Corey, A True Story

Truth is often stranger than fiction and some things you just cannot make up.  Such is the case in a story written by Gay Dad Rob Watson I read yesterday on his blog, evoL=.  Rob's post was about an abused boy abandoned to adoption by his birth family simply because he is Gay.  In the beginning of his post, Rob reiterates this quote by writer and LGBT youth advocate Cathy Kristofferson:

“Youth who come out to their parents are rejected by those parents at a rate of 50%, with 26% immediately thrown out of the house to become instantly homeless and many following soon after as a result of the physical and verbal abuse … Empowered by the gains in equality and acceptance with the heightened visibility the adult gay community has welcomed of late, youth are emboldened to come out at ever-younger ages while still reliant on parents who are a flip of the coin away from rejecting them.”

Rob goes on to relate the story of 15 year old (at the time) Corey who two years ago was indeed abandoned to adoption by his birth parents.  Corey was very ill at the time, near death from pneumonia and suicidal.  Corey reached out and was in a chat session with his friend Aubrey who he had taken to the Homecoming Dance as part of his 'staying in the closet out of fear' actions.  It was 2 AM when Aubrey's Mom came into her room to shoo her off to bed.  Aubrey's Mom, Mindy, saw this message on the screen: “I am desperate.  Things here are so bad, I want to slit my wrists.  I am not kidding.”.  Mindy inquired as to who it was and Aubrey told her it was Corey whom Mindy had met when he took Aubrey to homecoming.  

Mindy and Aubrey mounted a middle of the night rescue mission, gathering Corey from where he was and taking him home.  After a period of time in which he recovered from pneumonia with nary a peep from his birth parents, Corey returned home.  In the next few weeks the awareness of Corey being gay became the elephant in room that no one talked about.  Finally, unable to hide from himself any longer, Corey came out to his birth Mother, hoping she would help him keep the secret from his homophobic birth Father.  It was not to be.  

Corey's birth Mother called his birth Father who stormed home to confront his son.  “He was yelling and screaming about how a fag was living in his home and he can’t believe the devil was in his presence. I locked myself in my room when my brother came home. The first thing my father did was tell him about how his brother was nothing but a worthless fag,” Corey recalled.  His birth parents and his brother tried in vain to break into Corey's room where he had locked himself in while fearing for his safety.  In the early hours of the next morning after his birth family had passed out, Corey escaped and ran once again to Aubrey's home.  

Aubrey's entire family had come to know and love Corey, even after discovering he was Gay.  So they had a meeting where a unanimous vote was taken to welcome Corey into their home on a permanent basis.  Aubrey's Dad said “Initially we set Corey’s bedroom up in our basement. We gathered what we could since he didn’t bring anything with him. His first bedroom in our home was made of walls with moving blankets tacked to the ceiling. There was a bed, a nightstand, an old dresser and a box fan. That kid was so freaking happy. I think that moment really made Aubrey, Andrew and Mason appreciate what they have. Made me cry to see Corey with next to nothing and be happy about it.”

Over the next year, there were many challenges for Corey  and his new family.  Andrew and Aubrey were harassed at  school for taking in a Gay kid.  Dale and Mindy, Aubrey's Mom and Dad had some family and friends outright reject them because of Corey being Gay.  There were some initial rumblings from Corey's birth parents.  However when push came to shove at the adoption hearing, Corey's birth parents did not even bother to show up, preferring to wash their hands of their 'faggot son'.  As a result, the adoption was granted and Corey now had a loving family surrounding him.  

The entire family became LGBT advocates, the youngest son 11 year old Mason, even created a rainbow freedom art project dedicated to his new older brother.   Today Mindy describes the events of the last 3 years saying:

"I want the world to know that Corey is a beautiful human being.  I want them to know that any pain we went through or will go through is worth it.  Why is it worth it, because love is the most powerful force.  I want the world to see Corey’s pain and know it is not necessary.  Sexuality is such a small part of who we are.  First and foremost Corey is a loving, genuine, caring, intelligent human being.  Who he is attracted to and who he marries is of little significance.  I’m certain his partner will be as kind and loving as himself.  Isn’t that what this world needs?  I want the world to know that standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves is vital to our survival.  Standing up for what is right is not always easy, but it is always right.  Our family fell in love with Corey for Corey…his sexuality did not change who he was.  I also want the world to know that we are a family.   I want people to understand that genetics are just science.  Families are built from unconditional love."

Now isn't that how it should be everywhere for everyone?  Stories like this inspire me to redouble my efforts to make this world a better place, especially for Gay youth who all to often pay the price for other people's ignorance and bigotry.  I hope you will join me in supporting the Gay youth who cross your path, every one of them deserves to live and be loved.  Corey's story had a happy ending whereas so many others do not, let's all do what we can to change that.  

(all quotes in this post borrowed from Rob Watson's post at evoL=)

Your Midweek Musical Moment features the Opus 7 Concerti a cinque for Oboe by Tomaso Albinoni performed by the Berlin Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Vittorio Negri featuring Hans Werner Watzig on Oboe I and Jurgen Abel on Oboe II.  Included in the play list are No. 2 in C for 2 oboes, strings and contiuo; No. 3 in B flat for oboe, strings and coninuo; No. 4 in G for strings and continuo; No. 5 in C for oboe, strings and continuo; No. 6 in D for oboe, strings and continuo; No. 7 in A for strings and continuo; No. 8 in D for 2 oboes, strings and continuo; No. 9 in F for oboe, strings and continuo; No. 10 in B flat for strings and continuo; No. 11 in C for 2 oboes, strings and continuo and No. 12 in C for oboe, strings and continuo.  You may hear additional Oboe and Violin Concerti by Albinoni over on my tumblr.

Then it is once again time for all those hunks and hotties splashing about the world's pools, beaches and baths to display themselves below the video in this week's edition of Wet Wednesday.  There is also the 'Caution:  Sexy When Wet' Hottie of the Day! for your further inspiration over on my tumblr.  Thanks for stopping by, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!