It’s never too late to tell someone you’re sorry.
A man in Nebraska just published an apology to a young gay couple he taunted in public more than 20 years ago. The anonymous letter was posted on Craigslist in Omaha.
“Dear young gay couple in 1993,” it begins. “You were sitting together on the curb near the entrance of Worlds of Fun. I was walking in with my church youth group. I was 17 and bigoted, taught that you were wrong and sinful.”
“I looked over to see you together, relaxed and confident, and I said out loud, ‘Ewww gross.'”
Related: Gay Man Shuts Down Younger Sister’s Homophobic Bully With One Fantastic Facebook Post
“As we walked away I felt a prick of shame,” the man confesses. “Outwardly I had acted as if it was you who should be ashamed, but for over 20 years it has been me who carries this shame. I’m writing this today to apologize for my behavior.”
The man goes on to say he is “so sorry” for ruining their special moment together and for treating them as second class citizens.
“I want you to know that shortly after this youth group trip I entered college and my whole world changed,” he writes. “My learned bias and my belief in homosexuality as a sin was flipped upside down as I was exposed to new people and new ideas. I have walked away from the religion that taught me to hate.”
“Wherever you are,” he concludes, “I hope you’re each still sitting close with a loved one and living a wonderful life.”
Related: Ex-Bully Comes Out As Gay, Apologizes For Homophobic Torment
h/t: LGBTQNation
SeeingAll
It was probably written by a woman, because it was in the W4M section of Craigslist.
Glücklich
I remember reading this in Best of and was, like, ‘Omaha…haven’t been there since I worked for ConAgra a hundred years ago. Flat. Pretty river. Hugest rail yard I’ve ever seen. Willa Cather.’ Random thought over.
SeeingAll
@Glücklich: Isn’t Warren Buffet headquartered there now ?
Ogre Magi
Christianity can make anyone into a mean person
Andy Vigil
Education is key.
henrietta25
ji
SteveDenver
Knowledge is the enemy of religion.
Travel is the enemy of bigotry.
He learned and met people, and changed.
henrietta25
My Aunty Gianna just got a nearly new Infiniti G Sedan from only workin part time on a pc… see here now…
———————>> www.Snaga-Jobs.Tk
NYtoSF
I always was thinking that the bully’s against gay people stood a chance that one day they would have kids & YEP ! That child would be gay.
The power of divine intervention. A child will melt the heart.
Stop the hating .
Glücklich
@SeeingAll:
Correct. Berkshire and Buffett have been there forever.
Glücklich
@henrietta25:
Not impressed. Let us know when she’s got her own full-time driver on staff and a Maybach in the garage.
SeeingAll
@Glücklich: Thnx. (And I’ve yet to read Willa Cather, but have heard good things..)
Hillers
@Glücklich: Pffbt ba haaaaa ha ha ha ha ha haa!
Luis Collazo
Yawn
OhHellNo
How sweet! If only the couple hdan’t thrown themselves off a bridge a day later. Maybe the bully should do the same.
DuMaurier
@OhHellNo:
Don’t be so grumpy.
Minyassa
It always startles me when a person changes their hateful view. I wish it didn’t, and I wish it wasn’t so hard for me to believe that this is within the reach of more hateful people. I tend to think that they’re going to just stay that way forever. We need to see more of this sort of thing.
Doughosier
Saying “Eww gross” isn’t really that bad.
Sluggo2007
He felt a prick of shame? I’ll bet he did.
mildred25
My Uncle Dominic recently got a stunning white Acura NSX Coupe by working off of a computer. this link…
==================?? www.Snaga-Jobs.Tk
GayEGO
You don’t see this often, good of him to apologize.
SeeingAll
@GayEGO: @Sluggo2007: it’s a she who wrote the letter.
Glücklich
@mildred25:
Saggy-jobs.tk seems to be working out for your family: your cousin harriett25 was on here the other day braggin’ on Aunty Gianna’s “nearly new” Infinity sedan.
If cousin Gertrude56 mentions Papa Smurf’s CPO Lexus I just might be interested.
Mitchell
It is always disturbing to hear nasty, mean spirited and hateful comnents veing thrown towards you by anyone. This person was 17, and not informed. This person made ae and this person has regretted and is ashamed of her/his past comments.
If we or any person wants to be treated with respect and consideration we must also be prepared to show the same. This person described what was said, yhe growibg guilt from it and the change and growth the resulted in good.
I am thanful people can take responsibility for and admit when they have committed a wrong and I, a gay man, say thank you for sharing your experience, growth and apology and apologize for those who have been cynical and even cruel in the responses posted above.