Coming Out As Batman To My Daughter
By Elizabeth
I had been out to myself and my husband for about two years when I decided it was time to tell my then 13-year-old daughter. So I took her for a "girls' day" at the mall and we shopped, had lunch and enjoyed each other's company. Then, heart pounding and hands shaking, I sat her down on a bench and took a deep breath.
"Honey", I said, "I'm ... I'm ..."
Nothing. Nothing came out. I stood there like a landed trout with my mouth opening and closing, thinking of how to say it, thinking of what to say. All I could think of was the scene in the first Batman movie where Bruce Wayne is trying to tell Vicky Vale he's Batman and all he can get out is "I'm .. I'm …." Finally, when she leaves the room he gets out, "I'm Batman."
So I took a deep breath and said, "I'm Batman."
My daughter looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I know, Mom."
I said, "No. No, I don't really mean I'm BATMAN! I mean, I'm … I'm ..."
Again, she looked at me and said, "I know, Mom!"
I said, "You do? I mean, that I'm gay?"
She said, "Yep. And I think it's pretty cool you finally got around to telling ME! I love you, Mom, I think you're great!"
What a kid! I have been truly blessed. Ever since that day, that particular bench at the mall has been known to our family as the Batman Memorial Bench.