When I was three years old my mama and I were driving to the mall, me wearing my 101 Dalmations purse, and I suddenly told her I wanted to go home. She asked me why and I said because people were going to make fun of me. She asked why again and I told her because I was different.

We went home and she wrote in a journal she later gave to me that she knew I knew that I was gay and she was terrified because she loved me so much and she couldn't bear the thought of anyone being mean to me, or making me feel less than, because of my sexuality.

She signed the entry, "I love you! Xo" - which I have tattooed on my right wrist to remind me how much she loves me. Something that these last few weeks I’ve been more grateful for than ever before.