“I live and die by the bible and the bible says homosexuality is wicked. I will never change my mind”, blustered the greying gentleman while literally thumping his bible at our church’s final adult Sunday School Class exploring gay marriage.
Our church, the local Presbyterian (PCUSA), was on the verge of affirming gay marriage in the church and holding Sunday School classes exploring the topic. My son, Drake, and I had spoken earlier in the series about Drake’s coming out.
This man was calling my sixteen year old son “wicked”. Now, you can call my son many things, but “wicked” isn’t one of them; wickedly funny, kind, smart, responsible, yes, but wicked he is not.
As his vitriol was spewing, a seed was planted for The Society of Lucky Mothers. Like the church ladies who immediately spoke up expressing their love for Drake, I knew I, too, had to speak up and and do something to fight the stigma of being LGBTQ. This was a wake up call for me. We live in the Pacific Northwest, an area known for its more accepting views and Drake’s coming out via a you tube video was very well received and supported. In my cozy cocoon of life I had forgotten all about the bigots and “super”Christians out there.
Being gay is still very much stigmatized in our society. Many parents of gay children, while accepting, will still acknowledge it’s not their preference. Why the heck isn’t it their preference? I think it’s because they think their child will have a harder life because of the stigma. So, let’s work on getting rid of the stigma. Because, frankly, I feel blessed and lucky to be the parent of a gay son. My gay son was made perfectly in God’s image and I’m pretty darn sure God is aware of this.
I hope you feel lucky, too. I am here to tell you that your LGBTQ child is worth celebrating. So, I’m asking you to celebrate your child, even brag a little. Talk about your child, talk about the value of gay marriage. Let’s make it our goal to help people evolve. Not every mind can be changed, but like Don says in Kinky Boots, “You change the world when you change your mind”
So, Lucky Mothers let’s unite and let’s change the world.