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 Dear Instinct,
My mom passed away from breast cancer at 53. Our family is very close and this was devastating to my sister, my brother and myself. I am now 33, and came out at 24. From the very beginning, she was always supportive of me being gay.
A funny story, to tell you where her mindset was. My sister works at a retail store, and during the holidays this store would allow the Boy Scouts to sell Christmas trees in front. My sister heard some of them discussing their anti-gay views. The following weekend, my mother went there to buy a Christmas tree.
She had them load it into her car, knowing all along it was for the Boy Scouts. When it was time to pay, she said to the scoutmaster, “Oh, I didn’t know this was for the Boy Scouts. I cannot support them since my son is gay, and I do not agree with their views on not allowing gays in the Scouts.” She left the scoutmaster speechless and had them unload it from her car.
She was a loving, caring mother and loved me whether I was gay or straight.
Thanks for listening. We miss her a lot.
Gary Gosselin East Longmeadow, MA
Dear Instinct,
I have an amazing mom. She is truly the most supportive person in my life. She has encouraged me to be a writer my whole life and has always believed in my talent even when I didn’t. In fact, she carries around my children’s book manuscript with her everywhere she goes asking people to read it.
When I became embroiled in a discrimination lawsuit against my employer, she provided half the money to retain an attorney for me (my sister paid the other half). She even wrote a letter to Lambda Legal seeking help. The letter was so beautifully written I was moved to tears. Most recently, she spent her summer in Colorado collecting signatures on petitions for domestic partnership legislation and fought the anti-gay marriage factions.
Not only that, but she is a great friend and fun to be around. She is well known on the West Hollywood karaoke circuit for her rendition of “Cabaret.” When the guys in the bar congratulate her, she quickly asks, “Have you met my son?”
She is the absolute best and I love her very much.
Todd Ransom, Los Angeles, CA
Dear Instinct,
My mom is both is my best friend and my biggest cheerleader. Nobody knows me as well as she does and there are few people in this world I have as much fun with. From our epic bike-riding trips to hiking and many road trips we always have a blast.
It didn’t matter if it was learning to ski as a little boy, acting in school plays in high school, coming out of the closet in college or going to grad school—she’s always been right there supporting me.
My mom always asks me about my boyfriend. She has even been known to tell strangers that she has a gay son. In my mom’s eyes the fact that I am gay is just another thing to be proud of.
Jeremy Zuniga, Steamboat Springs, CO
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Instinct Online 
written by Ginger Kowolski a.k.a. Jeremy Zuniga on May 02, 2007
These are beautiful tributes to mom's everywhere. Thanks for including me in it.