Each week we will feature the kind of everyday heroes you can look up to. They come from all walks of life, age groups and beliefs. We hope you’ll learn as much from them as we have!
** Spoilers for Queer Eye Season 2 Episode 1
Do you want to feel encouraged to go out and live your life as you see fit, but also kind of need to cry your eyes out? Good! The brand new iteration of Queer Eye just launched season two on Netflix, and so far they guys are delivering on inspiration and emotion. They kicked the new season off with their first woman client, Tammy Hicks, an individual guaranteed to warm your heart.
On the surface this episode should have been a disaster: Tammye is a Christian, Southern, traditional woman who struggled with her own son coming out as gay. The town she lives in might be named Gay, Georgia (for real!), but that didn’t mean the gang would be welcomed with open arms. Yet, they’re greeted by the kind of person we should all strive to be. Tammye encourages them all to call her “Mama”, to treat her home like a safe place, and shares her world with the group in a loving and surprising way. She was still in the process of reconciling with her son Myles, and spoke openly with the Fab Five about how to build him up and support him as a gay man.
Watching Tammye – a loving mother and active member of the community – welcome the Fab 5 into her life without the ugly judgement they described encountering in their private lives was a revelation, but what truly shakes the episode is her willingness to admit that she was wrong to judge her son for who he is. She details the moment she came to her son and asked for his forgiveness for not loving him unconditionally, which very few people would have the courage to do. In the end, Tammye speaks to each member of the Fab Five and thanks them for being who they are and doing what they do in a moment of pure earnestness that nearly put me in the grave.
It is so easy to get caught up in what we’ve been taught, who we surround ourselves with, and antiquated ways of thinking, because those familiar methods afford comfort in a scary world. Yet, the bravest of us can truly begin to grow when we step outside the echo chamber. Tammye is a great reminder that love, honesty, and courage can change the world, no matter how small the shift appears.
Below you can watch an extra episode of the series released to YouTube that features the crew traveling to Australia to help a rancher at the behest of his (kinda fine) son. If you’ve got Netflix we highly recommend you check out Tammye and the rest of the series! Don’t forget to invest in an economy pack of tissues.
LaKase Cousino 