“I always knew I was gay and didn’t mind it. When I got my first girlfriend in my early twenties I knew I’d have to tell my parents. I was nervous about doing this as they were very religious and I knew my Mum would be very shocked. I went round to their house hoping they would be both be in so I could do it in one go. Only Mum was in.
I remember waiting upstairs in the bathroom looking at my reflection in the mirror and saying to myself ‘You can do it”. Mum was sat at the kitchen table downstairs when I plucked up the courage to tell her. She just sat there looking upset and said “I’ll pray for you”. She said I could lose my job if people found out at work and started to cry with her head in her hands. After five minutes I couldn’t stand it anymore so turned to leave. I distinctly remember it being strange because that was the only time she’d never seen me to the door to say good bye. I got in the car, looked at myself in the mirror and burst into tears.
Several days later my Dad came round alone and tried to persuade me that I shouldn’t be gay. He said “It’s the cancer of society”. With hindsight I understand their reaction and I’m lucky that over the years they have become much more tolerant. At the time though I felt trapped.”