Dear Attitude,
My parents won’t accept my boyfriend because he’s black. Initially, they had trouble accepting me when I came out as gay, too. It took a long while, but they eventually just brushed it under the carpet. My two sisters got married and have had kids so it’s not like they have to worry about never having grandchildren, which takes the pressure off me. My dad is quite a blokey type. He’s always down the pub with his mates and he played rugby professionally when he was younger. Mum pretty much goes along with what Dad says even though she has met my boyfriend a few times when she has stayed with her sister in London. I know his race doesn’t bother her, but she won’t ever say anything to support me when it comes up in conversation with my dad. I moved to London to be with him seven years ago after we met in our last year of university in Bournemouth. We’re completely dedicated to each other, plan to marry and his family have taken me in without question. How can I get my dad to see what a wonderful guy I have in my life?
Paul, London