美国国家公共电台 NPR--A grandfather inspires his grandson to live full of honesty and love

（单词翻译）

A grandfather inspires his grandson to live full of honesty and love

Transcript¹

When Jeffrey Perri was nine, his grandfather Tony Perri came out to him as gay. Later, Jeffrey also came out. What was already a close relationship became something more meaningful for both of them.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

It's time now for StoryCorps. When Jeffrey Perri was growing up, his grandfather, Tony, came out to him as a gay man. In 2009, they came to StoryCorps to reflect on that moment.

TONY PERRI: I remember you asking me, does Grandma Shirley know you're gay? Does my father know you're gay? Does my mother know you're gay?

JEFFREY PERRI: I like to tell people that you paved the way for me. But when I came out of the closet, the first person to know wasn't you, Papa. I was, I think, afraid of, you know, what you would think. Would you be afraid for me? I was...

T PERRI: Very real. I had all of those when you did.

J PERRI: Yeah. So I didn't tell you right away. I'm so lucky to have you in my life. And it's a privilege to have you as a grandfather.

MARTIN: Recently, 33-year-old Jeffrey came back to StoryCorps with his grandpa to talk about how things have changed.

T PERRI: I've gotten older. And a lot of things has happened to the gay community.

J PERRI: You're right. Marriage was passed since the last time we spoke².

T PERRI: But also, your grandma passed away, which was very hard. God, I guess we were divorced, like, 50 years. But we were still very good friends. Took a lot of work, but it was worth it.

J PERRI: You're 82. What does being a gay man mean to you in this stage of your life?

T PERRI: It's just being as authentic³ as I can be because I have no fear in coming out to people now. But I'm fearful that I'm going to be alone. It's hard getting older. But I have a lot of gratitude⁴ because I have a very supportive family. You know, a lot of gay men, family men who come out, lose that. And I never did.

J PERRI: Yeah. When I speak to people that I have a gay grandfather, they're always amazed. And you've shown me that being you is all you need. And to never let anyone tell you differently.

T PERRI: Yeah.

J PERRI: You'll be my guiding light in my life's choices 'cause you've always been.

T PERRI: I just hope your life is as beautiful as mine has been.

J PERRI: I love you, Papa.

T PERRI: Thank you. I love you, Jeff.

MARTIN: Tony Perri and his grandson Jeffrey Perri in Rochester, N.Y. Their conversations have been archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.