Dad’s Letter To Gay Son Nate Goes Viral, Breaks Hearts

A dad’s letter to his gay son has become an internet sensation, after readers across the web were moved by the father’s preemptive acceptance of his son’s coming out.

Little is known about the boy, Nate, and his father, but a letter from the dad to his gay son suggests some background to the story.

The letter begins, “Nate: I overheard your phone conversation with Mike last night about your plans to come out to me … The only thing I need you to plan is to bring home OJ and bread after class.”

The dad’s letter to his gay son continues:

“We are out, like you now. I’ve known you were gay since you were six, I’ve loved you since you were born.”

Simply signed “Dad,” the note goes on to say, “P.S. — your mom and I think you and Mike make a cute couple.”

The letter has gotten nearly 30,000 Facebook shares from the page on which it originated this morning, FCKH8.

Yahoo spoke with both FCKH8’s Luke Montgomery as well as the family from whom the note was obtained. Nate and his dad are remaining anonymous for now, but as the note makes its way across the social web, Montgomery says that the outpouring of emotion is both moving and somewhat sad.

He tells the site that FCKH8 receives “a lot of crazy stuff,” and admits he “almost didn’t look at it.” Montgomery admits he was moved to tears by the emotional missive, but he also is saddened by what the positive reaction says about how we expect a teen’s coming out to be handled in the average family.

Montgomery comments on the dad’s letter to his gay son and its viral feedback on Facebook:

“It’s actually sad so many people are excited about it. And what I think that says is, one, it’s rare, and that’s really bad. And two, people are really craving this kind of reaction.”

PFLAG, a support organization for families with gay kids, also commented on the letter, telling Yahoo:

“This letter is what PFLAG is all about—what child doesn’t want to receive unconditional love from his or her parents?. For some, like this dad, it comes quickly. For others, it may take time. But regardless of how or when they get there, parents need to have their kids’ backs, no matter what. So applause for Nate’s dad. And Nate? You better remember the OJ and bread!”

Maybe Luke Montgomery is wrong — perhaps the positive reaction is due to old ideas, ones not many would embrace in 2013. After all, Sen. Rob Portman just came out today about his own son’s coming out and gay marriage reversal.

Below is the letter in full from a dad to his gay son.