Dear Ruthie,
My husband and I were pretty surprised when our 14-year-old daughter told us she was a Lesbian. To be honest, we never saw it coming. Is that bad to say? I hope not.
We told her that we loved her and that we’d support her no matter what. We explained that there was nothing wrong with what she was feeling. We explained that we wanted her to be happy, and that her happiness was the most important thing to us. We also explained that her body was going through a lot of changes (accompanied by several eye-rolls on her part), and that we wanted her to come to us with questions or concerns she might have about her body as well as her sexuality. We also talked about the morals we follow in our home, and that she is expected to follow the rules of our house where dating is concerned, regardless of her sexual orientation. Things went well, and it was truly a lovely night for the three of us.
My question is: What’s next? I feel like we nailed the first step, but I don’t know what we’re supposed to do next. Help!
Thanks,
A Fellow Redhead
Dear Red,
A great, big sloppy “congratulations” for being completely fantastic parents! Not only did you handle the situation with compassion, but you clearly raised your daughter in a loving and understanding home. In other words, she felt comfortable in coming out to her parents.
What’s the next step? The next step is loving your daughter and fostering her growth and understanding about herself as a person. The next step is being parents to a teenager, which comes with its own set of challenges…and rewards, or so they tell me. In other words, just keep doing what you’re doing, honey!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 1: Dead Man’s Carnival at The Miramar Theatre (2844 N. Oakland Ave.): If you haven’t seen this music/carnival/burlesque/side show/magic act, you don’t know what you’re missing! Come for the band, stay for the aerial acrobats or enjoy the fire jugglers and relish the strip tease acts. Regardless, these talented boys and girls promise to liven up your weekend. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show at 8:30 p.m. See brownpapertickets.com for $20 tickets to the 18+ show.
April 1: Lisa Lampanelli: The Leaner Meaner Tour at Meyer Theatre (117 S. Washington St., Green Bay): This self-proclaimed Queen of Mean brings her hilarious brand of insult comedy to Packer Town. A favorite of the LGBT community, this sharp-tongued mamma always brings the laughs, and she’s sure to do the same at this 8 p.m. laugh fest. Swing by meyertheatre.org for $41.50 tickets.
April 2: Mr. Gay Southeastern Wisconsin USofA Pageant at Club Icon (6305 120th Ave., Kenosha): Grab your favorite masquerade mask and celebrate the dark side with this erotically charged pageant that’s a prelude to Mr. Gay Wisconsin USofA. If you haven’t been to the Kenosha hot spot in a while, this 10 p.m. manly man pageant is a great opportunity to do so!
April 3: Miltown LGBT Families at Bounce (2801 S. Fifth Court): Pack up the little ones and get ready for laser tag, rock-climbing walls, bouncy houses and more at Bounce! At 10 a.m., the first 25 kids and adults who register gain entry to the family friendly funhouse for only a $10 donation versus the normal ticket charge. Be sure to register, however, to guarantee this special rate. Visit facebook.com/groups/miltownlgbtfamilies and post about this event with the names of the adults and children (and the kids’ ages) in your family to register.
April 3: Madison Area LGBT Wedding Expo at Sheraton Madison (706 John Nolen Drive, Madison): Goin’ to the chapel? The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce sponsors this second annual celebration of lavender love with a wedding expo to beat all others. Free and open to the public, the exciting expo runs 11a.m. to 2 p.m.
April 6: “LGBT Gives Back” Launch at The Grand Meridian (2621 N. Oneida St., Appleton): There are so many Wisconsin organizations that need volunteers, deciding who to help and when can be overwhelming. If you’re looking to lend a helping hand (that always sounds dirty to me), swing by this swinging happy hour. The free 5:30 to 7 p.m. event launches an exciting new program that focuses on volunteer opportunities within the LGBT community.
Want to share an event with Ruthie? Need her advice on a situation in your life? Email DearRuthie@Shepex.com. Be sure to follow her Facebook (Ruthie Keester) and Twitter (@DearRuthie). You can also check out her web series at www.RuthiesBitchinKitchen.com
