Gay couple receives letter saying they gave young neighbor the 'courage' to come out: 'Visibility is so important'
A lesbian couple from Texas found a letter on their doorstep from a neighbor, who credits the women with giving the young person the courage to come out.
Sally Stow, a Houston-based teacher who lives with her partner, Meghan Stabler, in Round Rock, Texas, was grabbing some packages at the front door on Wednesday morning when she noticed the note. Although she thought it was a memo from a local business, it turned out to be something much more meaningful.
“You can imagine my surprise when I picked it up and began to read what was in the letter,” Stow tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “I burst into tears.”
The letter, which Stow posted to her Facebook page, was from a neighbor who she says she and Stabler had never met before. However, the neighbor, who remains anonymous, was inspired to come out to their own family because of the pride flag outside of Stabler’s home.
Stow explains that she posted the note on her social media to show friends just how important visibility is, especially when seeing how it impacts young people.
“I do live out and proud, even though I’m in the state of Texas, because I shouldn’t have to hide who I am,” Stow says. “And every day I’m educating students, and if I’m hiding who I am, I’m just perpetuating the situation. So, that’s kind of where I came from in terms of why I made that post.”
Still, she never anticipated the response that the post received, although she admits it’s no surprise considering so many older people within the LGBTQ community can relate to it.
“Something as positive as this is felt by so many people because many remember what it was like to be alone, to be closeted — some people still are,” Stow explains. “And they can see themselves within that situation and just know what it would’ve meant at that age to have people in your neighborhood that are proud to be who they are to let you know that you’re okay, you’re not a bad person just because you’re LGBTQ.”
Although Stow doesn’t have a direct way to contact the neighbor responsible for the note, she still has a message for them.
“We see you, we hear you and we’re here for you,” Stow says. “If they need some support, to reach out through whatever means they can.”
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
LGBTQ-rights activist Jazz Jennings shares a message for Pride: ‘We deserve to exist freely’
Dominique Jackson of ‘Pose’ on LGBTQ Pride and culture: ‘Trans women have always been the nurturers’
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
