Just hours after "don't ask, don't tell" was repealed on September 20th, Randy Phillips, a 21-year-old gay member of the Air Force stationed in Germany, videotaped a phone call of himself coming out to his father and posted it to YouTube. The admission was well received with his father telling his son he loved him and the video instantly went viral -- racking up over 4,600,000 views to date -- instantly making Phillips the poster boy for the DADT repeal.
"It feels great. It's nice not having to look over your shoulder or worry about who you are talking to," Phillips told ABC News. "I never thought I'd be so comfortable with it. It's very supportive. Everybody's been so great."
However, things weren't so comfortable when the airman told his mother that same night. Now, a little over a week later, Phillips, who up until the repeal of DADT last week posted faceless videos about being gay in the military using the YouTube name AreYouSurprised, has revealed another video, this one featuring his coming out conversation with his mother.
"I don't know if she's going to take it as good as my dad. I think it's going to be a little bit harder -- she's a lot more conservative. Much more traditional... very much from Alabama," he says at the beginning of the video.
During the 21-minute emotional video Phillips is mostly met with stoney silence. His mother finally asks, "When did this come about?" to which he responds "I've always known -- I've always, always, always known."
The conversation turns to issues of religion and Phillips's mother explains she's worried about his "spiritual life" and he "better be, too."
Eventually the airman admits, "I just want to know if you still love and are still proud of me to be your son. That's all I want -- I can't expect anything else."
Phillips's mother answers, "I do love you -- I'll always love you. I always have loved you. There's nothing that will stop my love for you."
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