Jokingly, I told her to do everything opposite the way I did when I came out. It probably could have been done better; a dash more finesse and a little less verbal emesis. But talking to her brought me back to when I went through the same process- keyword being “PROCESS”.

Coming out was not like ripping off a band-aid. The conversation was short, to the point, especially since it was of no shock to my parents. But the feeling after having the conversation was of no satisfaction to neither my parents nor me. I was confused as to why they had to share their own feelings and concerns, for wasn’t coming out all about ME? In actuality it was not.

After some maturing and fermenting and some reflection, I realized that coming out was as much a process for my family as it was for me. They needed time to understand what it meant to have an openly gay son and to accept the fact that I was different. Looking back I needed to be more patient, more understanding as to where they were coming from, and more appreciative of the fact that they were processing in the first place; that they were trying to figure out how to accept and live with this acknowledgement. For that, I am ever grateful and appreciative.

At the end of our conversation I told my friend, “You have nothing to worry about because all that matters is that you love them, and that they love you. The rest will either find its place or not, but as long as there is love, there is nothing you cannot overcome.”