My parents lived in the country, so to move back to the farm after living a carefree gay (happy) lifestyle was a tad difficult. I used to go into the city at every opportunity.
One afternoon I had a phone call from a friend, and had to rush up to the city.
That evening, my father, mother and grandmother were sitting at home in the lounge room watching what was obviously very boring television. My father decided he would go to my room to see if I had any video's they could watch. You guessed it. The one with mommy's little boy being fucked while... anyway you get the picture. I think they would not have watched too much of the video, but just enough for my grandmother to have a severe case of apperplexy (is that how you spell that?).
The next day, junior arrives home to dead silence from everyone. Being a very clever child that I was, I sensed something was wrong. It was obvious that Grandma wasn't dead 'cause I saw here in the yard. It must be something more serious. I decided to go and check my things. (Consider it a sixth sense or something). Sure enough, the video was not where I left it.
At moments like these, the only option a girl has is to go and talk to her mother, which I did. There was the expected tears and awkwardness, but on the hole (I think that should read whole?), it was OK. Apart from the usual questions, like "when did you decide you were ... you know, one of them", my mom said a very sweet thing. "Are you happy?".
Then came daddy!! That was easier than I expected too. He refused to talk to me and left the room denouncing me as his son. Oh well.
Two days later, I left home and moved to Sydney. Oh did I forget to mention I grew up in Tasmainia.
A few weeks later, mom wrote me a letter telling me about what the cows were diong to the sheep, and that the pet budgie went for a swin in the dam, you know all the stuff one talks about when you have nothing to say. The letter was a three page epic, and was enthralling reading (not!!). After trudging my way through the letter, I get to the PS at the bottom. It said "PS, how's the love life". My mother is a very great woman.
My father still can't cope with the fact that I am Gay, but that is no real problem. We get along fine now. I think he is of the generation where one does not talk about dogs having puppies, let alone a boy loving another boy!!! I respect his right to ignorance, and love him in spite of it. At least he has stopped asking me when I am going to get married.
That's the story of my coming out, and I swear every bit of it is true. And yes, I still have the video.
Wayne - December 1996
panther@pinkboard.com.au