Adrian Halo
Aug 22, 2017 · 1 min read

I came across this story through Medium and I just wanted to thank you…it brought me to tears. I was a goth/industrial kid in high school. It’s gone in and out of my life for the past 20 years. Truth be told, I never quite grew out of it! But I struggled profoundly back then with anxiety and depression. And getting into those scenes helped me. The music, the makeup and the clothes, the people I met at shows…they were my chosen family and my armor and my light. My mother in particular was really judgemental, but on the other hand, she let me spend my allowance on Nine Inch Nails CD’s and Skinny Puppy shirts, so hey, who knows. I like to believe in hindsight that she, like you with your son, just wanted me to be happy. She still hates my piercings and tattoos, but you can’t win em all, right?

Anyway, the world needs parents like you. Your son sounds like someone I would’ve hung out with and sat with at lunch back then. I’m sure he’ll rock the green hair. There is so much great music out there that I hope he discovers. You’re doing the right thing. Don’t let any of these pearl-clutching conservative types make you feel any differently.

)
    Adrian Halo

    Written by

    Los Angeles queer trans guy. Musician, artist, writer. Blowing convention and conformity to shit since 1982.