Cameron Esposito Interviews Her Own Father About Her Coming Out

cameron esposito father

Cameron Esposito recently performed in her hometown of Chicago with her family and friends all there supporting her at The Hideout Inn. Her father who was in the front row watching her perform wasn’t always so supportive according Esposito.  When she came out as gay to her parents, her father became distant and cold.  Since then they’ve had a reconciliation, and her dad has had a change of heart.  Cameron Esposito talked to her father about her coming out, his reaction and what’s changed along the way, and wrote about it all, including her fathers thoughts about raising his children Catholic, in the column she writes for A.V.Club.

Her comedy, she said, helped her in the process of coming out.  “Stand-up allowed me to come out all the way. Stand-up gave me back my life, and my relationship with my dad.” Calling herself still “ethnically Catholic”, Cameron wrote about how important her father’s acceptance was to her — and to him as well. “He had the largest possible change of heart about me and my sexuality. He apologized. He took a new interest in my partners and my life. He began to come to shows. He became a warrior on my behalf. We’ve spoken of this shift, but it still astounds me, particularly because I understand just how large an ideological shift he made. It’s a shift I made myself.”

She asked her father how his feelings had changed so drastically from fear to unconditional love. In her interview with her father, Cameron’s dad said, “One day I woke up and remembered holding you the moment you were born. I remembered feeding you, changing your diapers, singing to you, playing with trains, teaching you how to make a bow and arrow, cooking together, and many other wonderful moments. I remember it like it was today. I had a lightening-bolt thought—she is still my baby, my daughter, whom I love so much. And I thought, “WHAT CAN I DO TO SHOW HER THAT I LOVE HER?” I called you and asked your forgiveness, and I told you how much I love you. You paused; you were quiet. Then you courageously said, ‘Thanks Dad. I love you too. I forgive you.'”

One of the tougher parts about reconnecting with his daughter was his relationship with the Catholic Church. He told her about what he believes now. “I feel that your church—my church­­—let you down. I believe there is a God. I believe Jesus loved/loves every type of person. You are special and I believe—no, I know—that you are loved by God no matter what any man-made religion says. And my sword and my shield will always be out for you. I have your back, your side mullet, and the whole package that is you. Period.”

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