Christopher noted the shift in his perception of death since his father’s passing: “Before, when I used to think about death, I’d say, ‘I don’t want to die at all!’ But now I’d say the worst that’s going to happen is that I’ll see Dad again,” per People.

In the wake of his father’s death, Christopher vowed to live life to its fullest and to honor his father’s memory by living authentically. At 24, this commitment meant coming out about his sexuality.

Despite the fame of his father and the challenges of high school, Christopher grappled with his identity and feared judgment. He once worried that his coming out might negatively impact his father’s wholesome image, thinking: “For a while, I thought an article about me would come out with the headline ‘Little House on the Fairy’ or ‘Highway to Hell.’”

Christopher struggled with how to come out to his family, especially given his mother’s Christian beliefs. He eventually shared the news with his mother, who initially reacted with tears and self-blame but later came to accept and support him. Christopher felt it was important to challenge his mother’s beliefs, and he found that his other relatives were more accepting than he had anticipated.

CONTINUE READING ON THE NEXT PAGE

Advertisement: