One Maryland family wanted to show their teenage son just how much they love and accept him after he came out to them as gay. So, they threw him an elaborate party, one which they lovingly (and quite appropriately) dubbed a 'gayceañera'.
As Pink News reported, parents Heidi Irene and Terry Trammell put together the festive and colorful celebration for their son, Aiden's, 15th birthday on January 5.
"I started looking up ideas on how to be a parent-support ally," she told Pink News. "Needless to say, I didn't find a lot of information or ideas."
What she did find, however, were plenty of articles discussing the fact that gay people have to repeatedly come out over and over again, while straight people never have to come out at all.
The teen's upcoming 15th birthday posed the perfect opportunity to combine two pretty big milestones in the style of a quinceañera.
In Latin culture, this celebration is meant to mark a 15-year-old girl's entry into womanhood. But for Aiden, it would celebrate him officially stepping into his new life as a proud, gay man.
Gymnasts danced around the venue with rainbow ribbons while chefs expertly prepared Pride flag-themed cakes. Guests sat at tables decorated with rainbow cloths, Pride-printed cocktail napkins, and plenty of multi-colored paper straws.
As for Aiden? He dressed for the occasion in his finest rainbow suit, certainly separating himself from the crowd and establishing him as the man of the hour.
"In a world where hate finds lots of places to grow, where many don't feel safe, supported, or even just simply seen, there are still places that love thrives," Lara DiPaola wrote in her Facebook post, which is quickly gaining more and more positive reactions from users. "Tonight I was reminded of that."
"To see so many people fill a room with love gives me such hope for the future," she continued. "It was supportive for all the young people who attended to know that there are safe places and spaces where they may least expect it where they can be themselves."
"When we support and we are supported, we can become allies for the younger generations, regardless of the past."
