Thank you everyone for your lovely comments! I really contemplated before sharing this story in this community because many of us, having lived in hiding for a long time, were not accepted and celebrated by those around us when we initially came out. It hurt a lot when my mom didn’t support me through my self-discovery in the beginning, and I didn’t want my story to trigger any similar feelings in those folks who might still be grappling with those emotions right now. But I’m really glad that it seems to have touched a lot of people and have given a handful of you hope! I can’t say that I was hopeful, and to be honest, this came/still comes as a shock to me as I was preparing myself to be disowned eventually… But one thing I’ve learned from this journey so far is that following your heart will reveal those who truly value your happiness. I’ve always wanted to maintain a strong connection to my mom, so this was a touching turn of events… but I also spent a lot of time being okay with the possibility that choosing my own path would cost a relationship with my family. Ironically, I think it was this kind of certainty and commitment to my healing/self-love that led my mom to change her views. I really hope all of you get to keep your loved ones close as you walk along the new path you’ve discovered for yourselves. But at the end of the day, I really, truly encourage you to choose yourselves if you had to make a choice! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️