Disability Story

“Dad I’m gay”. Charles’ words seemingly reverberated off the oak china hutch and mauve curtains, circling the room before coming to rest in his father’s ears.

“No you’re not.” Charles father replied. “You’re just being lazy with girls, that’s all”.

Charles could not believe what he was hearing, and thought perhaps his father did not know what “gay” meant.

“Dad, I’m gay, it means I am not attracted to girls. It has nothing to do with how much effort I put into liking them, I am simply unable to do it.”

Scarlet began to slither into his father’s cheeks and Charles knew what was coming next.

“This is ridiculous!” his father bellowed, “You know in my time we didn’t have all these diagnoses, and we all did fine with girls. If you struggled, you just needed to work harder, that was it. If you ask me, all this stuff is just made up, people making excuses for poor behavior and laziness!”

Charles contemplated grabbing his father by his orange ear hair and screaming at him to get with the times. However before he could make his move, his father started again.

“Does your mother know?”

“No, not yet.” Charles replied.

“Well let’s get her in here shall we? Margaret,” his father called “Margaret come in here for a moment will you.”

Charles’ mother shuffled into the room, her green polyester slippers in stark contrast with the brown shag carpet.

“What is it Ted?” she asked.

“Well, our son here has something he would like to tell you”

Sighing audibly, Charles began. “Mom, I’m gay.”

Smiling sweetly, his mother replied, “Oh hun, that’s silly talk you need to just try harder. In fact the other day on Oprah she had an expert on who said there’s no such thing as all thus gay junk, just parents and kids making excuses for not trying hard with girls. Then later in the show….”

Charles’ mother kept talking, but deafened by frustration he was unable to hear her.

As her diatribe continued, Charles reached his breaking point.

“Mom! Dad!” He screamed, “Don’t you get it? Homosexuality is a real thing. Many professionals agree on this! It’s not because I am lazy, that I