A “shocked and angry mom” wrote in to the Dear Abby column for advice on what to do about her daughter, who just came out at 43.
The mom writes that her daughter has two children and has been divorced for over a decade, and didn’t have a long-term relationship with a man since then.
The daughter told her mom that she is in a relationship now – with a woman.
The mother writes that “I have kind of suspected over the years that she is a lesbian,” but “I don’t know how to handle this because I’m against people being gay.”
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“I see it as unnatural and think they all have issues,” she wrote.
“I don’t treat gay people any different from anyone else, but I do keep them at a distance,” she added, apparently oblivious that having a meltdown when someone comes out clearly means that she treats gay people differently from everyone else.
Jeanne Phillips, who writes Dear Abby, wasn’t having it, though.
“One reason gay people have ‘issues,’ as you put it, is because they have to endure opposition and nonacceptance from the family members they love,” she wrote. “Your 43-year-old daughter has spent years not being who she really is — possibly to please you — and now has realized she must be her authentic self.”
“If you want any relationship at all with her, apologize and tell her you overreacted. Tell her you love her and explain that you may need time to fully accept this. Wish her well and hope that she forgives you.”
That pretty much covers it.