Eric Thomas
Eric Thomas talks about the impact of rejection or acceptance on gay teenaged boys.
Eric Thomas and his best friend Felix came out to each other as teenagers. They were each other’s confidantes and companions. But their lives took very different paths.
Eric’s mother started asking him about Felix and the boys calling the house, and he said, “Well, I’m gay.” She came around and they were able to find understanding with each other. Felix’s mom threw her “faggot son” out of the house.
In Eric’s Baptist church, there were gays and lesbians, even if this went went unspoken. In Felix’s church, there was a lot of “Faggots are going to hell…” talk.
Felix wound up on the street, dying young. Eric’s life took a different path. He says,
“It’s experiences like Felix’s and the other people like Felix that made me want to go to Seminary and want to get a PhD in Biblical Studies. As I do my work I always think about Felix. I think he’s looking down on me now and I hope he’s proud. The more we tell our friend’s stories the more they’re with us. Hopefully we can live in a world where no parent will say “No son of mine is a faggot, get out.” Where that would be a message of, “You are mine and I love you and we’re all in this together.”
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Originally published at I’m From Driftwood. I’m From Driftwood envisions a world where every lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer person feels understood and accepted, and every straight person is an ally.
Other I’m From Driftwood stories:
I’m a Freak and I Like Being a Freak
How Punk Music and Feminism Changed My Life
From Rugby Jock to Glamazon in Drag
The Kiss That Made It Ok to Be Gay
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