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40-Something Father Runs Into A Random Gay Man In Las Vegas, Asks For Advice On Raising His Son
Las Vegas is the place if you want to drink yourself into the night while gambling away your life savings. Or get advice on raising a gay son. Recently, singer/songwriter Jack Remmington and his friend were playing on the Mariah Carey slots there when a 40-something man approached them. The stranger struck up a conversation with the two, asking if they were gay. Expecting an awkward encounter, Jack and his pal said yes. However, the man opened up about his deepest feelings towards his teen son who he thinks might be gay.
“It’s rare that people will approach to ask if you’re gay but you obviously often get stares depending on what you’re wearing which makes you get read as gay (I wear a lot of bright colours as I feel most comfortable in them),” Jack told Bored Panda. “I definitely expected [this particular conversation] to take more of a turn of that we were sinners, going to hell etc. as those tend to with white southern men who would approach you with an opinion.”
“My first impression was that he seemed nice as he chatted which is more than what tends to happen with people you sit next to in Vegas at the slots. That said, I didn’t expect it to take this turn at all.”
His honesty moved the guys so much, they started sharing their thoughts on what is and isn’t an appropriate form on interaction with the boy, and luckily Jack shared it on Twitter. His thread has accumulated over 46K likes in just a few days and it’s a must-read for everyone who knows a young person from the LGBTQ community and wants to understand them a little better.
“The relationship between him and his son has a 100% future – he was a wonderful and caring man, despite what he said was quite a difficult town to grow up in if you’re at all different,” Jack said. “I wish all fathers could be like him.”
Also, Jack wanted to add that we can all (regardless of if we’re LGBTQ or know someone who is or might be) do more to combat the idea that heterosexuality is the only accepted norm. “Little things like language to little girls – do you like any of the boys at school, ‘when you have a husband etc’ and instead say ‘is there any one you like’ or ‘if/when you’re married’. Also calling out homophobic language of family and friends makes for more comfortable and accepting spaces for everyone but particularly for LGBT people and will mean more than you can know.”
Continue scrolling to read the heartwarming exchange!
More info: Twitter | Instagram
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What do you think ?
Pamela24 7 years ago
This is wonderful! <3 I'm always trying to be openminded when talking to my younger sister. So instead of: "Any cute guys at school?" I always say, guys or girls. I have a feeling she might be bisexual but even if she wasn't I think we all should do that.
Full Name 7 years ago
Just say "Anybody cute at school?". That takes hints about sexual orientation right out of the equation entirely. Including it might also make it awkward if she's straight as an arrow.
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Josie Chaney 7 years ago
BoredPanda makes me cry so many happy tears. Thank you guys for sharing this story. That man is courageous and wonderful, and so are you. In addition to the excellent advice and fellow-feeling, I think the courage itself is a thing you’ve shared. A toast to the courageous, compassionate, the quietly revolutionary pragmatism... of you, the dad and all the rest of you. Let it grow :)
Kate 7 years ago
Wow! Not only a great dad, but I'm also really impressed by how wonderful the advice Jack gave was! I feel like I have trouble getting my thoughts together on the spot - but knowing that this dad was already going to do his best to support his son, he gave some beautiful insight into the ways that how and what this father said to his child could be the most effective! Love it!
Lisa Tye 7 years ago
I have three children, and have always had open discussions about gender identity and sexuality (age appropriate). They know that no matter how they choose to identify, we will still love them the same. My youngest is 13 and she told me a few months ago she is pansexual. She’s been dating a girl for the last month (they aren’t doing stuff, though, because they both agree they are too young). To me it seems no different to if she was dating a boy. My only concern is, of course, her being bullied.
PipsqueakTheCatBlob 7 years ago
I mean, COME ON. This guy is amazing! (Both of them actually). As a gay 13-y/o, if anyone’s in the same position as this dad, my advice is just DON’T MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT. Treat them like a normal kid/teenager i.e don’t put gender in front of anything (any cute boys/girls at school?) and don’t tell ANYONE unless they specifically tell you it’s ok.
Jana Renner 7 years ago
This is so sweet! I feel very happy for all of them! A good friend of mine got so much grief from his parents when he came out that he -even as a grown up- felt nervous saying he was gay. I remember vividly how stressed out he was telling me, he had to "admit" to something..so stressed out that I really feared he was going to confess to murder or something in the line. So I made sure when my kid grew up having books with same sex couples or referring to love/marriage "when two persons love each other". And I often heard parents say something to boys "when you fall in love with a girl" and to girls "one day you will meet a nice boy" so I always tried to phrase it "one day, if you fall in love with a nice girl or boy" with my kid. I know my husband thought it was quite unnecessary because who knows if your kid is gay or straight but remembering the panic of our friend I wanted to make sure from the beginning that it is perfectly normal and natural to be whoever you are.
Pamela24 7 years ago
This is wonderful! <3 I'm always trying to be openminded when talking to my younger sister. So instead of: "Any cute guys at school?" I always say, guys or girls. I have a feeling she might be bisexual but even if she wasn't I think we all should do that.
Full Name 7 years ago
Just say "Anybody cute at school?". That takes hints about sexual orientation right out of the equation entirely. Including it might also make it awkward if she's straight as an arrow.
Load More Replies... Josie Chaney 7 years ago
BoredPanda makes me cry so many happy tears. Thank you guys for sharing this story. That man is courageous and wonderful, and so are you. In addition to the excellent advice and fellow-feeling, I think the courage itself is a thing you’ve shared. A toast to the courageous, compassionate, the quietly revolutionary pragmatism... of you, the dad and all the rest of you. Let it grow :)
Kate 7 years ago
Wow! Not only a great dad, but I'm also really impressed by how wonderful the advice Jack gave was! I feel like I have trouble getting my thoughts together on the spot - but knowing that this dad was already going to do his best to support his son, he gave some beautiful insight into the ways that how and what this father said to his child could be the most effective! Love it!
Lisa Tye 7 years ago
I have three children, and have always had open discussions about gender identity and sexuality (age appropriate). They know that no matter how they choose to identify, we will still love them the same. My youngest is 13 and she told me a few months ago she is pansexual. She’s been dating a girl for the last month (they aren’t doing stuff, though, because they both agree they are too young). To me it seems no different to if she was dating a boy. My only concern is, of course, her being bullied.
PipsqueakTheCatBlob 7 years ago
I mean, COME ON. This guy is amazing! (Both of them actually). As a gay 13-y/o, if anyone’s in the same position as this dad, my advice is just DON’T MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT. Treat them like a normal kid/teenager i.e don’t put gender in front of anything (any cute boys/girls at school?) and don’t tell ANYONE unless they specifically tell you it’s ok.
Jana Renner 7 years ago
This is so sweet! I feel very happy for all of them! A good friend of mine got so much grief from his parents when he came out that he -even as a grown up- felt nervous saying he was gay. I remember vividly how stressed out he was telling me, he had to "admit" to something..so stressed out that I really feared he was going to confess to murder or something in the line. So I made sure when my kid grew up having books with same sex couples or referring to love/marriage "when two persons love each other". And I often heard parents say something to boys "when you fall in love with a girl" and to girls "one day you will meet a nice boy" so I always tried to phrase it "one day, if you fall in love with a nice girl or boy" with my kid. I know my husband thought it was quite unnecessary because who knows if your kid is gay or straight but remembering the panic of our friend I wanted to make sure from the beginning that it is perfectly normal and natural to be whoever you are.
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