Kevin and Alex Newman on coming out and father-son forgiveness

Hundreds of LGBT people and their allies filled a ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Vancouver May 13, 2016, to help BC’s queer resource centre Qmunity mark the upcoming International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Many of the breakfast attendees were moved by keynote speakers Kevin and Alex Newman, who shared their father-son story of learning to understand and forgive each other after Alex came out.

Here’s a look at some of the key moments tweeted about the Newmans’ presentation:

Alex and his dad @KevinNewmanCTV share their different experiences of Alex coming out. #IDAHOTbreakfast @QMUNITY

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— Robin Perelle (@RobinPerelle) May 13, 2016

“I knew that once I said that I was gay there was no coming back,” says @lexnewman. #IDAHOTbreakfast

— Robin Perelle (@RobinPerelle) May 13, 2016

When Alex came out, it was a great relief to him but I adjusted more slowly, says @KevinNewmanCTV. #IDAHOTbreakfast

— Robin Perelle (@RobinPerelle) May 13, 2016

(Alex Newman and his father Kevin remember the challenges they each faced when Alex came out./Robin Perelle/Daily Xtra)

“What Alex did, which I’m forever grateful for, is that he didn’t give up on me,” says @KevinNewmanCTV. #IDAHOTbreakfast

— Robin Perelle (@RobinPerelle) May 13, 2016

It took about 10 years, but Alex says he and his dad @KevinNewmanCTV finally bridged the gulf between them. #IDAHOTbreakfast

 

— Robin Perelle (@RobinPerelle) May 13, 2016

It was a path of forgiveness of each other and of ourselves, says @KevinNewmanCTV. #IDAHOTbreakfast @QMUNITY

— Robin Perelle (@RobinPerelle) May 13, 2016

(Alex Newman and his dad Kevin share a smile on stage./Robin Perelle/Daily Xtra)

A beautiful story of love and forgiveness between @KevinNewmanCTV & @lex_newman @QMUNITY #IDAHOTbreakfast #HPAinside pic.twitter.com/CnggRrpcGJ

— May So (@so_mayb) May 13, 2016

Rivetting sharing with Alex and Kevin Newman – thank you for your honesty! #IDAHOTBreakfast

— Joyce Griffiths (@jegriff) May 13, 2016

Forgiveness takes two and a willingness to reset, say Alex and @KevinNewmanCTV. #IDAHOTbreakfast @QMUNITY

— Robin Perelle (@RobinPerelle) May 13, 2016

But without @QMUNITY’s support, Alex says he might not be here today able to share his story. #IDAHOTbreakfast

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— Robin Perelle (@RobinPerelle) May 13, 2016

When Alex came out, his West Van school had no support programs but luckily his family found @QMUNITY, he says. #IDAHOTbreakfast

— Robin Perelle (@RobinPerelle) May 13, 2016

Great Keynote! @KevinNewmanCTV and Alex #IDAHOTBreakfast @QMUNITY pic.twitter.com/PfHudFZxj8

— Veronica Gillies (@VeronicaGillies) May 13, 2016

City councillor Kerry Jang also drew a roomful of applause when he presented the City of Vancouver’s proclamation that May 17, 2016 will be recognized as the “International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia” in Vancouver.

Following the breakfast, Qmunity board chair Morgan Camley told Daily Xtra the board is mid-process in its hiring search for a new executive director. (After four years at the helm, former ED Dara Parker left in April to accept a leadership role with Social Venture Partners Vancouver.)

Fingers crossed, Qmunity will “hopefully be in a position to provide an update in a month or so,” Camley says.