Understanding Sexual Orientation

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Sharing stories is a powerful way of educating and impacting others.

Gay men who had supportive mothers experience higher well-being than others.

LGBTQ children often experience bullying; their mothers can help them see themselves as valued and valuable.

I am standing at the back of a darkened room. On the screen, a documentary is being shown. And throughout the room, people in the audience are openly laughing, weeping, murmuring. I can't tell you what this moment, and all the other moments like it, mean to me.

The film being shown is the documentary I produced and directed, called Mom, I Have Something to Tell You. It shares interviews I've conducted with a plethora of gay men and their mothers, talking about their relationships, uncovering hidden thoughts and reactions, and telling a story I've been helping people tell for over 10 years.

The only thing that even equaled the feeling I had that night was when the documentary made its debut on YouTube. It has since garnered more than 35,000 views and collected comments that have made me, too, weep.

I had a feeling this topic would be meaningful and exciting for other people—and is it ever! Sharing the stories of women and their gay sons, which no one had done before, evokes powerful reactions: some chuckle, some tear up, some recite long stories about how this relationship is so powerful. I frequently forget to bring tissues with me—which is a mistake.

I knew I had to capture the stories in video form—rather than writing them up like I usually do—so others could see for themselves what happens here. I wanted to share the depths of these stories, not just describe them. Every time I filmed or shared snippets, the reactions of others—on Instagram, Facebook, Tik-Tok, and YouTube—emphasized was why this is so important.

I've never met a gay man who had an easy childhood. Gay boys........

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