Parents Place Newspaper Ad After Son Comes Out as Gay
The Sunday Houston Chronicle’s “Celebrations” section had a very special ad thanks to one loving family.
Joan and Craig Wilson were upset after the HERO (Houston Equal Rights Ordinance) campaign for gay and transgender rights was repealed in November, and the couple decided to show pride in their 17-year-old son’s coming out with a very public display on Sunday.
Their advertisement reads, “The parents of Drake are pleased to announce that their son has come out. 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 Barbra Streisand.”
Photo: Twitter
Joan told Today.com on Tuesday that the ad was their way of “inspiring other parents to be courageous.” Though the family lives in Snohomish, Wash., they wanted the message to support Houston’s LGBT community.
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In the Wilson family, their son’s sexual orientation was not an issue. Drake first talked to his older sister about being gay in early 2014, and a few weeks later his mother woke him up with a Valentine’s Day care package and told him that she and his dad would love him no matter what.
“We both started sobbing,” Joan said. “I’ve suspected it for a while and so I’ve always tried to make it clear that my husband and I would be nothing but supportive.”
Drake with his father and sisters. (Photo: Courtesy of Joan Wilson)
The entire family, including younger sister Colette, 10, embraced Drake’s news, and in August 2014, just before his junior year of high school, Drake posted a video on YouTube. It begins with him saying, “As much as the ladies will hate to hear this, I’m gay.”
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Drake’s charming announcement is filled with humor (“Despite what many people assume, I am not Denzel Washington’s son”) and also huge gratitude. “I would just like to say a big thank you to my whole family for being an example of how all families should be,” he says. Drake expresses optimism too: “Even though I sometimes get angry that I even have to come out, I’m still grateful that it’s allowing change in a positive direction.”
Joan hopes that their story and the ad they placed will reach families in Houston. “A lot of times, parents don’t see positive examples of handling a child coming out,“ she said. “If parents see others being supportive, maybe there’s a glimmer of hope for society.”
Top photo, left to right: Pam Elliott, Lynn Schilaty, Drake Wilson, Joan Wilson, Rita Belvill. (Courtesy of Joan Wilson)
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