Back in November, a Houston city ordinance that would’ve extended civil rights and non-discrimination protections to LGBTQ people was defeated by voters.
Washington state mother Joan Wilson decided to protest the fact by taking out an ad in Sunday’s Houston Chronicle under the “Celebrations” section, fervidly praising her son Drake for coming out.
Related: Houston mayor ardently laments rejection of equal rights measure
“The parents of Drake are pleased to announce that their son has come out,” the ad reads. It then lists several of his biggest achievements: he’s a church deacon, a film maker, and a baker.
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“And yes, he adores Barbra Streisand.”
Related: After the defeat of Houston LGBT-rights measure, what happens next?
Once tthe ad ran, the Texas Observer was quick to interview Wilson, who said, “I couldn’t think of a better place than Houston, out of the entire country, where they needed to hear my message of pride. My announcement was my way of humanizing the issue.”
“We are blessed to live in a state which has passed anti-discrimination laws,” she says. “As a mother, I have much trepidation in thinking my son might one day live in a state such as Texas.”
Drake Wilson, her son, posted a lighthearted YouTube video to announce he was gay — and also Christian.
Related: To avoid another defeat like HERO, it’s time to deal with the “Bathroom Thing”
“As much as the ladies will hate to hear this, I’m gay,” he says. “And while I’m not proud of this because I don’t like to promote society’s unrealistic and unachievable standards of beauty, I did love to play Barbies with my older sister, Gabrielle.”
He also thanked his family for supporting him and the many activists who “have gotten this world to a place where I can come out at only 16 years old.”
The ad moved Houston resident Darryl Morrison.
“I can’t say I’ve ever seen one of these before,” Morrison wrote to the Observer. “With all the terrible LGBT news out of Houston lately, it was a sliver of hope.”
Watch the video here:
h/t: Raw Story
