My father loves me, I know this. He doesn't accept me because I'm gay.

I should be over this, being that I'm 26 years old and married with a child of my own. But I'm not.

I don't feel loved when every accomplishment that I achieve is overshadowed by my "mortal sin" of gayness. My father is very passionate about religion and believes that homosexuality is a sin. I'm also very passionate about my religion; however, I don't believe in discussing religion with other people. I also don't believe that God made homosexuality a sin. And even if it is, that's something for me and him to discuss when that time comes.

I had a pretty good upbringing and was very close to my father. I grew up knowing that he loved me. Although I'm the oldest of the birth children, I was daddy's little girl — his "Princess," his namesake — and all was well until my sister outed me at 17.

This article appears in Sep 16-22, 2010.