https://lgbtqarchives.org/people/tom-bourdon/

Would you like to support the work that makes these stories possible?
https://buymeacoffee.com/lgbtqarchives

ignorance is the mother of fear , and fear is the mother of violence  .....  thank you tom for your story , and for the people you are supporting along the way

I would've loved to be that confident in my 20s! I got away from my homophobic dad in the '70s and '80s, and even then, it took me 10 years to truly break free.
You said something about how having actual representation in your life matters. I had none! I didn't know of a single gay person till I turned 19 or 20. Eventually, I did meet people, and THAT changed everything. This was an amazing testimony to forging your own path and finding happiness. What a heart! I loved the family photos. You will change many lives. ❤

Thank you dear Tom and dear LGBTArchives for this heartwarming story! I'm so happy for Tom and Jim and their children! Tons of love to you guys!

Absolutely beautiful story and family . Congratulations

Beautiful story!

Congratulations on finding love and on becoming parents.

Thanks!  Yours is a great story.  I'm 80 and when I wanted to be a parent, it was just starting to be written about, even here in San Francisco.  I have had a lifetime of self acceptance challenges because I have not and do not relate to a lot of the "out there" aspects of gay culture.  I even marched with Gay & Lesbian Parents in the parade so many years ago.  I was a clown on roller skates, but it was and is hard to me to find a fit as a relatively conservative formerly Lutheran guy from Iowa in my youth.  Thanks again!

Love is love.  I admire gay couples who choose to have children.  I never  imagined that as an option.  Supportive families make all of the difference.

Inspirational!
Beautiful family! ❣️🫠❣️

Thank you for sharing that was awesome. I wish you and your family all the best and you have done very well. Be blessed from the wind city in Chicago. Awesome story.

This is an exceptional story. When my husband and I win the lottery (😉) we will absolutely hire Tom to be the head of some sort of center to do exactly all the things he describes. It would a thrilling dream to fulfill!

The testimony was an inspiration and I thank you for sharing this with us. I too am gay and in a relationship with another man and hope to marry one day.❤🎉🎉

Oh my gosh! I'd forgotten about International Male! I got it as well starting in Jr.High and have no idea why. It was hot!

International male and undergear 😅

HELLO: VERY NICE VIDEO....I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THESE KINDS OF VIDEOS TO CONTACT ME BECAUSE I HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE AND I NEED THE WORD TO GET OUT....AND I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL CONTRIBUTE TO YOU ARCHIVES WITH A WONDERFUL / HUMAN SEGMENT.

VERY TRULY YOURS, DAVID-HERI FROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA.

My experience was kind of the same but came out after breaking off an engagement at 20 in 1979…My dad said nothing and my mother said that she heard me and never wanted it brought up again.. In 1982 moved from KC to Wichita KS where I met my partner…He had a daughter that was 1 when we met.  Both sides of our families are religious and accepting of us…His family lived in Wichita and it was a large family that we saw all the time.  We did visit my family and my mother made up 1  bedroom for us and another 1 for now our daughter….So when my mother said she never wanted to talk about it, it was not said out of anger or disappointment, but it didn’t mean anything to her or changed things.  We both got alone with both families…Our daughter married and had one child before my partner passed in 2005.  We never got the opportunity to marry…We were together 24 years…In 2002 he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart just like what his dad passed from in 1989.. He was heathy, eat well, worked out, but his heart ended it all. Our daughter now has 4 children 27, 20,18 and 16.  In 2024 a son in-law was added.  Am looking forward now to great grand children.  He was my one true love and am single to this day.  Won’t rule out having a relationship in the future, but am not actively looking.  God is going to have to drop someone on top of my head to get me to notice…lmao… Have a full life with family and friends, would not want it any other way. Am truly blessed!!!