Tag: coming out

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Airman Randy Phillips, who came out on youtube, tells his mom he’s gay

It’s such an awkward conversation to have. And Randy Phillips has the whole conversation here. Good for him.

I was lucky that my father took the news really well, and it was a weight off my shoulders. It made my life better being able to be honest with my family about who I am.

I do remember the only thing my grandmother said was “don’t let anyone at work know” – to which I had to explain I worked in musical theater… 🙂

But it’s not such an easy thing for everyone. My husband came out to his parents soon after we met 17 years ago.

We realized we needed to give his parents some time to adjust to the news. I met his mother a couple of years later and she’s great. But in 17 years, giving his father time to “adjust,” his father has never shown any interest in speaking to or meeting me. I realize it’s not my place to force myself into their family, so I continue to wait. 17 years and counting.

I’m very happy Randy Phillips has had the experience he did, and for the rest of his life knows he can move forward with honesty, dignity, and the love and support of his family and friends. This video will let others know that while it can be an uncomfortable conversation, it most often goes much better than we imagine it in our heads.

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Airman Randy Phillips, who came out on youtube, now on ABC

ABC and the entire world has picked up on this incredibly moving story that happened just hours after DADT was officially repealed.

I’m posting mainly because this video has subtitles so you can truly understand the exchange between father and son.

Randy Phillips is lucky to have a dad who not only taught his son dignity, but the father is clearly a straight-up great dad in his complete lack of hesitation in telling his son he will always love him.

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ESPN’s Jared Max comes out on the air

After years of reading news at WCBS 880 AM, Jared Max made at some at ESPN Radio this morning.

Two weeks into his new gig as early-morning host at 1050 AM, Max announced he was gay at the close of Thursday’s show.

“Are we ready to get our sports information from someone who is gay?” Max said. “Well, we are about to find out. For the last 16 years, I’ve been living a free life among my close friends and family and I’ve hidden behind what is a gargantuan-sized secret here in the sports’ world.

“I am gay.”

Max led up to the revelation by talking about Suns executive Rick Welts and former Villanova basketball star Will Sheridan, both of whom have come out of the closet this week. Max would later thank Charles Barkley, who said he has played with gay men in his NBA career and did not see any problem with it.

But Max said he believes that not just any current player can come out and say he’s gay.

“It would have to be a player of superstar status, not just a star, but a superstar to sway the momentum,” Max, 37, said. “Truth is, the world I grew up in and you did, was not ready for this. But today’s kids — my friends who have children — have told me it’s a different world now. … Truth is, why should we cater to the bigots and the uneducated folks, it’s 2011?”

Max said this would be the only time the subject of his sexuality would come up on his show. He feared that admitting he was gay would have kept him from a career in sports broadcasting.
(via NYPost)