a 28-year-old who is still facing familial troubles after his parents kicked him out of their house at age 15. His extended relatives expressed hurt over not being invited to his gay wedding.
But he says, because they weren’t supportive of him in his teen years, he didn’t invite them and shouldn’t feel guilt over it.His parents kicked him out for having a boyfriend, and though he briefly stayed at his boyfriend’s family’s house afterward, the disowned teenager’s aunt and uncle refused to let the teen stay at their house because they didn’t want to “pick sides” in the family “fight.” The aunt also worried that the teen’s mother would feel hurt if she “replaced” her as a mom.Their rejection devastated him.
He’d always felt close to his aunt and uncle’s family. Both had always been vocally supportive of gay rights for as long as he could remember.
As a result of their refusal, he ended up homeless and sleeping on park benches. His aunt and uncle also told his female cousin to stop speaking to him in public, he said.With some self-effort and the help of social workers, the young man was able to get back on his feet and make a life for himself.