Evan and Addison Are Domestic Partners

Pictures of Evan’s family smile down upon his desk.
AS: Had your mom been like, “I’m going to fucking disown him,” you wouldn’t have [come out].

EH: I didn’t even think. It just happened so quickly. She was stunned and I think I was the one who started to cry, because I was soooo nervous, it just – So, that’s all of that that I recall. I remember she said something to the effect of “I’m going to have to think about this” or “I’m going to have to process this”. I knew that I didn’t care that much, because I knew it was going to be fine, no matter what. So, then I called my brother – I’d love to hear him tell the story, because he was at a street fair somewhere in San Francisco with his friends and I called him up and I said, “Ross, I came out to mom and I –

AS: “And I brought you down with me!”

EH: And I think he said to the effect of, “Fuck you”. Click. And that was it. I didn’t talk to him for maybe months.

But he forgave you?

EH: Yeah, after a few months. We hung out at Christmas and he was like, “You know, I would have done it eventually”.

What about your dad?

EH: My dad. My dad I came out to –

AS: Last year, right? We both, around the same time.

EH: After I met Addison.

How old are you now?

EH: Twenty-eight.

And you had a boyfriend when you were twenty. And when did you tell your mom?

EH: I think I was about twenty-one.

So, your father didn’t know for over five years.

EH: Right. Exactly. But, in all fairness, we don’t talk about much that’s super personal. It’s very – weather, job. As I was getting older I thought of him, I guess, more of as a person that I actually did want to share everything in my life with and so I told him – it was during the debate in Texas when they were about to vote about including the gay marriage ban in the state constitution. I remember we were sitting there, talking about the situation and about my uncle David and my uncle Robert and I think said, “You probably already know this, but…I’m gay.” My dad’s a very thoughtful, easygoing guy, and he’s like, “Okay”. It was really no big deal at all. It was really strange. He immediately asked about – I think I told him about you – I told him, “His name is Addison. He’s from Texas.” And he said, “Oh, really. Do you guys have a lot in common?” So we started talking about Addison and he said, “I’m glad you found happiness. That’s all I want for any of my kids: is to be happy.”