[Daniel]

You were so so so so brave. Always remember that. You were one brave woman, facing your parents, your brother, the truth and everything in between.

Please know that while you may feel terrible right now, you are not a terrible daughter. Please don't fall into thinking that. You will look on this day (Rick is right on!) and see it as the first day of your life, the day you started to live in your own skin, the day you started to own the real you- not the you that everyone wants you to be. And that is something wonderful.

Parents- God love 'em'- say stupid stuff! But the love part, when they told you they loved you? Believe that! And let the rest go.

You sound like you have no intention of seeing the pastor, and I don't blame you. Doing so would only be playing a game. And now that you have declared yourself, going that route is like entering a room with no doors and windows. You don't want to go there.

Please don't ever barter away your self-hood, the shining light within you. And you have nothing to prove.

Your family may- in time- be more open to learning more about what the bible says and doesn't say about homsexuality, but right now is probably not that time.

You've been dealing with with gay for a while now, right? Your family just found out. As such, you've come out of the closet and they may be- in effect- going into the closet for awhile. May take them some time to deal with things. But most likely, they will.

Stand your ground- that is the best I can say. And love them.

A big hug to you!