How I Felt After My Daughter Told Me She’s Gay – Charly Boy

Nigerian musician and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has revealed how he battled to recover from a shock that befell him after his daughter told him she was gay.

Charly Boy said although he had been supporting the LGBT community prior to learning of his daughter’s sexuality, the news broke him down.

The singer said his daughter, Princess Dewy, broke the news to him during a phone conversion four years ago.

Charly Boy, who had been rumoured to be gay, said he felt like a “hypocrite” for feeling the way he felt when his daughter told him she was a lesbian.

He wrote in an Instagram post: “I am close with my children and I love them to bits. They are my friends. But I wasn’t really ready for the ‘breaking news’ my Princess Dewy had for me. When my child told me she is gay, a lesbian, I experienced a range of emotions, during that phone conversation.

“So many things went through my mind, one of them included self-blame (did I do something wrong?) (the child I thought I knew and loved no longer exists.), worry (will my child be discriminated against?) religious confusion (is my child damned to spend eternity in hell?), and stigma (what will people think of my child? of me?).”

“I was hoping it was a prank but it was happening in real time. Even though I was unusually calm through that conversation, my mind was wondering in all directions.

 Charly Boy recalled how he had backed LGTB rights in Nigeria months prior, saying: “Months before this incident, I was lending my voice in support of LGTB rights in Nigeria. Is life playing tricks on me? Now my daughter is gay, why do I feel disappointed? Am I a hypocrite? How do I handle this bombshell?

“I told myself that I will get through this, and many months later I did.

“As a matter of fact, I now look back and find that I am grateful for the experience of having a gay or lesbian child,” he added.

Charly Boy added that accepting his daughter’s sexuality had helped him overcome the challenge and prepared him for even greater challenges.

“Acceptance of the truth is like surgery. It hurts but cures. A lie is like a pain killer. It gives instant relief but its side effects can last forever,” he said.

In a follow up post, the singer offered to help children who were finding it difficult to open to their parents about their gay status.

“I am indeed amazed with the reaction I am getting after my recent post about my child’s sexuality, some few hours ago.

“If you feel pressured or unloved by your parents because they don’t understand you and you’re afraid about talking to them, call me on 0818 020 8694. I will make time to listen to you and maybe together we can talk through whatever is bordering you,” he said, adding that parents “owe their children unconditional love”