COMING OUT STORIES: MOM, I'M A LESBIAN {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The premiere of this reality television series about various people coming out as gay or lesbian to important people in their lives, and the difficulties they face in doing so.
Karen is a 27-year old woman who is openly lesbian to everyone in her life except her ailing mother, who is suffering from a degenerative brain disease. She notes that she is quite happy with her life and that she wants to get the chance to be honest with her mother before she passes away. Karen also notes that she does not make a great issue of her sexuality although she will talk about it if asked. She is a single mother after having a child at the age of twenty; back then she was unsure if she was attracted to men or not. She broke up with her boyfriend before she gave birth to her son and then started going out exclusively with women; her son does not have any problems with this arrangement. She recounts her childhood, which she describes as a happy one; her mother supported her in all of her endeavors and she felt she could discuss anything with her except her sexuality, which she has kept hidden for many years since she felt uncomfortable discussing it with her. She laments that she has “disappointed” her mother over the years by not finishing her college education and getting pregnant out of wedlock.
Five years ago, Karen’s mother was diagnosed with an incurable brain disease which is almost certain to be terminal. Despite this grim prognosis, her mother is convinced that she will get better, and Karen does her best to help her out. Karen realizes that her mother likely has only a few years left to live and wants to be completely honest with her before she dies. She wants to be surrounded by her friends when she tells her, including her girlfriend Kelly. While driving her mother out to go shopping she notices Karen’s gay pride ribbon on the rearview mirror of her car and asks about it, but Karen simply tells her it is there for “good luck.” She surreptitiously calls Karen to tell her about this and tries to figure out what to do. She ponders how exactly to break the news to her mother, and notes that there is “no easy way to say it.” While in the car, Kelly asks her mother if she loves her “unconditionally,” and her mother dismisses this as a “silly question.” Karen believes that her mother has no idea that she is a lesbian, and wishes to talk to her sister about the matter, although she also does not know that Karen is a lesbian.
She goes to visit her sister Emily, asking to speak in private with her. She says she cares about Emily deeply and values her opinion, and is thus scared to come out to her. Karen becomes quite nervous and emotional as she slowly composes herself and reveals the truth to Emily. Emily is quite happy for her and is relieved that she “finally came out with it,” telling her that she loves her and cares about her no matter her sexual orientation. Karen starts crying and Emily comforts her. She tells Emily that she intends to tell their mother as well, and Emily also seems to realize the challenge this poses for her. She recounts that her mother reacted very strongly after she told her that she was pregnant, and fears that something similar will occur when she comes out to her. Emily helps her plan exactly how she intends to reveal the news, hoping not to frighten her with it. She hopes that she can set the mood as something of a “celebration” to help put her mind at ease. To help complete the intended effect she purchases a gift for her mother. She anticipates that her mother will either dismiss the news or “find fault” in it somehow, i.e. searching for “reasons” why she became a lesbian such as bad relationships with men.
The day arrives and Karen is extremely anxious; she hopes that the reality of her mother’s terminal disease has altered her outlook sufficiently enough to embrace her for who she is. She finally arrives and begins by presenting her mother with the gift she bought, a specially engraved desk clock; her mother is touched by the attached card and they embrace each other. Slowly Karen works up the courage to come out to her mother as her mother tells her that she has always loved Karen and that she has always made her happy, and that she has never been truly disappointed with her. Finally Karen tells her that she is a lesbian, and her mother reveals that she had already guessed that this was the case based on some of her past behavior. Karen is relieved and ecstatic when her mother tells her that it is “no big deal,” and gives her mother a hug. She tells Kelly about her discussion and both of them are quite happy with how it turned out; Karen takes the opportunity to introduce Kelly to her mother. She is curious about how they met and they tell her about their relationship. She is happy for both of them and is quite welcoming towards Kelly. Later Karen reflects that coming out was immensely difficult but completely worth it. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: LOGO
- DATE: November 30, 2004
- RUNNING TIME: 0:23:33
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:87125
- GENRE: Reality
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBT Collection; Reality
- SERIES RUN: LOGO - TV series, 2006
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lauren Lazin … Executive Producer, Created by
- Eileen Opatut … Executive Producer
- Tom Bayer … Supervising Producer
- Karen Goodman … Producer, Director
- Kirk Simon … Producer, Director
- Suzanne Dakessian … Associate Producer
- Gwendolyn Dixon … Associate Producer
- Eileen Meyer … Associate Producer
- Bernadette Lee … Line Producer
- David Grover … Music by
- Kevin Thom … Narrator
- Karen Bil … Interviewee
- Emily Bil