US twins have been praised as an inspiration after a posting a video online capturing the moment when they told their father they were gay.
The YouTube clip, entitled Twins Come Out To Dad, has been watched millions of times since it was posted by Austin and Aaron Rhodes, who are Los Angeles-based models and video bloggers.
The boys, who had already come out to other members of their family, are shown telephoning their father, who is told by Aaron: “I don’t know how else to put it. I’m gay and Austin is too and we just wanted to call and tell you.”
His brother adds: “We’re close enough and I finally feel like I’m at that point to be able to tell you and I just want to be able to have you behind us 100%. I just don’t want you to not love us any more or anything like that.”
The boys both cry as their father, Rodney, reassures his sons and tells them that he loves them. “You know I’m not going to sit here and try to tell you you’re not or try to say why or try to say change,” he says.
Minutes later, with the telephone conversation over, the video cuts to the twins sending a message of encouragement to their viewers: “Just to be yourself. That means if you’re gay or bi or transgender or whatever it is.
“Maybe you’re not any of them and you’re straight and you’re struggling with a different issue. Do whatever it is that makes you happy.”
Among the thousands of comments posted underneath the video was one from a woman who praised the twins, adding: “My son came out to me when he was 15. I couldn’t have been more honored as a mother that I was the first person he was comfortable saying that out loud to.”
