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Dad’s touching note to gay son saves him the trouble of coming out

While it may get better for LGBT teens after high school, sometimes it’s already pretty good – at least on the home front anyway.

A letter from a father to his gay son is melting hearts and reigniting a little hope for humanity this morning after anti-homophobia group FCKH8 reposted it on their Facebook page.

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In the letter, scribbled on a napkin, the unnamed father saves his son the trouble of coming out to his parents by letting him know that mom and dad have already known the score for a long time.

Nate,

I overheard your phone conversation with Mike last night about your plans to come out to me. The only thing I need you to plan is to bring home OJ and bread after class.
We are out, like you now.

I’ve known you were gay since you were six, I’ve loved you since you were born.

- Dad

While the note’s origins remain unknown and its legitimacy still unconfirmed, the sentiment behind the words has been enough to open up a bit of an emotional floodgate for readers.

“This chokes me up in the best possible way,” offers John Primm.

“Why do I read these things at work? Now I have to explain why I am tearing up in an open plan office,” adds another commenter.

“Every parent of an LGBT kid should be like this guy. I wish they all were. It shouldn't have to be something a kid is scared to do,” writes Tara Switz White on the FKH8 page.

"These are the stories that warm my heart! Now THIS is what 'family' is all about! The haters must really have their Depends in a knot over this heart-warming story! We celebrate, they mourn. Life IS good!" adds Dakotahgeo, M.Div. Pastor/Chaplain on Queerty.

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Unfortunately, for some it has triggered painful memories, too.

“I wrote about my high school boyfriend in my diary when I was 17,” writes Dave on Towerload. “I came home from school and found the pages ripped out so violently that the binding was broken. Apparently my mom found it while cleaning my room. She eventually came around after a few years, but I can still feel the hurt and shame of that day 30 years later. God bless this mom and dad.”

And, of course, the most fervent wish of all. “Please let it be real, please let it be real, please let it be real,” writes commenter Daniel.

While we ride the waves of hope that this dad is real, here's a verified feel-good story of another parent accepting a gay child.

It was recently announced that Ohio Sen. Rob Portman -- a staunch Republican and former Romney campaigner -- sat down to speak with CNN about his decision to reverse his stance on gay marriage. Once a firm advocate for preventing same-sex couples from legal matrimony, Portman's own son played an instrumental role in his change of heart.

"I've come to the conclusion that for me, personally, I think this is something that we should allow people to do, to get married, and to have the joy and stability of marriage that I've had for over 26 years. That I want all of my children to have, including our son, who is gay," Portman says.