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Viral hearts coming out of cellphone
On TikTok user is going viral for sharing his dad's moving voicemail in response to his letter coming out as gay.
A son's coming out is going viral eight years later as the internet celebrates his dad's touching response.
Brandon Puszkiewicz, a 31-year-old programs manager for the Indiana chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, posted on TikTok in October, just ahead of National Coming Out Day, a video of his father's reaction to a letter he wrote him coming out as gay.
"Just over 8 years ago (a week before #nationalcomingoutday ), my dad received my coming out letter in the mail. He called me and left me a voicemail after reading it while I was in class," Brandon wrote in the video's caption. "I refused to listen to it for about 2 hours because I was so anxious what he would say. The sigh of relief I took after listening to it is something I’ll never forget."
@username_brando Just over 8 years ago (a week before #nationalcomingoutday), my dad received my coming out letter in the mail. He called me and left me a voicemail after reading it while I was in class. I refused to listen to it for about 2 hours because I was so anxious what he would say. The sigh of relief I took after listening to it is something I’ll never forget. On this #nationalcomingoutday, I hope you know how loved and amazing you are. No matter who you are or where you are on this journey, you are loved and welcome here 🏳️🌈💖🫶🏼 #fyp #gay #lgbtq
"On this #nationalcomingoutday , I hope you know how loved and amazing you are. No matter who you are or where you are on this journey, you are loved and welcome here," he added.
The video featured a screen recording of the voicemail left by Brandon's father, Matt, who is now 55, telling his son that everything was going to be alright.
“Yo, what’s up buddy? I got your letter today. You little sucker, got me all fucking choked up and crying over here. You know how to write a letter," Matt said in the message. "But I did drink the two beers. You know, you said grab one maybe two. I don't know what your schedule is between work and school and everything else, so feel free to give me a call back. We're all good, man. No worries. Love you."
Brandon recently told PEOPLE that the video, which has over a million views, has since inspired others to come out to their families. He hopes that it can continue to be “be a teaching moment” for families that are “having these very open and authentic conversations.”
“Just be on that human level with your kid and just listen to them when they come to you to talk to you about something that's bothering them," Brandon said. "Whether it's sexual orientation or gender expression, or maybe it's their mental health, or whatever is going on in their life."
