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“What did we do to make you gay?”

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Things You Did That Made Me Gay

By Summer Dawn

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1991: Took me to Fairyland Caverns

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1994: Dressed me like this

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1996: Took me to see the Broadway musical “CATS”

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1997: Bought me a LEGO hot rod set

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1998: Sent me figure skating in velvet pants

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Things You Did That Made Me Gay

By Summer Dawn

Just kidding!

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Dad, look at us. I was gay then, and I’m gay now. I wasn’t straight when I had kindergarten crushes on other girls. When I was totally into Mulan cross-dressing and Shang being into them either way. When I kissed my first girl. When I kissed my first boy. When I daydreamed about non-binary people. I was and am and will always be bisexual. You didn’t do anything to make me this way.

And if anything, you did everything right! You showed me it was OK to be sassy or quiet. It was OK to wear frilly skirts or sporty shirts and jeans. It was OK to listen to music that moved me and spoke of greater freedoms. You showed me it was OK to be myself.

Dad, there are many wonderful things about me that I got from you, or that I got because of things you did for me. But there are also many wonderful things that are just me. Like being attracted to more than one gender.

I know you think that your religion says it’s wrong to be this way or live this way, but you know when you read between the lines, when you look into your heart, you know that isn’t true. You’ve made plenty of mistakes as a parent, but none of these stupid things is one of them. And even with all your flaws, I love you unconditionally. And I need you to do the same for me.