This is a moving story about how a family stood up for one of their own, placing their love for a son above everything else, and losing most of it as a result.
An article in the Muskegon (MI) Chronicle tells us how a 10th grade boy came out to his family (dude, you could have picked a better day than Super Bowl Sunday for crying out loud, but I digress) who, instead of disowning him, circled around him with love and support.
The cost was high. The parents lost most of their counseling clients, the father lost his position as a minister, and most of the family's friends deserted them.
"We moved here because (West Michigan) is a great place to raise a family, and that's true, unless one of them turns out to be gay," said Colette Beighley who is originally from San Francisco. "We live in an area that demands assimilation."
"I'm so proud of my kids," Colette Beighley said. "That's the coolest thing that came out of this -- how much they love each other."
I've written a lot here about the importance of straight allies, but the most significant ones for a GLBT person are often the ones in their own family.
Click here to read details of the journey the Beighley family took with their gay son in the Muskegon Chronicle article.
Thanks to the Triangle foundation for the tip. Colette Beighley is an active member of the Triangle Foundation and has her own blog here.
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That story was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Thanks for linking to it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the story of our family's journey. There was really no choice to be made. Hopefully other families will understand that no price is too high to support the reality, integrity, and personhood of a loved GLBT family member. Thanks for working on behalf of equality for all.
ReplyDeleteDavid Beighley