Ep. 6: Coming Out: Catholic in Wisconsin in 1996… A conversation with Sarah & Her Mom, Barbara Schmidt
I don’t like to label myself and wasn't someone who thought much about my sexual orientation– throughout my life, I have just loved who I loved.
But when I fell in love with a woman, and it was clear that she was my life partner– I, like all gay people, was faced with the challenge of coming out and sharing that news with my family. To set the stage, it was 1996 in the Midwest, and if you’ve listened to previous episodes, you know that my mom was a former nun. Gay marriage wasn’t legal yet, and to put things into perspective, Ellen hadn’t even come out publicly yet!
Today I sit down with my mom, Barbara (again! Welcome back, Mom!), and we talk about how she felt when I came out. The way she responded and treated me and my wife was beyond any response I could have imagined.
Today we discuss how to embrace and support your loved ones, even if they make different choices than you would.
Coming out looks different for everyone. It can be really hard, scary, and confronting for you and the person you’re sharing with, but please know that you are not alone. I hope that you feel embraced by me and my mom through this episode.
If you or someone you know is in the process of coming out, please share this episode with them. Enjoy!
