When I was 5, my mom married a man who was significantly older than she. He had four grown sons. The only one who wasn't resentful of the marriage (and me) was gay. So I grew up having gay stepbrother and his partner for Christmas every year. We spent a lot of time with them - I loved them both.

The amazing thing was my dad - he had maybe an 8th grade education; grew up in Arkansas; was self-made as a home builder - in the 1970's when all this was happening, he accepted gay stepbrother and partner, no questions, no comments. At the time I didn't appreciate that at all - because it was just normal for me. But looking back, I have a much greater appreciation for my dad because of it.