DOM
MICHIGAN | SERIES # 4
I grew up in a town along the Detroit River in Michigan. I was born to my Mom and Dad but they divorced in 2005. Later that same year, my dad got remarried and his new wife hated me with a passion. I know, way to jump right in (Lol). This was before I came out, hence the fact that I was two years old. Anyways, I was navigating back and forth between my two parents for about 11 years.
While I loved my Mom's house so much, I was miserable at my Dad's. As I grew up over those 11 years, I started to realize I was different. I became obsessed with the Kardashians and started to think about boys and not girls. I LOVED the idea of my dream man coming to pick me up and take me away from the monotonous hell that was my Dad's house.
By 5th grade, I had accepted the fact that I was gay. By 6th grade I started working on coming out. In 7th grade, I finally started coming out to my friends. In the following years, I came out to my family, which was super hard for me. I knew the main people in my life, my Mom, Nanna, and Aunt, would be accepting. Still, I was so scared, and asked them for help in the process. Per my request, my Mom told some people. My Aunt told Nanna and the rest of her family out of state. That family is like my second family, filled with siblings and a replacement Dad.
Speaking of dads, this was the garbage show. My dad was, the only one who struggled with me coming out. Sophomore year of High school, I went to homecoming in full hair and makeup (shoutout to Mrs. Barnes and Mr. Dirof for making it easier to feel loved). I was living my gender nonconforming Kardashian fantasy, and posted some pictures on social media. My Dad saw them, and was so angry.
During our talk, I officially told him that I was gay, and he didn’t take it well. I know what it's like to feel worthless, and my Dad/his wife made sure that I grew up feeling like everyone would judge me for any minor imperfection and that different opinions are wrong. My mom on the other hand, always taught me how to be a survivor, and to be strong/confident in myself in any way shape or form.
My mom taught me everything I’ll ever need to know about being an adult, spouse and downright QUEEN! It’s a lot of work but I always knew it would get better and it did. For anyone like me, a self proclaimed gender blender gay guy (or anyone in the community), remember that it gets better, you will find love, you will be successful and YOU ARE LOVED!
