“‘Everything happens for a reason.’ I would be single and alone forever. ‘Who will want me if I have HIV?’ A friend from the choir said, ‘I am HIV positive, too, I can help you out.’”
‘Someone told me, you must find a way to love the virus.’ I was close to telling him to f*ck off.’: HIV positive man focuses on his health and self-love, ‘I face the future with much more love than fear.’
‘In the blink of an eye, we traded our passion for the typical American dream. The house, the yard, the white picket fence. We fell in step with everyone around us. Then, something changed.’
“Her name was Codi. She was the rainbow we didn’t know we were missing. We were done waiting for the kids to grow up, waiting for the house to be paid off. So, we put it on the market, bought the RV we always wanted, and sold absolutely everything. Our hearts and family grew a little bigger.”
‘My husband suggested a ‘different’ kind of marriage. I was so lost in my thoughts of her, wondering if we were flirting, or if she was gay.’: Couple begin polyamorous family
“A normal errand changed my life forever. She ignited a fire within me. My mind was closed to the idea I could love more than one person. I worried I’d upset my children. I was a typical 30-something, suburban mom.”
‘If you EVER speak out, I know where the bullets are.’ I walked in the snow for miles in short sleeves. I woke up in the hospital, angry I survived, and pulled out all the hospital tubes.’
“I looked up from my bed and saw my mother and sister at the door. The look in their eyes is something I never want to see again. I feared that I had to be cured. I wish I had seen the warning signs.’
‘My mom quickly shut the door. ‘I’m gay,’ she said. It didn’t make sense. My parents slept in the same bed, said ‘I love you’ every day. I looked in her eyes and said 3 words I regret to this day.’
“‘I’m seeing a woman.’ My mom and dad were still married. My thoughts were spinning. ‘You remember her, right? We both nodded our heads. In fact, I loved going over to her house. The next question out of my mother’s mouth floored me. I was shocked.”
’60-years-old, my mother said, ‘Oh, I love being pregnant!’ We laughed. She couldn’t have a baby, could she?’: LGBT couple welcome baby after sister donates eggs, grandmother volunteers as surrogate
“We mentioned we needed a surrogate during a big family dinner. If you’re taking names, put mine in the hat!’ We laughed lovingly at the unrealistic gesture, alternating between pure excitement and terror. Then the doctor told us, ‘Her uterus is beautiful.’ Our far-fetched idea was now a soon-to-be-real daughter with a name: Uma Louise.”
‘My 72 year-old grandma noticed my bisexual pride flag, picked it up and said, ‘oh, this needs to be pressed out!’
“That’s okay, we love you.”
