16/06/2024
Today, I woke up and was quickly reminded that it is Father’s Day. I am happy for those of you who have supportive fathers. I sympathize with those of you who do not. I disowned my dad and his family a few years ago. I eventually gave up on trying to have happy, healthy, and fulfilling relationships with them after finally coming to terms with the facts that they are ncapable of that.
I came out to my dad 15 years ago, around Father’s Day. I told him “I want to give you the chance to love, or hate, me for who I actually am instead of who you think I am or who you want me to be.” The short version is that he chose hate over love and still does to this day. There have been many consequences that have followed his choice. For example, I then chose to never let him know anything meaningful about me, or my life, ever again. I chose to keep my distance from him and his family because I then realized how toxic they are for me and that they often contaminate the minds of others toward hate as well. I chose to protect myself from my own family after he solidified the fact that they are not emotionally safe for me. I chose to pursue a career path that helped prevent other LGBTQ+ people from having to suffer similar fates despite my dad attempting to stop me from becoming a therapist. I chose to turn my pain into passion. I became who I am today because of my past. I am forever grateful for choosing me.
I have been asked to make another episode for my AmpliQ***r YouTube channel. A community member who has subscribed to my channel and who has been following my videos has requested that my next video focus on how being gay has affected my relationships with others, especially my family. I will focus on how I’ve overcome these struggles and how I’ve been able to find supportive people throughout my journey, as well as their impact on my life.
