Hi and welcome to The Gay Dad Project. I’m Amie, the infant you see all swaddled up, and holding me is my (big gay) dad, Pete.
Pete and Amie Shea
December 1, 1983
www.gaydadproject.org
I guess I should clarify a bit as ‘big’ and ‘gay’ are all a bit relative. You see, for most of my life (and all of my childhood) my dad was living a straight life. He was married to my mom and together they have 3 kids. So while my dad was gay he wasn’t really gay because he was married and doing the family thing. As for the size thing, well, that eventually diminished over time.
I refer to my dad as “my big gay dad†because it makes light of a situation that has been less than light. At times my family relationships and situation has been very challenging for me. It took awhile for me to be able to talk about all of this and it sure has been a long and complicated road.
I pursued The Gay Dad Project with the desire to share my story with others and to find other families who were complicated, and gay, just like mine. I think my story and these stories are important not because it is my story and I want people to listen to me talk. (I have my own blog for that.)
I believe The Gay Dad Project has a bigger meaning. There has been much attention lately to same sex couple rights and homosexuality in general. As more and more people are talking openly about homosexuality the topic has less of a stigma associated with it. But less stigma does not mean less ignorance or hatred. In fact, sadly, it’s far from that.
Talking with others about having a gay dad has led me to meeting other kids who are children of gay dads. I first met Jared, and then through Jared I met Erin. We all three had gay dads, and coincidentally, our dads were all born in the same year.
It feels great to have found two other children of gay dads, and together the three of us are working to make The Gay Dad Project happen. Through The Gay Dad Project we hope to find more kids like us and generate more dialogue around the topic.
I see The Gay Dad Project as a journey, and I sincerely hope you will enjoy following this journey with us as we share our thoughts, reflections, challenges, and triumphs both past and present.
-Amie
Awesome Amie. Good luck.
Thanks Sarah.
Wonderful project! As a gay dad, I feel a lot of pride for what you all are doing. Your father’s must be so proud of you.
Thanks for the kind words.
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amie you rock. I wish all of you the very best on this project
thank you jessica. i’m excited to see where this project goes and so grateful for all the support. so thank you thank you thank you.
Hi Amie,
It has been a long time since I have got to talk with you. I cherish all my memories from Cut Bank. I knew you would grow into a strong young women who would follow her beliefs and be a voice for others. I am very proud to know you and your family. Take care.. Lori
Awe Lori it is SO great to hear from you and thank you for your kind words.
I always think of you and your family around this time of year … for many reasons. I think the two biggest being Casey and Gavin. I always think of Casey in early November and early December and I think of Gavin (and your entire family) around Christmas. Remember when I was coming home for Christmas a few years back and my mom brought me up to the hospital to see Gavin? I won’t soon forget that … or your family. That was such a great Christmas surprise. 
Hope you are all doing well and again, so great to hear from you. 