Having kids in former straight relationships is one of the most common ways gay, bi and trans men become fathers. After dads come out, many of those relationships turn into co-parenting situations. But what is not often discussed is just what gay men go through when they come out to their wife and kids, how much strength it takes for them to build a whole new life, and the joy that can exist after wounds have started to heal.

This episode, hear an inspirational story of resilience with Nigel Sellens, a dad in Australia who came out as gay after he and his ex-wife had had six kids, the youngest of whom is a special needs child. Nigel tells host Brit Smith how he handled the experience of coming out as a father, how he dealt with the aftermath, and how he kept parenting through it all. While Nigel says coming out when you’re already a dad is no easy feat, for him, having his children during that very difficult time of self-reflection was actually his saving grace.

Learn more about becoming a father as a gay/bi/trans man at gayswithkids.com/gwk-academy and follow us on social media @gays_with_kids

Thanks to this episode's sponsors, Mosie Baby, find out more about at-home insemination kits at MosieBaby.com, Little Spoon, go to LittleSpoon.com and enter code GWK50 for 50% off your first order of organic baby, toddler and kid food, and Magic Spoon cereal, go to MagicSpoon.com/GWK and use code GWK for $5 off your order.