The power of letters: how letters help gays come out with parents

It’s always the big issue for people coming out of the closet. If it’s your parents, what do you do?
 
Noppon Poti, 19, who identifies himself as a gay individual, wrote a short letter and declared his sexuality to his mother. “Without a letter, I’m sure I wasn’t able to come out to my mother,” he said. “Letters can say many things.”
 
When Areerat Poti, his mother, read the short letter, she was shocked, even though she knew long ago he was gay. But at the same time, she was happy to hear it from him. “After this letter, we were able to talk about his sexuality without hesitation.”
 
Anjaree — one of the best-known lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations in Thailand — launched a new campaign called “Letter to Mother” yesterday, September 30. It helps many LGBT people who are struggling with their relationships with their parents, to share thoughts lying deep inside their closets through writing to their parents.
 
The campaign by Anjaree "writing letters to mother"
 
“I have been thinking of this campaign for so many years,” said Anjana Suvarnananda, Executive Director of Anjaree, the organizer of the campaign. “Finally, I was able to do it.”
 
Anjana also was inspired by a tragedy that happened two years ago. One tomboy committed suicide, because her mother forced her to break up with her girlfriend. She left a letter to her mother saying, “Mom, you don’t understand me at all. I’m leaving and gone for good.”
 
“Since I established Anjaree about 30 years ago, Thai society still hasn’t fully opened yet,” Anjana said. “I hope many parents will understand their children more through this campaign.”
 
Participants in the campaign are encouraged to write letters to their parents, family and important people. They can write directly to the recipients, but can also submit letters to Anjaree first. 
 
The campaign will run for two months, until November 30, 2014. Participants can send their letters to Anjaree by post, email and Facebook. They may also send letters anonymously.
 
The letters sent will be collected and gathered into a book. Many parents will finally be able to read these letters from a number of LGBT individuals. The book will be ready by February, 2015.
 

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