For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 02, 2022

The same way I felt after a sixth grade classmate announced on Facebook back in February came out transgender February as I mentioned a few days ago: I’ll miss “Josiah”, will do my best of supporting the finding newly found identity, and that it’s pleasure to meet “Joyce.”

As for Lawrence, now it’s his parents’ turn to hear the news. Brace yourself, big guy.

…and two young guys just grew up a little.

When my late wife’s previously homophobic cousin came out we accepted him and his partner even though we were would be considered evil conservatives by the self righteous liberals nowadays, I believe in live and let live and it’s not my business as my wife and I did things that were against the law in many state at the time!

Mike, please don’t call your friend “Man”.

Makes you look like Zeke Brenner on “Doonesbury”!!

Author, how did this play in the papers, when it first came out?

The last panel is so beautiful. Bravo Michael ♡.

All through school I had lots of guy friends (female, here) and none of them were “interesting” to me. There has to be chemistry between two people before anything more can take place. This is something the homophobes have forgotten. Just because someone is gay doesn’t mean they are going to be interested in you in for anything beyond camaraderie.

Yes this was a well written Documentary.

OH MY GOD! MICHAEL STRUCK LAWRENCE! VIOLENCE IN THE COMICS! OUTRAGE! OUTRAGE! OUTRAGE!

Sorry, had to say this before somebody actually said it seriously. This story arc gladdened my heart in 1993 and it gladdens my heart now. It does get a little darker soon, but that is exactly what gay youth faced back then (and many still do).

Well, look on the bright side. At least he didn’t ask you to help him hide the body. Perspective, dude.

I have always found it difficult to understand, particularly in the US where individual rights and freedom are our mantra, how much emphasis is placed on conformity. I am glad that my grandchild (non-binary) has the courage, intelligence, and self confidence to recognize that the most important thing about people is their character and not their gender. However, changing the language [pronouns] is quite difficult and may take much longer than changing cultural acceptance. Over the centuries, ‘you’ and ‘they’ have both changed from singular to plural to both, each transition taking about a century to become the norm. So ‘they’ referring to a single person may take a while, even though we do use it as both singular and plural automatically in some contexts. [And it is unfortunate that we use “they” as a way to denote separation and negativity as well, as in “they started it, not us.” ] I only wish there was a neutral word for ‘grandchild-becoming adult.’ Grand-teen and grand-pre-teen just don’t seem to sound right and ‘child’ just doesn’t fit anymore.

Life is so dramatic at 17. it’s a wonder we ever survived it.

If our teenage relationships are the same in our 20s, something is already wrong.

I have a friend who is TG, but they didn’t embrace it, fought against it; regardless off whether M/F, I still love them as a PERSON! Just want them at peace with themselves.

I hope Joyce will find happiness now.

Is Michael imitating Will Smith?

A faggot is a faggot. Who cares?

Hmmm. That final panel coming up here less than a week after the Oscars? Yes, this strip was written in the previous century. But the irony of it all…..

When everybody knows Lawrence is gay, they will assume Michael is too, if they still hang out together

Someone coming out doesn’t mean everything changes…he’s still Lawrence. But I can see how Mike can think that way, since a lot of people do.

Slug bug!

Kick his ass Mike…

Lawrence was still in his wedding party :p

Comments are divided between Lawrence being too gay, or not gay enough.

My 13-year-old great-nephew came out to his parents & his 2 older brothers around Christmas; he said he’d joined a group at school. My nephew and his wife, his parents, told him they’d always known, just waiting for him to tell them. He’s such a great kid ♥

I’ve never understood why people, religions and anybody else thinks they have the right to judge how other people live their lives. As long as nobody is being hurt, they should just shut up. Of course, they won’t – I’m not naiive enough to expect miracles, lol. If a situation makes people uncomfortable, they should look at themselves, IMO.

Always loved this moment. Michael non-verbally letting Lawrence know it’s cool and they’re still buds.