterparts. It means freedom from any form of discrimination against those that live the gay lifestyle.
My gay friends who are parents are devoted and nurturing to their children and live their lives indistinguishable from those of their straight neighbors. They are loyal to their mates as monogamous, devoted partners, they honor and abide by the law, and they are committed to making their neighborhoods and communities safer, being the first to volunteer on boards and charities.
