A few weeks ago, YouTube announced their “Life in a Day” project. According to YouTube:
Life In A Day is a historic global experiment to create a user-generated feature film shot in a single day. On July 24, you have 24 hours to capture a glimpse of your life on camera. The most compelling and distinctive footage will be edited into a feature film, produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald.
Not one to miss out an opportunity as interesting and creative as “Life in a Day”, I submitted a piece of footage that I filmed at 5:04 PM on July 24. I was a bit hesitant to submit the clip because it’s very personal, but ultimately decided that it’s a good – and potentially helpful – thing to share. Whether or not the clip makes the cut into the final film, I hope you enjoy it:
July 30, 2010 at 8:59 pm
This has to be one of the sweetest heartfelt videos I’ve ever seen!!!! I almost teared up with you, and I’m so glad everything worked out well for you. Best of luck to both you and Nick!!!
July 30, 2010 at 9:22 pm
I guess that grandmothers are better prepared these days, with homosexuality more integrated into North American culture, to receive this kind of telephone call and to react with aplomb. I go back too far for that even to have been a possibility! Atop that, there were just too many grandmas, 24 of them — one of my grandfathers was a polygamist — on all three sides of the family (22 maternal grandmas, 1 paternal grandma, 1 step-paternal grandma) to tell, to “cover all the bases”. Whew! That would have been a lot of work!
Pax, Jerry Parker
July 30, 2010 at 9:37 pm
…one of you best postings.
July 30, 2010 at 9:43 pm
That… was very… good for you? I’m glad it turned out for the better and didn’t go downhill! I’m most jealous of your skills of coming out to family.
Speaking of though, I just recently figured out someone I know is gay because he watches your facebook fanpage and after some creeping… Wow. Weird thing to figure out!
July 30, 2010 at 10:02 pm
that doesnt necessarily make that person gay, davey has a lot of fans not all of them gay.
July 30, 2010 at 10:05 pm
WOW,Davy,I am blown away,want to give you a big hug.All of my family is gone,none of my few friends know I am bi.When I find that special guy,I will come out.Love ya—-Glenn
July 30, 2010 at 10:14 pm
This is truly touching. I imagine the anxiety you were feeling prior to this call was overwhelming. I thought, wouldn’t it be a perfect world if everytime this happened that it went as well, but then I reasoned that in a perfect world we wouldn’t have to “come out” because it wouldn’t matter. Oh well, a boy can dream.
July 30, 2010 at 11:37 pm
My Mom who, was the same age as your grandma, or pretty close, could have loved you too, Davey. And deep inside I bet she always knew.
Thank you for sharing this. It was a special intimate moment that makes us all feel closer to you and to each other. I love you even more for it.
Be well,
July 30, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Thank you for sharing something that is very personal!! I can relate to this because that is the almost exact wway I came out to my grandma too, except I was face to face with my grandma. Your a really inspirational person Davey!! THANK YOU!
July 31, 2010 at 12:05 am
What a gift you’ve given all of us! As Rick says just above, “you’re a really inspirational person!” Thank you!
July 31, 2010 at 12:14 am
Damn, Wow… Davey That’s the first time that you have made me cry. I think you may have gotten me closer to coming out to the rest of the family, including mom and grandma! Much Love and respect to you Davey Wavey.
BTW- I MAY be falling in love w/ you! lol
July 31, 2010 at 12:40 am
I disagree. Such important news should really be conveyed out of respect for the other person in person if at all possible. True that it is conveyed, but there’s more to it than just getting the information across.
July 31, 2010 at 1:25 am
Nick is Scotty Dynamo(Scotty Dynamo is his song-artist name) if only I knew Nicks last name…I am not a stalker it just adds to the suspense of the not knowing..lol
July 31, 2010 at 1:39 am
Not that I expected anything less but I think I love your grandma. If I were in your shoes and did the same thing my grandmother would never talk to me again. She sounds like an excellent human being.
July 31, 2010 at 2:31 am
Good morning David!
Thank you for sharing such a personal moment in your life…!
Sorry just cannot help it – I’m sitting here crying too. My Grandma probably would have reacted exactly the same, but she passed over whilst I was a very young boy. We were very connected and the morning of her passing (I remember still on Mom’s birthday) I saw her (Grandma) briefly and I immediately went to wake my parents, telling them that Granny just visited me! Whilst telling then, the phone rang and the news of her passing was confirmed!
Somehow it always seems to give me an inner peace seeing someone else go through what I have when telling my parents, colleages, etc – Mom and Dad always knew.
I guess these shared moments become a testament to how connected each of our human experiences really are.
It makes me happy to know I’m not alone in these type of experiences. I thank my Creator that from time to time he sends me moments like this along my journey to remind us from time to time that we are never alone.
Love your blog and love your kind Soul!
Hugs – Anthony (South Africa)
July 31, 2010 at 5:13 am
This is one of the best personal videos ever. Thanks for sharing with all of us DW
July 31, 2010 at 7:09 am
Yea ! I noticed that too. But I think the dog is saying, “Oh please, here we go again with more of this gay drama crap.”
July 31, 2010 at 7:59 am
Regardless of if they use it or not, this is a wonderful video to share with everyone. I was hesitant to release my own coming out story as part of my first book. I didn’t know if I was ready to share the details.
Well the book is out and the story is inside. Sometimes you can’t live life wondering about the what ifs. You just have to live it the way you know is best.
July 31, 2010 at 8:36 am
I also came out to my grandparents at their grave. I was so close to them but could not tell them. I regret that, and am happy you don’t have to have that regret also. your a lucky man.
July 31, 2010 at 10:17 am
Have to say after seeing the article about your suggestive photos on manhunt, I lost a lot of faith in you because I felt like you were being a hypocrite. This shows you have a soul and that I may have been wrong.
But please believe me when I say this: YOU NEED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT ARTICLE. It really tarnishes your image Davey and really puts a lot of doubt into what you’re saying and posting. Please for our sake, just make a comment.
July 31, 2010 at 10:30 am
Davey, I suspect that it is particularly hard to “come out” to polygamous grandparents, male or female. Being motivated sexually to marry 22 times, as my maternal grandpa did, he probably would not be able to fathom how any man could want another guy as his sexual partner!
As for that grandpa’s 22 wives, if they are motivated enough to become Wife No. 17, or Wife No. 22, or whatever, they probably never think about becoming Woman No. 1 in the affections of a lesbian.
In my family, with so many wives coming and going, the question never even got a chance even to be raised!
Pax, Jerry Parker
July 31, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Davey, that was so sweet! It made me cry. I think it was very brave of you to submit this to the “Life in a Day” project. This was something very personal and touching. There is such a mix of comments with people liking who you came out to your grandmother and people thinking it was wrong to do it over the phone. The thing is you told her. I thnk that is all that matters.
I think you are a brave and wonderful person. I am so happy that I stumbled upon your youtube channels and in consequence your blog.
<3 Jennie
July 31, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Davey! you got balls. for today, you are my hero
July 31, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Dear Davey,
This was a most touching interaction between your grandma and you!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us, especially those who loved ours dearly but no longer have the opportunity to talk with them. I’m sure it will bring a close relationship even closer. You have blessed each other with your love, and enriched us by sharing such an intimate moment with us, your friends. A very sincere and grateful ‘Thank You’ to you, Davey!!
Love, Doug in Toronto
August 1, 2010 at 1:10 am
Hey Ryan. I did a quick Google search for the heck of it. Nick’s last name is Wilson.
August 2, 2010 at 3:00 am
when my mother came out of the closet a lot of people were upset. my grandfather being a hard catholic was just ignorant to the world. my father’s side of the family doesnt really talk to us anymore. i just fear that if i come out to my family who i love that i wont be understood. even by my lesbian mother. by my old army father. i love my grandmother out of them all and if she would hear that one of her grandsons were gay i would be afraid if she would be okay. davey you are an inspiration. i hope to tell my family sooner or later. more hopefully later until i find my true self.
August 2, 2010 at 7:28 am
Wow, to your grandmother is a tough one. Some probably don’t care, but for most it will be just a shock.
August 2, 2010 at 9:40 am
Davey,
Thank-you for sharing what was probably a difficult moment in your personal life with us, your fans and friends. Much love to you and your family especially your awesome and sweet grandmother for her continued love, understanding of and for you but also to the young man who has captured your heart. Family support is so important to those of us who can not marry and with this video, one can see that you have.
The love of my life and I have recently celebrated our 26th anniversary (July 1st) and each year gets better and better and I hope and pray that you too will be doing the same in time as well as all of your fans. Love is amazing!
May you have an awesome day and when you see your sweet grandmother…GIVE HER A HUG AND KISS THAT COMES FROM YOUR ENTIRE BEING.
Peace and love!
August 3, 2010 at 6:05 am
Okay Davey, I think that that was probobly one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing that, I know it must have been hard for you and I’m glad you decided to share. Hope it all worked out and I love you blog <3
August 3, 2010 at 2:28 pm
AMAZING. What a personal but beautiful thing to share. I just cried. So lovely. Thank you.
August 4, 2010 at 12:16 am
I think just watching this, you realize that even for someone who is as loving and open about being gay, coming out to those who matter the most to you is the single most nervewracking task you can do, no matter how many times you do it. Even with strong, supportive families, it takes a LOT of courage to come out.
August 4, 2010 at 12:27 am
cool thanks, at one time i knew Davey’s last name but cant remember off the top of my head..looks like I am gonna do some stalking on google….I mean research..lol
August 4, 2010 at 1:29 am
JUST WHEN I THINK I COULDN’T LUV U ANYMORE THAN I DO…..I WATCHED UR SACRED BEAUTIFUL REVEALING MOMENT…AND I AM SO PROUD AND BLESSED TO HAVE MY LIFE BE CONNECTED IN A SMALL WAY TO URS!!
MY DAVEY ROCKS QUIET SIMPLE MOMENTS WITH SUCH GRACE! NAMASTE BUDDY!!
August 4, 2010 at 8:20 am
bravo bravo. and the winner of the 2010 oscar for best solo scripted performance is…….
August 4, 2010 at 8:55 am
This video brought tears to my eyes. Well I actually sobbed.I didn’t get the chance to open up to my Lola[Grandma] but I think she already knew.
You are beautiful inside and out.
Thank you for sharing
August 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm
That was so moving! Very happy that you got a chance and had the courage to do so! … I dont, The only people who definitely know Im gay are my cousins and my parents…Maybe an aunt or two… ONE DAY! <3 The video and <3 You too! Inspirational!
August 4, 2010 at 10:16 pm
When I told my grandma I was gay she said “I saw a program about that on PBS. They’re really just like everyone else.”
August 5, 2010 at 1:26 am
Thanks you so much for sharing something this personal Davey. It actually made me think about coming out myself, it made me cry a little.
August 5, 2010 at 11:05 am
All the things you said were really meaningful, but “it’s not a disease” was the best to me ^^
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December 3, 2010 at 4:57 pm
I’m just curious. I have read your blog for a while and you are a huge advocate of coming out and being openly gay. Why are you just now telling her? Aren’t you like 27?
April 9, 2011 at 3:04 pm
No matter your age. when it comes to coming out to your older relatives it can be an amazing day or a bit hard. I got lucky because I had the coolest Grandmother. She was more like a best friend. We shared a lot together, about each others lives. Our loves, and fears to those deep dark secrets. She knew about me so there wasn’t much of a coming out issue. Davey you would have liked her. A very classy women with the ages of wisdom. She felt all gay people were in her words ” God’s children of light” that most of us were happy. She knew life was harder and just did not understand why everyone else seem to have a problem with it or make a big deal out of being gay. I do remember when I told her, I was nervous, scared and wasn’t certain of anything. So when I told her, she said she already knew.. That she had no issue with it. Now the rest of my family they had issues. Yet here this women of 60 plus years Just opened her arms with acceptance and love. In her late 70′s she gave me a piece of advice.. I was dating someone, and we were at that stage where I was thinking ” what am I doing” yeah he was everything I ever wanted but he had some things to learn and get through…
he wasn’t very comfortable with himself. So one fine day he comes by, it was just a friendly hello. After he left I had that feeling again, What am I going to do with this guy. He’s a mess, I’m a mess. We are all a big mess. My grandmother looks at me, and says ” That boy likes you a lot more than he is willing to admit, You put a smile on his face and light him up” I turned and said ” he’s complicated and I just don’t know what to do maybe it’s better I just let things take there course and it will fizzle” she said ” no, you are going to do what I tell you.. You are going to keep him and train him.. To hear that from a 79 y.o women. I’m gonna keep him and train him!!!! I thought I was going to fall out of my chair. Well I had hoped she was right, I did love him. Things did go in a different direction later on. Remember he’s complicated.. my grandmother had met a couple of others and she really did not approve, she would never really say much.. She had mastered the art of saying very little but conveying a lot. she did not mix her words any. We were a magical team together. I haven’t seen many have a relationship like we did cause honestly you could talk to her about any thing. People think elder people don’t understand or don’t know, when the truth is most of what we do today, they have already done or thought of and most certainly seen. Think of how many people they have dated or married, and in her case remarried after her 1st husband passed away. The years of experience. As my grandmother always said ” gay people are people to and there is really very little difference between us and are straight counter parts” We struggle with relationships, family, and daily life like everyone else.. I wish she was here today. I lost the best friend I ever had.. I know not all grandparents are so accepting but trust me they love you and would never want you to be anything other than happy. Your doing many good things Davey keep it up and for all those bitter people who want to break things down. Remember this, if you spent the same amount of energy building things up that you spend on breaking them down. where would you be now? what would you be doing?
we are young for only a short time in our life, yet we are old for a far greater amount of time, Makes the best of it as life is a gift.
WR~
April 10, 2011 at 1:08 am
Great stuff! And it’s a model of the conversation each of us can keep on having with relatives, friends, co-workers, etc, for the rest of our lives. In my experience (icame out to my family, friends, co-workers 40 years ago) the response always, always is positive. Some people take days or weeks to respond but they do, and always a richer relationship ensues. Postponing these conversations “until I have a boyfriend” or “until my boss knows me better”, etc, never works. The delay will affect your physical health, and degrade all your other relationships. Be fully who you are today! Yay Davey for showing us how!
May 16, 2011 at 9:45 am
Wow, thank you for sharing. Usually I have a very long comment, but thank you sums everything up nicely. I was crying at the end.