September 18

TW // mention of attempted suicide

About a year ago I was stressed out in my dorm one night and got a text from my dad saying he was free to talk on the phone. I have pretty okay relationship with my dad. I can talk to him about anything and we usually have these deep conversations about life when we are together. Especially during car rides.

That night one year ago, I was jumping over many topics and it was obvious there was something I wanted to talk about but wasn’t mentioning. “You’re really know how to beat around the bush,” is similar to what he said.

Then I told that I don’t think I’m 100% straight and that I’ve been contemplating this on my own since May 2017. Dad paused but simply said, “Okay.” I felt pretty vulnerable. I just admitted to not being straight; to some parents that’s a horrible thing for their kid to tell them.

But it wasn’t, it was just gentle acceptance. He told me he was shocked that I kept this to myself for almost 2 years. Then he told a story about an older cousin who felt the same things as me and told his parents. They weren’t accepting and he attempted suicide. He hasn’t had contact with his parents since but he’s owns a salon in the city we’re from.

I was comforted by the fact that my dad was so accepting. He didn’t have to be accepting yet he was. Not every LGBT person had a parent who was supportive of their non-heterosexuality, and I’m thankful for it.

I have no label I’m a 100% fixed on, though Bisexual Awareness Month might’ve influenced me to speak up. And based on a previous post, I’m still going back and forth on it, but tonight I wanted to celebrate a treasured moment and a supportive parent.

Good night for now.