A grateful son has shared the letter his mom received through her door after she hung a rainbow flag up outside her house.
The son, Levi, 30, told Pink News that he gave his mom, Stephanie Robertson, and some friends the flag last year.
“She was excited to hang it up for the first time this year and kept it hanging up outside her home all throughout June,” he said.
“She texted me yesterday and was like, ‘you’re not gonna believe the letter I found in our mailbox,’ and sent me a photo of the letter.”
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Levi posted it to Twitter. It’s now had over 744,000 likes and thousands of comments.
this was a letter left in my mothers mailbox in paris, arkansas after she had her pride flag up all month pic.twitter.com/O5a7Rh80BJ
— 🗣hats on wigs!!!!!🗣 (@90sbaebe) July 2, 2021
The letter Stephanie received said: “Hello, this is probably kinda weird but I walk past your house every day and I’ve noticed your flag and I’m glad to know there is at least one ally in this little town.”
It was signed “from a young LGBTQ person.”
Levi says his mom is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. She now works part-time as a support specialist for the Forest Service at Ozark St Francis National Forest. She bought Levi and his brothers up in Harrison, Arkansas. She has lived in Paris (pop. 3,500), a city in Logan County, since 2014.
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Levi said his mom is, “completely deserving of all the attention cause she’s such an incredible person.” He also added she’s now going to put a rainbow flag sticker up in her window all year round.
His tweet has had some amazing responses, with many discussing the power of visible LGBTQ support.
My young son came out to me yesterday as part of the lgbtq+ we have a big long wood fence around our property……. my plan is to paint it in the lgbtq+ colours perminatly. This little note warms my heart . When safe my husband said he will wear a ‘dad hugs ‘ t-shirt on pride
— Finding Myself (@VeilOfPain) July 3, 2021
Had mine up all month. I’m not LGBTQ, just don’t see the point of discriminating against those that are. pic.twitter.com/ZoKbIBksxS
— cb jackson #blacklivesmatter 🌊🌈🤞 (@cbjackson1) July 3, 2021
I have a pride flag in my work office. A young teen saw it and was so excited, saying “Is that a pride flag? Are you an ally?” I said, “Be who you are, and love who you love.” Huge sigh followed by huge smile!
— Ji Smalley (@JiSmalley) July 3, 2021
I was out for a run a few months back in a pretty heavily right leaning part of the country and spotted this. They leave it up all year and I can get behind that. pic.twitter.com/aAYZUFMnyi
— TheBix (@jmbush) July 3, 2021
As the mother of a “young LGBTQ+ person”, seeing this breaks my heart. A young person who thinks that a stranger is their only ally is just heartbreaking.
— 🏳️🌈Kim Shea🏳️🌈 (@KimShea22) July 3, 2021
I started a new job this June. On the third day I realized that the building had a pride flag waving outside of it. My employer rents suites in that building and hasn’t gone public on the subject of being supportive or not. But I know I’m at least welcomed into that building. 💕
— Stef_with_a_F_14 (@StefHugMachine) July 3, 2021
I love this. I have a neighbor (in suburban Indiana) who had a Pride flag out most of last year and recently changed over to a Trans Pride flag. I keep thinking about mailing them a card and need to just do it already.
— mapsandkeys💛 (@mapsandkeys) July 3, 2021
Related: Gay couple SHOCKED to discover thief’s identity after pride flag stolen from their yard
Levi linked to his mom’s Twitter handle. On Saturday, she posted a message which appeared to reference the comments she’d received to her son’s tweet: “When I came home from leave in 2003-2004 from Iraq, the whole DAL clapped for us. “I feel so special”!! Y’all are making me feel special again. Thank you.”
When I came home from leave in 2003-2004 from Iraq, the whole DAL clapped for us. “I feel so special”!! Y’all are making me feel special again. Thank you.
— yourmajestyrobertson (@levisaidchange) July 3, 2021
storm45701
Hard youth growing up in Harrison, Arkansas; known as the “most racist” place in America, and the HQ of the KKK!
ckskr
Am I the only one sickened by this new flag? The original flag was all inclusive and now adding these extra stripes and colors make it look like a cheap patchwork to appease everyone instead of standing up for what it was meant for in the first place.
Kangol2
What a wonderful, affirming and brave gesture, especially given where Ms. Robertson lives and the hostility to LGBTQ people in that state and region. The note from the young LGBTQ person is also very poignant, and underscores how overt allyship and affirmation can go a very long way. You never know whose lives you might touch and help to save.
duke4172
I love reading these type of stories Not everyone is homophobic I have empathy for the young person who left the note and pray that their life wont be as hard as it was for the young LGBTQ people of my generation!