Two parents are being celebrated after they took out a newspaper ad to show their gay son how supportive they were of him after he came out.
After major LGBT rights ordinances were repealed in Texas last November, parents Joan and Craig Wilson, of Snohomish, Washington, placed an announcement in the “Celebrations” section of Houston Chronicle congratulating their 17-year-old son, Drake on coming out as gay.
The loving advertisement, which was in the January 17 issue of the paper, featured a photo of Drake along with the caption, “The parents of Drake are pleased to announce that their son has come out.”
The parents continued: “Drake is currently a senior in high school where he is captain of the tennis team, ASB Vice President, and NHS member. He is a church deacon and enjoys film making and baking. And yes, he adores Barbara Streisand.”
The Snohomish High School senior, who actually came out to his parents, and the world, in 2014 via YouTube, seemed chuffed with the heart-warming gesture from his parents telling PEOPLE that they ran it by him first and he agreed because he felt the belated message would let LGBTQ kids in Houston “to know it’s ok to be themselves.”
“Some people think coming out of the closet is stupid,” Drake tells PEOPLE. “But it’s something extremely hard and personal. I was lucky to have the most supportive community, but some kids aren’t so lucky.”
After Houston voters failed to pass HERO (Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance) – essentially a broad anti-discrimination ordinance – Drake’s mother Joan said she was shattered.
“It broke my heart when the proposition failed in Houston,” Joan told PEOPLE. “This was my way of showing my pride and installing courage of other parents in the city.”
Joan adds, “All parents should love their children unconditionally!”
Bravo parents! Bravo!
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