Gay Granny Writes 'Dear Abby' About Shielding Son

A gay grandma who thought she raised her son to be tolerant wrote to advice columnist Abigail Van Buren, aka Dear Abby this week under the moniker "Heartbroken Gay Granny." Her problem? The son, now very religious, won't let grandma see her grandkids.

UExpress posted the advice column on January 20, with grandma explaining that she had come out of the closet to her son when he was four, and now he was 30 with "a wife and two adorable children who own my heart."

Grandma said that when her granddaughter was born, her partner and she were at the hospital, and had visited often afterwards. But after her grandson was born last year, her son stopped speaking to her.

"I have asked him numerous times what the issue is. His response is: "I have to protect my children from people who are gay. I don't want them to know anyone who is gay." His wife and her family are very religious, and I feel this is the real reason. What can I do? -- HEARTBROKEN GAY GRANNY"

Well, Abby's opinion to "Heartbroken" was truly heartwarming. She first noted that, "If your son is under the mistaken impression that he is going to somehow "protect" his children by isolating them from gay people, he must be living in an alternate reality. Does he also plan to emigrate to the moon?"

She pointed to the wife's religious intolerance as the most possible culprit for the familial rift, and suggested the wife "could benefit by learning more about homosexuality and her religious, which I assume preaches love and tolerance for one's fellow man rather than judgment and exclusion."

I guess that depends on the religion. Abby observed that while grandma can't force her son and his family to have contact with her, she should leave open the possibility that over time, they may reconcile their love for you with their faith.

And as the cherry on top, Dear Abby suggested that in the meantime, granny find an alternative outlet for her maternal instincts, possibly via the many LGBT youth who are rejected by their own parents when they come out.

"These kids would benefit greatly from having a positive adult mentor like you. This could be your golden opportunity to make a significant, positive difference in someone's life. Contact Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays at pflag.org to find out how to get involved," wrote Van Buren.

The long running advice column "Dear Abby" was founded in 1956 by Pauline Phillips who wrote under the pen name "Abigail Van Buren." The column is now written by her daughter Jeanne Phillips.