Tj forwarded this story to me this evening and I was weeping before I finished it.
I hope that if you have a gay son you wouldn’t do what Ryan’s parents did. They basically made him choose between his sexuality and his God. Now Ryan is gone and all that Rob and Linda Robertson have are memories. Lesson learned, but too late. I hope it’s not too late for you and that you will truly love your gay son, just because he breathes
Here’s the link.
Ryan’s father wrote a letter to him which, again, is heartfelt. Here is the link to his letter
Such a sad story, to have a healthy child is such a gift – and for Ryan to come so close to beating his drug problems and the family finally standing by him more…
I was heartbroken for Ryan reading this story. I have mixed feelings regarding his parents. I will never understand how parents can turn their backs on their kids for being born gay. Sure, they (finally) came around but the damage had already been done. I know I should feel sympathetic but ‘m struggling with it.
That’s how I felt too. Those parents did so much damage. Ideally someone who read that will rethink and it may save someone else’s life, but it’s a pretty high price for a lesson.
Guys, I have no sympathy for parents who would drive their children away in the name of their God. They didn’t accept Ryan’s sexual orientation and made him feel that his feelings for other boys were not valid or at least that he shouldn’t act on them. Now their son is dead because they didn’t care enough for him and tried to impose their religion on him. No matter how many letters they write, Ryan is not coming back. Too little too late. I hope that other parents who may think along the same lines as Ryan’s parents see this post and try to love their child more than their religion. If this article saves one child it would not have been in vain.
Completely agree with everything you said. I could not read this article when I saw it, but when I read it – just everything you said.
Bunch of hypocrites. Not only the parents but everyone in their “church” community.
I feel with Eve (next poster) too. I have nothing with religion and the whole thing made me angry too.
I’m sorry if I step on someone’s toes, but when I read this articel yesterday, I almost got sick.
I couldn’t write this post yesterday, because I was so angry and couldn’t control myself, I had to wait ’till today.
I have no, absolutely no sympathy for this parents, I hope they rot in their own hell for the rest of their life!
To say ” I love you, but god….” and so forth is only one thing: its disgusting,
I believe in God, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t run in a church all the time to proof it. I believe very strongly that God made us all exactly the way we are. And because He is what He is, God makes no mistakes.
Not God didn’t love this boy, his own parents didn’t love him. Not God punished him, but his parents did. Not God is responsible for Ryan’s death, only his parents are.
And they can write as many bullshit-letters as they want, nothing will ever change that!
Eve
You’re not stepping on my toes. I totally agree with you. The reason I posted this article was in the hope that a parent would read it who was on the same path as Ryan’s parents and hopefully, it would make them think of what’s more important in their lives and change course and their same bullshit ideas about god and religion. Parents should always put their children first, not some damn religious belief or ideal. If this article helps to save even one child then my job is done.
Wave, I certainly hope it will help, but I’m afraid people who treat their children in this way won’t read such articles on your side.
I don’t know if you have read the many posts who came after the original-post of the Robinsons, especially after this letter?! There were so many posts who said they are so sorry for this people (the Robinsons, not Ryan!) for the corageous way in which they live after what happened and how brave they are and yada yada yada. Rubbish like that.
For crying out loud, does those people understand at all????
I will NEVER understand how people who think and act in this way, can call themselfs christians and live with themself. I feel so sick when I think about it…..
So terribly sad, and such a terrible waste of a life. The dynamics of this tragedy are all too familiar for me, and send my guts into my old memory of how it feels for a sincere and devout person who believes he has to choose between the god of his understanding and his sexuality. Despair is far too soft a word for the desolation of a no-win choice like that.
I hope every “god-fearing” parent reads that message, and finds a little space in his or her heart to understand how profoundly no-win that desolate and artificial choice really is. And I hope every person attending that last Exodus International conference and heard these bereft parents better understands why reparative therapy does not work.