This is the story of José Miguel, a young gay man which tells us how the love of their parents gave him the weapons to fight discrimination and prejudice.

How What was the reaction of your environment (family, friends, colleagues, etc.) when you told them you were gay?

It was comforting most of the time. When I told my parents, I felt very free and proud to be the way I am. There was never any discrimination from them, in fact they helped me to see it as normal; they also taught me to be careful about the world I was going to face. So that's when I started to have more insecurities, at first I was afraid to go out holding hands with my partner or to wear something that would make me look too "gay".

Even so, as time went by, many people, friends and family, showed me their openness towards homosexuality, so I decided to start feeling at ease in all the environments I lived in (university, home, public places). Little by little I found people who I knew would never judge or criticise me. I feel privileged for the position from which I have lived my sexuality.

"When I told my parents that I'm gay, I felt very free and proud to be the way I am".

How did you first introduce your partner to your family?

I remember a lot that a week before I introduced my first partner to my family, I was telling my parents that I was gay. So everything was super fast because I wanted my parents to see who I was with and who made me happy. I think it was quite an event, because they offered me to go out for dinner or to do something specific, so I decided that we would prepare a dinner at home. It was beautiful! I felt happy and ecstatic, it was like a dream to see my parents see my boyfriend and talk to him, I almost thought it was a lie or a dream, but no! It was real, it happened almost 5 years ago and today it is still one of the most beautiful days I have ever had... I will never forget it.

What is the relationship in your life that proves that love is the best weapon against discrimination?

Without a doubt, my mum. If I can define love in one person, it would be her. Even though she has very definite beliefs, she has never made me feel less or more because of the way I am. The basis of acting is love. I would never say anything out of her mouth against anyone else, so that's what gives me the weapons to fight discrimination and prejudice.

"I cannot understand how the world is more amazed by the love between two people than by the very wars that divide nations, end the world and destroy souls".

What is the place of love in your life? How have you experienced love as a gay person?

Love has undoubtedly been the most important thing throughout my life, from the love that my parents have given me when I was little, to the love that my siblings and friends have given me. So seeing the love they have given me, I choose to give love to others as well, and that includes my partners, who have been people who have brought happiness my way.

Many people still have a lot of prejudices about love between two men, what would you say to them?

I would tell them that I simply cannot understand how the world is more amazed by the love between people than by the very wars that divide nations, end the world and destroy souls... That should be prejudiced, not the love that two people can have for each other regardless of their sexuality.

At the end of our interview, José Miguel left us a message that we would like to share with you:

"Thank you very much for giving me this space to open up and express a very sensitive part of my being. I acknowledge the work of Colombia Diversa and I hope that this material will help for a world without discrimination and for future generations".

We recommend you read an article in which Laurie told us how she used her bisexuality to fight discrimination ( See here :"My bisexuality as a way to fight discrimination"). You may also be interested in the story of Esmeralda, a young lesbian, who told us how she learned what true love is through the acceptance of her family (See here: "My brother cried, hugged me and told me that he accepted me as I was.").