Good parenting: How to welcome your gay child’s partner into your home

Good parenting: How to welcome your gay child’s partner into your home

 

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A woman’s tweet demonstrating how her girlfriend’s family has welcomed her has gone viral. It’s in stark contrast to some members of her own family, with whom she no longer has contact after they expressed disapproval of her forthcoming marriage.

for those of you that don’t know, i’m not accepted by my parents for being gay. i have struggled for five years with them and decided this year to cut off contact. this is my first christmas not with them and this is how sarahs (my fiancée) dad tagged my gift ? pic.twitter.com/BpGmBkCde8

— Kate Austin (@KateAustin_) December 25, 2019

Kate Austin, who is originally from Ohio, says she normally spends Christmas with her family, but this year she decided she could no longer do so.

In 2019, she became engaged to her partner, Sarah Sulsenti. News of the engagement – and the beautiful proposal in Paris – warmed hearts everywhere.

Well, not quite everywhere. Austin’s family made it very clear they did not wish to attend the wedding and did not support the same-sex marriage.

Related: Parents surprise trans son with matching trans flag tattoos

This week, Austin spent the holidays with Sulsenti’s family for the first time. A gift from her future father-in-law had a powerful impact on her. This wasn’t down to the nature of the gift itself, but because he signed the gift card, ‘Dad.’

“For those of you that don’t know, i’m not accepted by my parents for being gay. i have struggled for five years with them and decided this year to cut off contact. this is my first christmas not with them and this is how sarahs (my fiancée) dad tagged my gift 😭

At the time of writing, the tweet has had nearly half a million likes and 30k retweets.

Austin added in a follow-up tweet, “My fiancée and I have been together since 2014. her dad has always been the best… tonight just confirmed it.”

Some questioned Austin not having contact with her family.

She responded: “We stopped speaking months ago due to years of emotional abuse. the door is open if they’d ever like to apologize and move forward but it’s okay to draw healthy boundaries.”

Others said that they had similar experiences and could identify with her.

Hi Kate, I know how it feels. My husbands family has been nothing but loving to me and they are catholic and Latinos. My family didn’t accept me for years. Embrace the love they are sending your way. Our chosen families are a true miracle. Happy holidays

— Enrique Sapene (@enriquesapene) December 25, 2019

you and your fiancée DESERVE to flourish as people and a couple. i’ve been with my girlfriend for over a year and her dad sees me as one of his own but her mother..forget about it. extremely religious and unacceptably dismissive of the fact that we’re a COUPLE not bffs.

— Morgan Champagne (@morgschamp) December 25, 2019

my wife has been struggling with being accepted by her family for being trans & my parents made her a stocking this christmas with her new legal name & and it was so cute i almost cried

— notorious msc (@snyder_marissa) December 25, 2019

Austin proposed to Sulsenti in Paris, France, in early October. The Philadelphia-based couple then wrote to Ellen DeGeneres, asking her if she would attend their forthcoming wedding in place of Austin’s family, who refused to do so.

hi @chrissyteigen & @TheEllenShow!! my parents aren’t going to attend my wedding because they don’t like that i’m gay! i need someone to walk me down the aisle and someone else for a “father/daughter” dance. plz come, my fiancée and i would cry ? #shootingmyshot pic.twitter.com/DGcH2KQq5f

— Kate Austin (@KateAustin_) November 5, 2019

In response, DeGeneres invited the couple on to the show last month. She said she wouldn’t be able to attend the wedding but instead gave them a check for $25,000 to help fund the free bar at the event.

In a series of Instagram Q&A’s yesterday, Austin revealed more details about her first Christmas with her soon-to-be in-laws.

Related: Straight dude spends hours building rainbow fortress for gay friend rejected by parents

Asked how she knew it was time to cut ties with her parents, she said: “I knew it was time because I was sad and upset more than I was happy when it came to them.

“The constantly made me feel like I wasn’t enough or that everything I did well didn’t matter because I was gay. After another round of nasty arguments with my mom, I just felt in my heart it was right! I do have a relationship with any family members that accept us as we are.”

Asked by someone else how to best support a friend whose parents don’t accept them, Austin says: “There’s a million ways.

“Love them wholeheartedly, exactly as they are. Ask how they are… there is no pain greater than parents not accepting you and it’s an easy pain to bottle up and put away. Let them vent and listen as best you can. Let them know that they have a family with you and you love them!”

Queerty has reached out to Austin for further comment.

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‘LA Cage Aux Folles’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!’ Composer Jerry Herman Dies at 88

‘LA Cage Aux Folles’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!’ Composer Jerry Herman Dies at 88

Jerry Herman at the White House for the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors

Famed Broadway composer Jerry Herman, who wrote Hello Dolly, La Cage Aux Folles, and Mame, has died at 88 at a hospital in Miami, according to his goddaughter Jane Dorian.

The NYT reports: ‘He also made stage history as the first composer-lyricist to have three musicals run more than 1,500 consecutive performances on Broadway — “Hello, Dolly!” with 2,844, “Mame” with 1,508 and “La Cage” with 1,761 — and remains one of only two to achieve that feat. (Stephen Schwartz, with “Pippin,” “The Magic Show” and “Wicked,” is the second.) And “La Cage” (1983) was the only Broadway musical to win the Tony for best revival twice, for 2004 and 2010 productions.’

The L.A. Times adds: ‘“La Cage aux Folles” put him back on top. Based on a French film comedy, the 1983 musical was a humorous but touching love story with a gay couple and transvestism at its heart. Herman’s songs were credited with helping mainstream audiences care about the gay characters, a daring notion at the time. … But AIDS, which decimated the supporting cast of “La Cage aux Folles,” would directly touch the life of Herman, who was openly gay. In the late 1980s, he was diagnosed with HIV and lost his longtime partner Martin Finkelstein to AIDS.’

The NYT adds: ‘Critics — gay and straight — called the show far too cautious, especially at a time when AIDS was becoming a full-blown crisis in America and homophobia was widespread. But Mr. Herman insisted that the musical stage was not a soapbox, and said of the gay community: “One day when they are old and gray they will realize what this show is doing for their cause and send a thank-you note.”’

RIP.

The post ‘LA Cage Aux Folles’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!’ Composer Jerry Herman Dies at 88 appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.


‘LA Cage Aux Folles’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!’ Composer Jerry Herman Dies at 88

George Michael’s sister, 55, dies Christmas Day – three years after him

George Michael’s sister, 55, dies Christmas Day – three years after him

George Michael (Photo: Andrew Macpherson/Universal)

One of George Michael’s sisters has died on the anniversary of his death. Melanie Panayiotou, 55, died Christmas Day, three years to the day after her older brother.

Her body was reportedly found at her north London home at around 7pm on Christmas evening by her sister, older sister, Yioda Panayiotou.

No cause of death has yet been revealed.

A statement from London’s Metropolitan police said, “Police were called by London Ambulance Service at approximately 7.35pm on Wednesday, December 25 to reports of the sudden death of a woman, aged in her 50s, at an address in Oak Hill Park, NW3.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious by police.

“A report will be compiled for the Coroner into the circumstances.”

Both sisters were close to their brother and were devastated by his death on Christmas Day 2016. He left a large portion of his $125million+ estate to them, including his residence in Hampstead, north London.

In November, Melanie wrote a piece for the Big Issue (a magazine produced for homeless people to sell on the streets) ahead of the release of the movie, Last Chrismas. The film features the music of George Michael and Wham.

She said, “My family and I hope you all enjoy the film, and Yog’s music old and new, woven beautifully into this fun, easy tale of love and self-love.”

“Yog” was the family nickname for George.

“As many of you know, Yog adored Christmas and he loved the idea of this film. I am sure he will be enjoying seeing Emelia [Clark]’s amazing light bulb smile, something they share, across the celestial miles!” she continued.

“And, most importantly, we all, together with our dear departed Yog (my ‘very proud to be gay’ brother — contrary to what you may have read recently!) wish a very merry, merry Christmas to Big Issue sellers and readers alike.”

Related: George Michael’s sister slams Elton John’s claim that George was uncomfortable being gay

The comment about her ‘proud-to-be gay” brother was in response to comments Elton John had made about Michael being uncomfortable about his sexuality.

George Michael, who was outed in 1998 when he was arrested in a Los Angeles public toilet, died Christmas Day 2016. A coroner later ruled his death was the result of heart disease and a build-up of fat in his liver.

A lawyer for the family has issued a statement saying: “We can confirm that very tragically Melanie has passed away suddenly.

“We would simply ask that the family’ s privacy be respected at this very sad time.”

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