Huffington Magazine Issue 67 | Page 37

Voices “Mom! I’m straight!” He said this with firmness, a smile and a shake of his head. I called my brother. “Chase came out,” I told him. “He says he’s straight.” “What do you mean, ‘He says he’s straight’?” he asked. “Well, things could change,” I said. “Babe, he just came out to you. He told you that he is straight. You have to listen to him and work from that for now and acknowledge it and believe it. That’s it. He’s straight. You have to honor that, just like you would if C.J. told you that he was gay. Both of your kids know that you love them and support them and accept them whether they are gay or straight. But when they tell you like that, you have to believe them.” My brother was right. I want my kids to know that their sexuality would never change the way I feel about them. They can be anywhere on the spectrum of sexuality and still have my unconditional love, acceptance and support. But when they stake a claim on the spectrum, like Chase did, they have to know that I hear them and believe them. LORI DURON HUFFINGTON 09.22.13 By trying to eliminate the need for a gay son to come out, I created an environment where a straight son felt the need to come out. As I try to learn from my mother’s mistakes, I may be making some new ones of my own. I guess that’s how it goes with parenting. So I am the proud mother of a 10-year-old, straight, cisgender son and a gender-nonconforming By trying to eliminate the need for a gay son to come out, I created an environment where a straight son felt the need to come out.” son who is six years old and has yet to declare his sexuality. I’m also the proud sister of a very youthful gay brother who is doing just fine and leading an amazing life. He’s found support outside our parents and now dresses lifesized Barbies. We also still belt out Annie tunes together when the mood strikes. Lori Duron is a mother of two and author of Raising My Rainbow.