An African-American Christian mother pens book on accepting her gay son

This story is a perfect example of just what we are missing when we make assumptions about the acceptance or lack of acceptance of lgbts in the black community. Deon Davis, a Christian woman in Florida has written and self-published a book chronicling how her child came out and how she grew to accept him as he is:

"I learned that our children have feelings, that the parent is not always right. I learned that the hard way," she says. "I'm learning all this through the blessing of Rashad being gay."

Now Davis is on a mission. She spent $1,300 to self-publish "I'll Find a Way: A Mother's Journey of Love and Acceptance for Her Gay Son" and is working tirelessly to promote it.

A sad but interesting part of the article tells about how lgbt children like Rashad are not accepted by their own families. Davis talks about several incidents where these children have been thrown out of their homes. Rashad talks about what his father refusing to accept him being gay:

Rashad's friends have spent many hours at Davis' home and she's often appalled by how their parents treat them. One father beat his gay son so badly, the boy was covered with bruises.

Another of Rashad's friends stayed with Davis for a week after his father threw him out. "He got kicked out because he was gay," she says. "This child was the smartest thing ever!"

A third friend "was living on the streets and selling his body," Davis says. "A 4.0 grade point average and he just got kicked out."

Rashad, who recently graduated from Piper High School in Sunrise, Fla., says his own father won't accept that he's gay.

"At my graduation, he told me he'd give me $1,000 if I'd get a girl pregnant," Rashad says. "He said he'd rather me go to prison for 20 years for drugs than be gay."

This is an excellent article about a mother who is not only accepting her gay son, but also educating folks on lgbt youth.

I wish Ms. Davis all of the success in the world.

The entire article is here.

Big hat tip to Box Turtle Bulletin for bringing the article to my attention.