The harmful stigma of coming out prevents struggling members of the LGBTQ+ community from living with authenticity and the opportunity to deepen bonds with family members who can be surprisingly supportive.
Model and actor Shaun Ross learned that opening up about his sexual identity with an elder family member gave him a humorous sense of relief that was too good not to share on Threads.
"I remember coming out to my grandpa a year before he passed," recalled Ross before sharing his grandpa's unexpected reaction to him coming out.
The 33-year-old model was 19 at the time.
He continued:
"I was shocked by how he embraced me. I said, 'Grandad, I’m gay,' and he replied, 'Well, can you cook?' I said, 'Not really.'”
His beloved grandpa had a follow-up question in response to Ross's answer about his inability to cook.
"How do you expect to keep a man?'" said his grandfather, laughing.
Ross added:
"He told me about gay men in 1950s Harlem who hosted dinners, dressed sharp, and had beautiful homes."
"He said they taught him so much about how to carry himself."
Social media users thought it was the sweetest coming-out story.
People continued sharing their positive stories.
Ross is known as the first professional model with albinism, a congenital condition that causes a lack of melanin, which gives color to skin, hair, and eyes.
He is also a recording artist, whose debut single, "Symmetry," featured Lizzo on background vocals.
The Bronx, New York, native also trained at the Alvin Ailey Dance School for five years before being discovered on YouTube and entering the fashion industry at age 16 in 2008.
On August 10, 2022, Ross announced his engagement to model and actor David Alan Madrick in an Instagram post.
According to People magazine, the proposal took place in the couple's downtown Los Angeles apartment after Ross had an inspiring discussion about it with his friend, Lonparny clothing designer Lee Donaldson.
Madrick recalled of the intimate proposal:
"To me it was perfect. It was me and him in our home."
"He asked me to come inside to our dining area and he goes on with this speech and I'm like, 'Okay, this is so nice, thank you for this speech.' "
"And then he pulls out the box and I'm looking at it [and] I'm looking at him."
The couple planned to have their wedding take place in Tulum, Mexico, and have custom wedding attire made by Black designers.
Since his grandpa ribbed him for not cooking, Ross has worked on his culinary skills and proudly hosts dinner parties.
No doubt his gramps would be proud.
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