I love the beautiful state of Idaho and I am glad to call Coeur d'Alene my home. However, it saddens me that it can be such a hostile place for those who want equal rights when it comes to marriage. Happily that is changing. I owe a lot of gratitude to our young people.

I used to be on the side of inequality when it came to gay marriage, until I experienced it within my own family.

It was approximately four years ago. Our son (he was 16 at the time) came to me one night in absolute tears, he was in utter desperation. I asked him, "Whatever is wrong?" He said through his tears, "Mom, what is the worst thing your child could ever tell you?"

I thought long and hard and replied, "That you didn't want to live anymore." He said, "Well I thought about that, but no that is not it." I said, "What is it honey? Whatever it is we are here for you." He said, "Mom I am gay. I have tried to deny it for so long because I know how you and dad feel about this, but I can no longer deny who I am."

I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him on the forehead and told him, "I have suspected you were gay since you were 3 years old (but I was in denial too, because of what the church taught me from the pulpit)."

I told him, "It's going to be OK. We are here for you and we will get through this together. We love you no matter what."

See, my children were raised in the church. We homeschooled all five of our kids. We were Sunday school teachers, very active in the church and the community, the whole nine yards.

Our son listened to the sermons that were preached from the pulpit: "Homosexuality is a sin. You will burn in hell ..." He knew what the Bible said. He could recite scripture like nobody's business. The poetry that he wrote about his love for God was so amazingly beautiful and profound, but that has all changed.

The church ostracized his so-called lifestyle. He was told he was going to go to hell if he didn't change his so-called "wicked behavior," as if this was just a fad or a phase he was going through. As if he just woke up one day and said, "I think I will tick off my parents and God today and 'choose' to be gay."

We've heard that if he just prayed hard enough or said the prayers just right, God would see to it that he be delivered from his so-called deviant behavior. Needless to say we left the church and that's when my studying began. The blinders were removed from my eyes. In recent years many preachers, congressmen, all walks of life have been caught committing so-called deviant acts of homosexuality. They tried to live a heterosexual lifestyle and deny who they really are, but they knew deep down inside they were born gay.

If you believe that homosexuality is a sin and a choice I plead with you to ask yourself, who on Earth would ever choose to be LGBT in such a hostile, bigoted, and hatred-filled society? In a society that taunts and teases the LGBT community relentlessly? Would you sign up for that?

Nobody likes to be harassed and bullied. How could that be a choice? It is sad that people bury their heads in the sand and quote a few verses from the Bible to spew their hate speech on fellow human beings who are not the same as they are. How can God hate my son? God created him to be the person he is! Just like he created you and me!

Through my research I found some startling facts about the amount of LGBT teens and young adults who attempt to take their own lives - and unfortunately many of them succeed. Being a homosexual in North Idaho is not a fun place to be, because of the misinformed, uninformed, or downright bigotry that takes place. They (LGBT) truly are treated like second-class citizens at best.

I have learned so much from my beautiful son. I couldn't be more proud of who he is. I do apologize for what he has endured during his young years, including my own stupidity. I wouldn't change him or who he is for anything in the world. With him coming out to me, it has completely changed my life. I am a better human being because of my son!

If you are one who spews hatred, in the name of God or otherwise, please take the time to get informed. It wasn't that long ago when African-Americans were treated like second-class citizens and unfortunately, still are in many places. I can remember when my niece brought home a black man. The older members of my family were appalled, which is embarrassing to admit that my family was so disgustingly wrong in their thinking, but I am trying to make a point. My niece is now married to her amazing husband and they have six beautiful kids. At one time they considered moving to Coeur d'Alene, but were afraid because of the known bigotry of the area.

People, we need to wake up. ALL people are created equal and should be treated as such. Who am I to tell someone else how to live their lives and who to love? I am so grateful that I have fallen off my arrogant, misinformed, and misguided horse of inequality.

Please fellow human beings, have a heart. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. I believe the best thing that could happen to everyone is that they have a child, grandchild, niece, nephew ... who happens to be gay. It certainly removed the blinders from my eyes and it can happen to you, too. I'm hopeful anyway.

Let's love one another and let everyone choose with whom they would love to marry.

Will you please join me?

Kelly Ferguson is a Coeur d'Alene resident.