A moment that changed me: I was 16, gay and bullied for it. Then my father wrote to the Guardian …
Britain in the 90s seemed to see homosexuality as something shameful. My father told the world how proud he was of me
Growing up gay in the 90s was incredibly difficult. In 1998, I was 16 and living in east London, only out to my parents, my sister and a few friends I had made online. I’d already been the target of homophobic bullying and didn’t feel safe coming out to the rest of the world.
I was lucky to live in a loving and supportive home. It was also a political household; my dad, in particular, was always active in expressing his beliefs and principles. Both my parents stood for things, cared about others – and they cared about me.
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