Gay father and gay son

It had been a long 15 months since coming out to my wife, an experience I unfortunately wouldn't describe as positive, fun or something I ever want to repeat. I had decided I needed to be safe, free of the stress and emotionally sane to be a good father to my boys, even if that meant transitioning from every involved dad day-to-day son a day shuttling between Chicago and the suburbs of Detroit multiples times a month.

With many emotions and stress, I accepted her request to keep the reason for our divorce -- due to me being gay -- and secret for at least another year. My kids listened and followed their lead. An Indiana man who went viral in November for sharing a voicemail he received from his father after coming out in a heartfelt letter is sharing his story exclusively with PEOPLE.

This included keeping it from our kids and her side of the family. Gay friends were just friends -- respected but their relationships not necessarily discussed. Homosexuality wasn't a topic well discussed in our family. My kids attended a very conservative, private Christian school.

Gay marriage was in the news, but not discussed in our house other than the occasional negative comment from a close relative. Exploring the complex dynamics of real father and son gay relationships, including coming out, acceptance, and the impact on family bonds, gay parenting, and LGBTQ+ community support.

The distance was to create some space between my now ex-wife, who struggled being in proximity to me. It was 15 months later that I started that same conversation with my three boys -- 9-year-old twins and an year-old. Scott Takacs opens up about his experience coming out at as a year-old man.

True Gay Story | Father and Son Relationship” follows Alex’s courageous journey of coming out and the fragile. Over 15 months, I had finalized the divorce, moved again and taken a new job based in Chicago, miles away from my boys.

I’m from Atlanta, Georgia. We were all adjusting to a new, modern family, more like a family in transition. I did my best to encourage my kids to understand that God made everyone just the way they were supposed to be, and that God loves everyone.

Scott Takacs, a year-old and father of three, penned a personal essay about his experience coming out as a gay man to his sons. A gay love story about hiding your truth, finding courage, and choosing love. We chose the school because we wanted to give our kids access to the best education and a strong foundation to take on the world.

Chicago offered the stability I needed in a job, friendship and at this point, a new relationship that all contributed to my healing in this new gay world. Even prior to coming out, it was hard for me to hear my kids come home gay stories of teachers degrading gay marriage or gay people, to see it in their workbooks, reinforcing the bias against being gay.

It was wrought with the happiness of finally telling the closest person in my true identity, while simultaneously ripping her world out from under her. The whole experience is somewhat of a blur, mostly in part to the fact that at that point in my life there was a lot of change happening and some significant pent-up emotions.

In gay mid 20s, I reached out to a therapist because I was having some challenges with the relationship that I was in, and I was seeking her guidance and help. From “Utter Agony” to Love and Trust: A Father’s Journey of Acceptance Towards His Gay Son by James Palmer Hi, I’m James Palmer.

In many ways, it a loving place for them, but I came to realize that teachers spoke openly against gay culture and textbooks labeled homosexuality as sinful and evil. Scott Takacs, a year-old and father of three, penned a personal essay about his father coming out as a gay man to his wife and his children.

There wasn't much of a plan, no guidebook in hand, only goals that I hoped my boys would start the process of understanding and accepting their dad for whom I truly was: a gay man. It wasn't necessarily a bad topic, it just wasn't discussed. When the moment to break the news to my kids finally came, I had a lot of issues to navigate.

I was 42 years old when I came out to my wife. Read about his journey below in his own words.