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Rose, you look like you've got something on your mind.
Actually dad, I do have something on my mind. It's kinda a big deal.
Tell me about it, and in no way will I freak out.
Well, you know how lately Vanessa and me have been getting really close lately?
Well I think that...
Well, I know that...
I don't know.
Hello!
Hi dad.
I'm feeling lazy, how's soup and garlic bread for dinner?
Okay.
What kind do you want?
Anything but mushroom.
You have three new voice messages.
Hi Nathan, it's Angela.
I can't do lunch tomorrow after all. Sean has got a doctor appointment.
It's the only time we could get it. Is there a day next week...? Oh...
This isn't your cell number is it?
I dialed the wrong one. I should have sent a text.
Sorry! Call me - or text me. Or, like...
Now this message is too long. Can I delete it and start over again?
[BEEP]
Oh, this isn't one of those ones that I can just erase.
You know what? You know what? Just, just ignore me, please. Goodbye!
Next message.
Rose - it's Ken, tried you on your cell. Just calling to remind you, that you're awesome.
So am I. That is all.
And ya, I'm totally going to ask her out.
Meet me before school tomorrow, okay?
Next message.
Hey, I didn't mean to come across as such a ***, I just...
It's complicated.
Call me?
Please?
End of messages.
Rose, can you come set the table?
It's time. Tell him.
Come on.
I get the bowls, you get the plates and the silverware?
What?
Spoons...
You get the spoons, and the plates for the bread.
Right.
You could do it now, casually like it's not big deal.
You don't even have to look at him.
Just say it: I am...
Fine. Do it now!
Now. Now, now now now now now... Tell him!
It's perfect. You're practiced! You're ready.
Do it now! Tell him!
Now now now now now now now... Come on!
Oh, messages for you.
Kenny called, he says you're awesome.
And so is he.
He wants to meet you before school tomorrow.
And, Vanessa called.
She really wants you to call her. Are you ignoring her or something?
***. Don't do it now.
Hold off.
I'll call her back.
Okay.
How was school?
What?
(Tell him) How was school? (Tell him)
Fine. (Tell him) Good.
It's so simple, "Dad, I like girls".
Kenny! (Tell him) He's hilarious. (Tell him)
(Tell him) He's a sweet kid. (Tell him!)
He's going to ask out Alica Van Harren.
Oh!
Good for him! Yup.
He's interested in her, the same way you're intersetesd in you-know-who.
Tell him. Tell him. Tell him. Tell him.
You seem distracted.
No!
Come on! That was the perfect segue!
Okay!!
Ya. I am distracted.
I've got a lot on my mind, actually.
Well, not a lot. More like, one big thing.
So it just feels like a lot.
It's a lot in the sense that it's occupying a lot of brain activity.
You know?
Um, sounds big.
Ya.
It doesn't have to be.
Right.
- So... - I think I'm gay.
I know I am.
At least I'm fairly sure, anyways.
No...
No, I know.
I always new it was something.
Say something.
They say that when a child comes out to a parent,
that parent transitions through fives stages. Even if they've always suspected it.
This one on my face is stage one: "shock".
The second is "Denial".
Which I've pretty much already gone through on my own, so you may not be experiencing that one.
Stage three is "Anger and Guilt" Did I cause this?
Is it because you didn't have a mother?
Should I have concentrated on my own dating life more?
Are you trying to fill a womanly void because of the absence of your mother?
- That one sounded a little too Freudian. - You hate Freud.
Stage four...
"Making Decisions"
there are three possible paths a parent will take:
being supportive,
being conditionally supportive,
unsupportive-slash-judgmental. No contest there: supportive.
Stage five...
Is acceptance.
Apparently,
stage one is still lingering a bit.
It'll pass.
Daddy!
My little blossom is blooming.
You're such a dork.
I love you.
I love you so much.
I wish you were here for this.
I knew you'd be cool with it.
It's just that... Well...
Should I have come to you?
Should I have asked if you were...?
You know I'm a big believer in just ripping off the band-aid.
Why didn't you? I mean, you seem more okay with it than I am.
You're not okay with it?
I don't know.
I wanted to.
But... I guess I was just afraid.
What if I was making face something you weren't ready to face yet?
Or, something, like that. I don't know. I read that on the internet.
Oh my god, you've been researching?
So you knew?
I...
...suspected.
And you're not... mad?
Mad?
Well, you know - don't parents have those dreams of their kid's marrages and having kids, and all that?
Okay, one, none of that is off the table. And two,
Why didn't you come and talk to me? We've alwasy been able to talk. This wasn't like us.
I know, I'm sorry.
We've always been able to get through things together. Even if sometimes I'm a bumbling idiot.
Remember your first period? We got through that... eventually.
Dad!
You know what I mean.
It just felt like this was something I had to get through on my own.
Besides, isn't coming out sort of like a right of passage, or something?
Also, I didn't want to tell you until I was sure that I'm...
What, what term are you most comfortable with?
I don't know.
Nothing really.
I never really had a label before. Other than shy.
Which is debatable.
Whoa...
It just hit me again.
- What? - I'm out of the closet! Oh my god!
I didn't slept at all last night, I was just smiling all night.
I feel so...
...elated!
So, who were you on the phone with until 1AM, last night?
I could barely sleep a wink myself. And no I wasn't checking on you.
Kenny.
Kenny? Not ...Vanessa?
He's the only other person I've told.
He was really cool about it.
He was the one who convinced me to finally tell you, actually.
Technically, I haven't told Vanessa...
...technically.
But I thought that you and her were...
It's really confusing.
One minute she's telling me to leave her alone, the next minute she kisses me.
Sorry!
Not while I'm driving, sweetie.
I think she's in denial.
Weren't you too? Like,
...twelve hours ago?
Not quite. But I see your point.
It's different for her. Her family is really religious.
Sounds like she's scared.
It sucks.
There she is.
Dad?
I've heard a lot of stories, about kids coming out to their parents... and...
Thank you.
For not being a ***.
I love you to sweetie.
Vanessa wait!
What?
- Are you avoiding me? - No!
Maybe a little.
- I just don't know what to think, okay? - I told me dad.
Wait?
- You told him what? - About...
I came out to him.
You're not are a lesbian!
Maybe we are.
No.
I'm not.
Okay. Fine. Whatever.
Maybe when you're ready.
Don't.
***.
Coming out isn’t easy. For anyone.
Whether you’re struggling to find the words to talk about your *** orientation or gender identity -
or comforting a friend or loved-one who’s just come out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans.
Please know that you’re not alone.
PFLAG Canada is there to help.
Visit them online at pflagcanada.ca for more information, or to find a support meeting near you.
PFLAG Canada is there when no-one else is.