Memories of Coming Out - My Second Child

My youngest son was the next one of my children to come out.  Officially, he came out while in high school in Pasadena, Texas.  I had grown up not too far away in Houston where Pasadena had always been known for its conservative outlook on life.  So, when he fiercely and fearlessly refused to suppress his wonderful gayness, I was a little fearful for him.  Certainly, he endured his share of harassment and bullying but he never backed down from who he really was.

Even as a small child, there was certain behavior that led us to think he might be gay.  I remember Halloween when he was 6 or 7 years old and I made him this awesome black and red satin Dracula cape.  Now, this wasn't a cheesy type cape that you buy at the cheap costume store.  This was a luscious full circle real satin cape.  He spent hours in the front yard twirling around and around watching that cape billowing in the wind--foreshadowing of his love of color guard to come in high school, eh?

I remember a funny story that happened, again, when he was 6 or 7 years old.  The television happened to be on a beauty pageant.  I hardly ever watched beauty pageants being a women's libber of the 60s and 70s.  But that day, one was on and he was watching it.  As I walked into the room he said, "Mom, look, isn't she wearing a beautiful dress?"  I can remember thinking, "Well, if he were gay, he wouldn't be admiring beautiful women."  When I told him that story years later after he came out, he laughingly commented, "Yeah, I was probably wishing I had the dress for myself."