18 | OutBoise Magazine | NEWS
Time Out, Kids!
Coming out after over 38 years of suppression, abuse
and ridicule for being gay, was difficult. The decision to
come out to my children, while scary, would prove to be
rewarding and liberating. I wish to write to provide perspective on the process of determining when and how to
come out to your children as a single father. This is not
intended to be a self-help article for the closeted dad,
but a unique way of looking at life, love and the pursuit
of a happier and more fulfilling relationship with your
kids.
“Is he your boyfriend, dad?” my daughter asks
as we sat down for dinner at our favorite restaurant.
We love Olive Garden. Me with my glass of wine, the
kids with their salad and breadsticks, best food ever!
Mikenzy smiles at me and says, “it is time…let’s dance,
Dad”. We often jump out of our seats in the middle of
a restaurant or store just to put a smile on the faces
OutBoisemag.com | Issue 14 | January 2016
by Gary Jensen
of onlookers. We also want to make the older two kids
blush. The moments I try to create with my kids are
why they always say I am immature but that they love it.
Months ago I made the decision to tell my children I
was gay. The stress, worry and fear that crept over me
was almost more than I could handle in the moments
leading up to that night. What if they didn’t accept me?
What if they wouldn’t want anyone to know who I truly
am? How would our