This is a devastating setback for those who struggle with coming out of the closet to family members.
The poll revealed that 36% of young men and women admitted they were uncomfortable with the discovery someone in their family is LGBTQ.
Millennials were generally assumed to be more open-minded than previous generations, but GLAAD's survey results reveal the momentum of LGBTQ acceptance is losing steam and, sadly, headed in reverse.
One story from 2013 about a grandfather's reaction to his daughter's dismissal of her gay son resurfaced online and still remains as relevant as ever.
The grandfather penned a hand-written letter addressing his daughter Christine who kicked her gay son Chad out of the house after he came out of the closet.
In the viral letter from six years ago, gramps admonished his callous daughter for kicking her gay son out and calling him an "abomination."
"Dear Christine: I'm disappointed in you as a daughter," he wrote.
"You're correct that we have shame in the family, but mistaken about what it is."
"Kicking Chad out of your home simply because he told you he was gay is the real 'abomination' here. A parent disowning her child is what goes 'against nature.'"
"The only intelligent thing I heard you saying in all this was that 'you didn't raise your son to be gay'. Of course you didn't. He was born this way and didn't choose it any more than he being left-handed. You, however, have made the choice of being hurtful, narrow-minded and backward."
"So, while we are in the business of disowning our children, I think I'll take this moment to say goodbye to you. I now have a fabulous (as the gay put it) grandson to raise and I don't have time for heartless B-word of a daughter."
"If you find your heart, give us a call."
Many praised Chad's strongest ally in the family.
"Mama got owned. Or rather, disowned." – Pastafarian
"How could anyone put anything ahead of their love for their child? Religion, sexual orientation, anything. There may be things you don't like about your child, but how could anything be so bad that you stop loving them? Even if he turned out to be a serial killer, I would still love him and try to get him the help he needs, and guide him through the punishment he deserves. But stop loving him? Never." – The_Original_Gronkie
"This kind of thing makes me want to puke. Kudos and many many congrats to the Grandfather for standing up for his Grandson. I applaud this thoroughly decent man." – mdmck1
Others were inspired to share their personal stories.
Bored Panda/Facebook
Bored Panda/Facebook
Bored Panda/Facebook
Bored Panda/Facebook
This Facebook user commiserated with their own story about being disowned.
Bored Panda/Facebook
Bored Panda/Facebook
Hopefully someday, Christine will see the light and show her son the love he deserves from his mother.
Bored Panda/Facebook
GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis admitted that LGBTQ acceptance has been taken for granted as the rise in non-LGBTQ Americans resisting acceptance has been negatively influenced by "divisive rhetoric in politics and culture."
One of the ways in which GLAAD is addressing the acceptance erosion – particularly from young men towards the LGBTQ community – is by launching a program to work with the video game industry to incorporate LGBTQ characters and story lines into games.
Ellis emphasized we cannot soley rely on legislation and judicial decisions for full acceptance of the LGBTQ Americans, but from "creating a culture where LGBTQ people are embraced and respected."
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Ellis added:
"This year's results demonstrate an urgent need for GLAAD to reach younger Americans with stories and campaigns that build acceptance."
So in memoriam, AOC posted a photo of the Post-it wall in its former state outside her office.
"RIP our post-it wall :(," she wrote in Tuesday's tweet.
"We were told it had to be taken down..."
But she assured us that the notes of encouragement are not gone forever.
"We moved it inside instead."
These are the colors of support and love.
@AOC/Twitter
@AOC/Twitter
Of course, her critics couldn't resist noting how childish the Post-it wall was to begin with, comparing the display to that of a "dorm room" and a "kindergarten classroom."
Nice try, guys.
Her supporters came through and challenged the haters.
@derek_mafs @AOC So using office supplies.... at an office..... is childish to you? Lol— Bunny Is 📵 (@Bunny Is 📵) 1549992654
@mikaylaaa118 @Parkesandrec1 @derek_mafs @pinkybunnie_ Ted Cruz literally read Green Eggs and Ham on the Senate Flo… https://t.co/hyXxAjVsof— Chuck Taylor (@Chuck Taylor) 1549996844
@EqualOppCynic @ConnorR00ney @AOC They're literally mad that she's young and popular lmfao— Cassie (@Cassie) 1549992525
@AOC Why are we banning walls of love and building walls of hate?— Ryan J. Suto (@Ryan J. Suto) 1549992357
It's worth mentioning that the mosaic-like presentation of love was not the Congresswoman's doing.
It stood as a testament to her constituents' faith in her.
"It just appeared one day. Some mothers came by & left 2-3 encouraging notes on my plaque," she explained after some inquiry about the display.
"We left them up, bc it was great to read those little encouraging words every morning."
"Soon, more post-its came. It became a little ritual for the public, so we left stacks out for people."
It just appeared one day. Some mothers came by & left 2-3 encouraging notes on my plaque. We left them up, bc it w… https://t.co/F3uTzfVMGX— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1549992759
The fate of the Post-its was hardly surprising.
@AOC Ahh, so something amazing happened between officials and the public and you were told to take it down? Sounds about right, sadly.— Attackturkey (@Attackturkey) 1549992881
@Attackturkey @AOC No permit for beautiful acts of appreciation occurring organically and without the approval of a… https://t.co/lwWAjCPHBP— warmongers get the stickpin/voodoo doll treatment (@warmongers get the stickpin/voodoo doll treatment) 1550000464
@AOC Let’s get encouraging electric post-it’s trending for @AOC... #PostItsForAlex https://t.co/ODOqn9kQQ1— Rosario🌹✈️🗽🥀 (@Rosario🌹✈️🗽🥀) 1549997716
@AOC Imagine! A Politician actually connecting with the American People! No wonder you were forced to take it down.— realnowthenzen (@realnowthenzen) 1549993245
Suggestions to preserve a wonderful concept came pouring in.
@AOC Can I recommend poster frames hung outside your office? Then, when each is full of post-its the plexi goes bac… https://t.co/5uPt8Mr3DF— April White Books (@April White Books) 1549993189
@AOC Can't come to your door. How about an electric one! https://t.co/Tmne5wMRnL— Mark Potochnik (@Mark Potochnik) 1549993245
@AOC Make it a movement. Get with Post-It and have them donate Post-Its to schools. Spread positivity.— Incredible Sausage (@Incredible Sausage) 1549992862
The edict to remove the display in the first place remains puzzling.
But the accolades will never go away.
@AOC What a beautiful representation of both your support and the work ahead!— Paul Loewen (@Paul Loewen) 1549994254
@AOC You are the ROCK STAR of politics. KEEP IT UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!— STOP FASCISM, Save Democracy, PROTECT THE VOTE!!!! (@STOP FASCISM, Save Democracy, PROTECT THE VOTE!!!!) 1550003660
Whether it's out for all to see or in the confines of AOC's office, the encouraging Post-its will continue to convey that positivity always sticks.
