Life

Rob McElhenney’s lesbian parents recall falling in love & raising a family together

Mary Taylor (left) and Helena McElhenney (right)
Mary Taylor (left) and Helena McElhenney (right) Photo: Screenshot/GLAAD

Rob McElhenney, the actor and comedian known for starring as the out character Mac in the long-running sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, was raised alongside his brother and sister by lesbian parents.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, GLAAD produced an ad featuring McElhenney’s parents — Helena McElhenney and Mary Taylor — recounting their love and family experience.

Related: These are some of our favorite loving mothers we’re honoring for Mother’s Day

“The minute I met her, she was the person that I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with,” Helena said in the 90 second spot.

Helena wanted to leave this message with others who are dealing with their identity: “who you love and how you love is your business, but sometimes you need a little help.”

Mary then said, “and don’t worry about other people. Rely on the community for support.”

“No family looks exactly the same. So proud to call both of these ladies ‘Mom’,” Rob would tweet after the video’s release.

In a preceding statement about his mothers’ ad, Rob McElhenney said, “I get asked a lot about what it was like to have two moms. The truth is that it was a pretty great gift.

“By the standards of 1984 South Philadelphia, our upbringing was unconventional, but my brother, sister and I were able to recognize early on that not every family looked exactly the same or like what we saw on television,” he said.

“Yet we had nothing but love and support and compassion and empathy. And I think that that allowed us to flourish.”

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