Sexual orientation can not stop the power of love.
Sexual orientation certainly has not made a difference to Melanie Jones, 37, who is the daughter of an out woman who has been open with her sexual orientation for more than 20 years.
"I love my mom - she rocks, and I am proud to introduce her to people," Jones said.
Jones' mother, who did not want to be interviewed, was her husband's wife for 27 years before coming out.
Husband and daughter found out simultaneously and then the couple divorced, she said.
She said she heard rumors from a friend, and she confronted her mother about it.
At the time, Jones was 17 years old.
But with her mother coming out, their bond was strengthened, she said.
"My relationship with my mother improved when she came out of the closet," Jones said. "I always knew something was different about my mom. As soon as I knew she was gay, it made things clearer."
While daughter remained loyal to her mother, the family did not grow up in an accepting community. She said that people in rural areas can be homophobic, and that can make it hard for someone to come out.
"I needed to be away from rural areas and homophobia. It's the big reason why I moved to the city," Jones said.
The move made her a better person, as she kept her mother with her in her heart, she said.
Melanie is also a member of Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere, a group that focuses on building communities, being advocates, having youth leadership developments and public education for children of lesbian, gay, bi and transgender parents, said Meredith Fenton, COLAGE program director.
"We truly consider anyone who is a child, youth or adult who has [or] had one or more LGBT parent a part of COLAGE whether they are officially a member or not," she said.
As Jones experienced in her youth, disapproval for same-sex couples has always been around, but "there is growing acceptance of LGBT people, families, marriage equality and queer youth," Fenton said.
Jones' family has been fortunate to be so accepting toward Jones' mother and her partner.
"I have two older sisters," Jones said. "Their kids call my mom and her partner 'grandma.'"
Jones said no one directed the children to address them that way.
"Kids don't have preprogrammed baggage," she said. "I don't see [how the children address my mother] as an issue. It's just love after all. My mother and her partner just both happen to be women."
When family dealings are not enough, COLAGE is there to lend a helping hand.
"COLAGE prepares children, youth and adults with LGBT parents to take action for social change," Fenton said. "Our members emerge as engaged activists and leaders."
Jones said she the differences between her lesbian mom and a straight mom would not have mattered.
"[It's] no different than [being] raised by a straight person," she said.
Jones is unsure if she will have a daughter one day, but from the guidance she received from her mom, Jones is confident that if she has a daughter, she will raise her with passion.
"If I have a daughter, I want her to carry on the legacy of strong women," she said. "I want to teach my daughter to be strong like my mother."
Through her experiences, Jones spoke to what it does to keep feelings as strong as personal sexual orientation concealed.
Jones said it is better for everyone to come out and deal with it, and hiding it makes it harder.
As for the love she has for her mother, Jones said, "Love really has nothing to do with sexual orientation. My mom has been a rock for me. Hopefully, all moms are like this."
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