OUR STORIES
Fortunate Families believes that when parents explore and value their stories, they are empowered to share that story with their family circle, their faith community and the larger society. Here are some of their stories.
Click the column header to sort by Author, Kinship, Title or Description.
Click on a link in the Kinship column (for example: “Mother of a gay son”) and you will get a page with all stories in that ‘kinship’ category. Then click on the title of story you want to read.
Author | Kinship | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abele, Joan | Mother of gay son | Story of a Listening Parent (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | Although she lives in a religiously conservative community, Joan has some surprisingly rewarding experiences as the mother of a gay son. She feels privileged to interact with other parents who are struggling with the official attitudes of their churches. |
| Anderson, Artemae and Jerry | Parents of Gay Son Parents of lesbian daughter | Our Children's "Coming Out Stories" | Artemae and Jerry receive heartfelt letters from two of their six children; a lesbian daughter and a gay son. |
| Balog, Florence | Mother of lesbian daughters (twins) | My twin lesbian daughters | Florence expresses concern that the institutional church judges her twin lesbian daughters without knowing them, and is grateful that her parish follows Jesus' message and welcomes everyone. |
| Balog, Steve | Father of lesbian daughters (twins) | The light has been passed | After his fearful first sharing of having twin lesbians daughters with his church congregation, years later Steve hears of the positive effect it made with one parishioner. |
| Bechtle, Aimee | Mother of gay son | Cookie Cutter Mom | Strongly Catholic mother, and signer of the anti-gay "Manhattan Declaration," revisits her beliefs after her 12-year old son comes out. She educates herself, becomes a strong advocate for her son and LGBT equality, and finds peace with God. |
| Black, Mary | Mother of lesbian daughter | Knowing Makes the Difference (Audio file) | Mary tells of her concern, knowing that her daughter was hurting, but not knowing why. Once the secret is known, with love and support, healing begins for her, her daughter and the whole family. |
| Black, Mary & Jerry | Parents of lesbian daughter | A Letter from Meg | Description: Meg's letter, telling her parents she's lesbian, brings grief and "devastation." But through prayer, education, and PFLAG, Mary & Jerry have emerged as better persons and now experience joy at having a lesbian daughter. |
| Buccini, Marianne | Mother of gay son | From silence to advocacy: One family's story (An article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | When their son came out to them as a high school student, Marianne and her husband went “into the closet.” Gradually, their son’s openness about his sexuality and the advocacy work he engaged in even as a high school and college student helped the family become more comfortable with his sexual orientation. His example was the catalyst which helped them come out of the closet and actively work to help people understand the truth about sexual orientation as well as to advocate for equal rights for the LGBT community. |
| Byers, Mary | Mother of gay sons (three of them) | Rainbow Fish Pin Ministry | Ministries come in all shapes and sizes. Mary wears a rainbow fish pin to honor her three sons, but it also serves as a conversation starter and an opportunity to impart information. Contact her if you'd like to have one too. |
| Conneen, Kathleen | Mother of gay son | First Gay Pride Marching Experience (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | Despite their reluctance to “walk the talk,” Kathleen and Drew march in the Denver Gay Pride Parade with their parish parent support group. To their amazement their marching group of 30 more than triples as they pass through the streets of Denver. The support they experienced tide will bring them back again and again. |
| Dalke, Terri and Rich | Straight Allies to Gay Families | Blessings (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | Because they have a gay son and are involved in a parish support group for LGBT people and their families, the Dahlke’s are blessed with a close relationship with two sets of same gender parents who join their parish . One of the children shares an insight about gay families and the family of Jesus that comes from a pure and truthful heart. |
| Franczyk, Ann and Chet | Parents of Gay Son | Always Our Children: Hope Among the Mixed Messages (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | Though the institutional church speaks hurtful words about their gay son, Ann and Chet find unexpected clergy support which helps them establish a parish support group for LGBT people and their families in their parish in Springfield, MA. |
| Frett, Jackie | Mother of gay son | Remarkable people, powerful stories (An article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | In the midst of some difficult setbacks to her parish ministry, Jackie experiences the power of stories to renew and energize people of faith to become a force for change in the lives of LGBT people and their families. |
| Garascia, Beth | Mother of gay son and Mother of lesbian daughter | Pain and possibility – being a Catholic parent of gay children (An article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | As the mother of a gay son and a lesbian daughter, Beth has experienced both grief and joy in her love for her children. She has also found that letting go of expectations and listening to others provides a path to mutual love and acceptance, a path she hopes her Church might follow more closely. |
| Gonzalez, Catherine | Active gay ally | Creating Change Through Christ's Love | In a parish session regarding social justice, Cathy shares her experience of being an active gay ally and a practicing Catholic |
| Hand, Doris | Mother of gay son | Dear Bishop | Doris writes to a bishop, telling him about her son, and asks how the U.S. Bishops could write pastoral guidelines for gay people without consulting any of their parents. |
| Hickey, Jim | Father of lesbian daughter | Sexual Minorities | In a presentation, Jim tells how he came to accept his daughter and then shares some of what he's learned and where he stands now. |
| Hoenigman, Ed | Father of lesbian daughter | Emmaus Retreat Presentation (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | Ed describes how the fears he felt when his daughter came out as a lesbian faded as he came to understand that his prayers were answered in ways he didnt expect. |
| Janice | Mother of lesbian daughter | My Daughter, Christin (Audio file) | Janice describes her daughters teenage struggles and her own clashes with an unsupportive school system and tensions with her church. She finds strength in her faith in Gods unconditional love for all. |
| Kolb, Susan | Mother of gay son | My many blessings ... | Susan comes to learn that having a gay son is another of her many blessings, and shares her story whenever and wherever she can. |
| Lopata, Casey | Father of gay son | Can My Son be Gay and Catholic? | Casey describes how he reconciles his understanding of Church teaching with his son's being gay. |
| Lopata, Mary Ellen | Mother of gay son | God's Love Revealed: Reflections on being a Catholic Mother | After the initial confusion, tears, pain, and fear of learning she has a gay son, Mary Ellen struggles for years before coming to realize how fortunate she and her family are. |
| Mohring, Mary-Ellen | Mother of gay son | A Father's Day gift ---for a mother! (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | Mary-Ellen is disappointed when fathers of gay and lesbian children are not recognized as part of the homily on Father’s Day… another chance to validate our gay kids seemed to be lost. Read how her pastor surprised the congregation by finding a way to include families with LGBT children even before the mass was over. |
| Nelson, Tom | Father of gay son | Father Knows Best- Eventually (Audio file) | A father relates his own journey from believing that his son could not possibly be gay, to affirming the goodness of that son, and the blessing his gay son is. |
| Nelson, Tom | Father of gay son | God Gave me a Gay Son
and I did not always think it a blessing | Tom, Notre Dame grad, writes movingly about his coming to terms with his having a gay son. |
| Nelson, Tom | Father of gay son | An Activist? (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | A father responds to a message from the cardinal about LGBT issues with a passionate outburst during Sunday Mass. He credits a push from the Holy Spirit with making him an activist. |
| Nelson, Tom | Father of gay son | White, Catholic Father (video file -- with permission) | : "Tom's story and others like it, had an almost transformative power to help open the hearts and minds of Christians when it came to the welcome and inclusion of gay and lesbian people in the church." From "My Mind Was Changed": A Communications Toolkit, developed by a collaboration of Auburn Media, Fenton, and Goodwin Simon Strategic Research -- with a grant from the Arcus Foundation. |
| Nugent, Jenny and Pat | Parents of Gay Son | The Nugent Family Story | A video of Jenny and Pat Nugent, self-described “cradle Catholics” and active parish members, who tell the story of their youngest of seven children coming out to them. |
| Pickett, Bill | Father of transgender m2f | A Parent's Perspective: Transsexual Identity and Wholeness | Bill learns about gender identity disorder and gender dysphoria, and supports his daughter (formerly son) and her family through a difficult and traumatic transition. |
| Restaino, Cheryl | Mother of gay son | Being a Listening Parent (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | As a “Listening Parent” Cheryl relates how she has shared the suffering endured by parents as well as their LGBT children because of some of the Church’s teachings. As a teacher , Cheryl and her Deacon husband have experienced the joy of giving comfort and support to other parents with gay children. |
| Szumiloski, Len | Father of gay son | Enfolding Gay Son Elevates Family | Len's Christmas experience of family with his gay son and his partner enables him to understand how they have enhanced his family despite a contrary message from the church pulpit. |
| Szumiloski, Len | Father of gay son | Gay Agenda is Just Human Agenda | Len learns from his son that so-called "gay rights" are not "special rights." |
| Wagner, Rita | Mother of lesbian daughter | A Mother's Experience (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | Their daughters feeling of rejection by thAe Church leads the Wagners to become activists seeking to make everyone welcome in our Church. |
| Weber, Fred & Carol | Parents of Gay Son | Acceptance of a Gay Son | Fred and Carol move from personal acceptance, to public acceptance, to advocacy. They believe all people, regardless of sexual orientation should be accepted with dignity and allowed all civil rights. |
| Word, Deb | Mother of gay son | Welcome to the (Potluck) Banquet (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | A woman whose fear has kept her away from a community where she could acknowledge her own goodness finds support , friendship, and affirmation when she reaches out to Deb. Although she never made it to the potluck, she found a friend who loved and respected her for who she was. |
| Word, Deb | Mother of gay son | Down and Out (Video File requires updated Qucktime viewer. Click to download the latest version of the free viewer.) | A television reporter interviews Deb Word about the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC) Youth Empowerment Services (YES) program. YES mentors reach out to homeless LGBT youth in the Memphis area. Deb is part of MGLCC's volunteer staff; she and her husband Steve are youth housing providers. Deb is also a Fortunate Families board member. This video first aired on July 14, 2010 on WMC-TV (www.wmctv.org), 1960 Union Avenue, Memphis TN. The reporter is Anna Marie Hartman. The photojournalist/videographer is Mike Hamlet. |
| Word, Deb | Mother of gay son | A Place at the Table (Article in Fortunate Families newsletter) | At a Bible Study Deb meets “recovering Catholics” who have become disillusioned with the Catholic Church. Deb invites them to join her at her Church’s potluck. The welcome they receive makes them regular visitors at the monthly event where “all are welcome.” |
| Word, Deb | Mother of gay son | Parent's Journey | Deb shares her journey as the parent of a gay son at a November 2008 Diocese of Memphis Day of Reflection. |
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