For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 13, 2022

  1. Hat large square
    Cactus-Pete  over 2 years ago

    Ask Dad when he “chose” his life.

     •  Reply
  2. Americauna chicks 1 week 003
    howtheduck  over 2 years ago

    “your kind” is excellent. Greg could be both a racist and a homophobe.

     •  Reply
  3. Americauna chicks 1 week 003
    howtheduck  over 2 years ago

    The line in the final panel is one of the best Lynn Johnston ever wrote and for me, the highlight of this story. It says it all in just a few words.

     •  Reply
  4. Avatar
    M2MM  over 2 years ago

    Time to knock on the Patterson’s door.

     •  Reply
  5. Missing large
    John Jorgensen  over 2 years ago

    This is how you “talk sense”?

     •  Reply
  6. Avatar
    M2MM  over 2 years ago

    From the look on Connie’s face, this is not what she expected from Greg.

     •  Reply
  7. 16873788307 800b4ae7a8 b
    Last Rose Of Summer Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Wow, I did not expect that.

     •  Reply
  8. Missing large
    Susan00100  over 2 years ago

    Just move in with your BF, Lawrence.

    And be glad to be rid of your so-called “parents”!!

     •  Reply
  9. Missing large
    Susan00100  over 2 years ago

    I remember this arc when it first ran in newspapers; eventually the “parents” recant and accept Lawrence as he was.

    Very abruptly, IMO!! IRL, bigots never change!!

     •  Reply
  10. Earth sea temps
    Uncle Kenny  over 2 years ago

    Sadly, this has happened to so many teens who have come out that we have had to set up a shelter for homeless teens. In order to do this, the legislature had to change a law that made it illegal to harbor a homeless teen.

     •  Reply
  11. 0438aab5 b754 4b25 b41d bb310caeac1d
    GirlGeek Premium Member over 2 years ago

    AND THERE’S MY FAVORITE LINE!!

     •  Reply
  12. Missing large
    capricorn9th  over 2 years ago

    I can see Connie regrets asking Greg to intervene. Instead of talking sense into him as she asked, his true colors came out and he kicked her kid out of the house. It is actually HER house. I guess she did not see this side of Greg before. Had she known, I doubt she would have married him. She was in a relationship with Lawrence’s father who was South American and POC. And she gave birth to a POC child. Had she known Greg is a hater, she might hesitate at marrying him. Usually, a hater encompasses all other kinds, not just one. Greg and Connie’s reactions to Lawrence’s coming out of the closet are different. Greg is clearly a homophobe while Connie is upset that her child is not “normal.” Many parents think having gay child is their fault. Something they did while raising them or pass on something to them. No doubt Connie is thinking that. At least, she is probably thinking she hadn’t paid much attention to Lawrence, citing how she complained to Elly about Lawrence never being home. She probably now feels she should’ve inquired on where he went, asking what he is doing. Now she is acting out guilt more than anything. Greg. Pfft. Purely a hater.

     •  Reply
  13. Missing large
    nicka93  over 2 years ago

    Lawrence doesn’t live there any more, possibly Mike’s family will take him in, after all Mike is the one who convinced him to tell his parents.

     •  Reply
  14. Picture
    RickTengle  over 2 years ago

    Greg needs needs a Homocil prescription https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/homocil/2869234

     •  Reply
  15. Tommy lee jones look
    Johnnyrico  over 2 years ago

    All while Connie stands there with that dumb look on her face..

     •  Reply
  16. C6fab48c fd5d 4004 a287 ea96a07e43a3
    Train 1911  over 2 years ago

    In God’s eyes your his chip no matter what he dad to hear this to.

     •  Reply
  17. Missing large
    janis nerowski  over 2 years ago

    You all do remember these are old reruns of this strip right?

     •  Reply
  18. Cropped narragansett indian logo
    The Pro from Dover  over 2 years ago

    What would they do if it was a pregnant teenage girl? Throw her out too? Go sleep in the Patterson’s Car.

     •  Reply
  19. 23 asterix with sword
    up2trixx  over 2 years ago

    Greg’s reaction was exactly what I was expecting from my parents (I was about 21 when this strip ran, and was still living at home, going to college). I stayed in the closet until I was 26 years old and living on my own. I had actually moved out a few years before coming out but still couldn’t deal with the anticipated rejection. They couldn’t kick me out of their house anymore but I was worried they’d kick me out of their lives. Thankfully, when I did come out, their reaction was not at all what I had been dreading.

     •  Reply
  20. Missing large
    cwillis  over 2 years ago

    I’ve had a lot of friends that this has happened to. Mom needs to step in and step up. How a parent can turn their own out is sickening to me.

     •  Reply
  21. Lifi
    rossevrymn  over 2 years ago

    oof

     •  Reply
  22. Animal bird feathers 158087
    jimchronister2016  over 2 years ago

    How terrible for people like Lawrence, and to know that this is the true state of the worlds ignorance of life in this matter. And too realize Ignorant so called leaders like Florida republican governor ron desantis are allowed to tell their constituents “we will not educate your children about the different beliefs of people known as Gays, because I want them to stay as Ignorant as I am” and pass a state law enforcing his ignorant beliefs. So much for the ignorant beliefs of many republicans this day and time.

     •  Reply
  23. Img 20220327 151905
    Selune136413  over 2 years ago

    D*mn this poor kid has sh*tty parents!!!!

     •  Reply
  24. Missing large
    Faith Blackwell Premium Member over 2 years ago

    I am so sad now

     •  Reply
  25. Screen shot 2022 03 06 at 9.43.48 am
    Mama Fish  over 2 years ago

    Gosh, I really don’t remember this part of the story (though I do remember that Lawrence is gay). How painful.

     •  Reply
  26. Profile msn
    vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Oh yeah. I remember these guys.

     •  Reply
  27. Missing large
    Bob Blumenfeld  over 2 years ago

    Ouch! Lawrence’s mother looks rather aghast at the turn of events. Tune in tomorrow. (Anyone remember when “tune in” meant something? Like “a quarter to” and “dial a number.” Ah, the good ol’ analog days.)

     •  Reply
  28. 427990099 784545840373413 7581836070399460438 n
    Lisa Marie Chamberlain  over 2 years ago

    Wow so rude

     •  Reply
  29. 20210517 082929
    flagmichael  over 2 years ago

    In real life, I would hope this sort of unkindness would be minimized by the kid knowing his parents well enough to not “go there.” Everybody has trigger points that are best left alone.

     •  Reply
  30. Img 1157
    brick10  over 2 years ago

    Wasn’t this Lawrence’s home before Greg moved in?

     •  Reply
  31. 20210517 082929
    flagmichael  over 2 years ago

    Connie seems dazed by the Greg’s vehemence. It looks like she is regretting bringing him into it at all – he was just supposed to “talk sense into” Lawrence.

     •  Reply
  32. Missing large
    mckeonfuneralhomebx  over 2 years ago

    Better to have love with someone people do not approve of, then not have love at all…..

     •  Reply
  33. 20141112 192913
    Aladar30 Premium Member over 2 years ago

    One of the most powerful comic strip ever done.

     •  Reply
  34. Missing large
    Chansonreve  over 2 years ago

    I remember reading these strips when they first ran, and crying. I swore I’d never do this sort of thing if I had kids. Well, I had kids, and they’re both lgbtq, and I love them unconditionally.

     •  Reply
  35. Dogs 003
    EXCALABUR  over 2 years ago

    How about having a calm discussion.

     •  Reply
  36. Missing large
    kimodb Premium Member over 2 years ago

    heartwrenching

     •  Reply
  37. Missing large
    this is summerdog  over 2 years ago

    Is it really legal to tell your 17 year old child to leave the home? Sounds like putting that child into danger. There must be consequences to this set of parent’s actions today.

     •  Reply
  38. Missing large
    USN1977  over 2 years ago

    Lynn’s Notes: For years, I was under the impression that anyone who had objections to homosexuality were of one kind of belief or political persuasion. I learned how wrong I was during a lecture tour, afterwards where one man gave me a book about a place where LGBT people had been sentenced to death. This had surprised me in more ways than one because the name of this place was Cuba. The book, which was titled Exposing the Real Che Guevara and the Useful Idiots who Idolize Him was also an eye opener as I had grown up as a “child of the 60s”. One part revealed that Ernesto “Che” Guevara had Cubans who were in rock and roll bands sentenced to death on the basis they did not “figure it out” or get with the socialist “program”. I loved to sing, so killing someone for making music was a barbaric act to me. What was also revealed that “Che” had extreme hatred for LGBT people, sentencing homosexuals in Cuba to hard labor at gulags which were festooned with a banner “Work Will Make a Man Out of You”. Many gays and lesbians were worked to death in these gulags. I was still reading the book at the time when Phil told the kids about Elly being a hippie, so I saved my remarks until I was done, but I now know the 1960s were not entirely the “good ol’ days” that Elly and Phil toasted, especially not when homosexuals suffered under such a horrible man in Cuba.

     •  Reply
  39. Missing large
    mbowman Premium Member over 2 years ago

    dropping this strip.

     •  Reply
  40. Missing large
    Argythree  over 2 years ago

    I remember those days, and how sad it was. Reminded me of families who said their kids were ‘dead to them’ when they married someone of a different religion…

     •  Reply
  41. Missing large
    preacherman Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Something I noticed during an earlier strip. Why is Lawrence a different color shade than his parents? Was he adopted?

     •  Reply
  42. 41f6a6dcd11d1fdcec7a249515620735
    Bobbin Dobbins  over 2 years ago

    Note spineless Connie with mouth closed and hands at sides. In real life, this situation would be permanent in most cases, especially with a stepfather. A neighborhood 16 year old, one of my stepdaughter schoolmates, was thrown out by his stepfather and went to live with a friend’s family. Soon after, his younger brother hit on my stepdaughter, an open attempt to be sure everyone knew that he wasn’t gay.

     •  Reply
  43. 29e99167 a8c6 4466 aea4 b199a0b20c70
    misslaurastoyroom  over 2 years ago

    His “kind” are nurturing generous people. He’s still the little boy you watched grow up and help raise. If anyone deserves to be kicked out of the house it’s you.

     •  Reply
  44. Aj icon60
    Dr_Fogg  over 2 years ago

    Just wrong :-(

     •  Reply
  45. Greg backlit
    mindjob  over 2 years ago

    At least he isn’t in a Middle East country when they would put him to death

     •  Reply
  46. Bearfront
    paranormal  over 2 years ago

    That man isn’t going to win Father of the Year

     •  Reply
  47. Missing large
    kathleenhicks62  over 2 years ago

    I can not hit the “like” icon, because this is a very bad thing for everyone.

     •  Reply
  48. Missing large
    llosik  over 2 years ago

    This still puzzles me: How can a parent throw out a child? Never did understand it.

     •  Reply
  49. Missing large
    Yardley701  over 2 years ago

    Some parents act this way because of fear, fear of what people will say, fear they failed their kid, and plain old ignorance. Always remember Lawrenc there is nothing wrong with you, it is your dad’s problem, not yours.

     •  Reply
  50. Missing large
    kamoolah  over 2 years ago

    “His kind” have been known for their arugula salads and $12 martinis. Whoever heard of a gay person living below the poverty line?

     •  Reply
  51. Kay 053021
    kaycstamper  over 2 years ago

    This is sickening and not funny! We come here for a comic, not to see more hatred, we can get that on the news. :( My niece is gay, I would hate for her to be treated that way!

     •  Reply
  52. Missing large
    The_Great_Black President  over 2 years ago

    At least Lawrence is not alone. There was the strip where Elly saw Michael owned a girlie magazine, so she woke him up with her screeching about it. What is wrong Elly; you have a problem that Michael is heterosexual?

     •  Reply
  53. Missing large
    198.23.5.11  over 2 years ago

    I’ll have to open the door of hope a little here.

    Lawrence’s exile doesn’t last long.Guilt-ridden Mike is already on the hunt for him.

    Tomorrow—-special performance by Joel Grey and The Gorilla.

     •  Reply
  54. Missing large
    patrickab7  over 2 years ago

    Don’t think my local newspaper ran all of this storyline, but I remember hearing about it.

     •  Reply
  55. B986e866 14d0 4607 bdb4 5d76d7b56ddb
    Templo S.U.D.  over 2 years ago

    FBorFW takes place in a fictional suburb of Toronto., Ontario. While I’ve never been to Toronto (farthest Canada I’ve ever gone was Victoria, British Columbia), where do LGBTQ+ Torontonians usually hang out with one another?

     •  Reply
  56. Missing large
    Katzi428  over 2 years ago

    For those of you that don’t like this story you can always come back in a couple of weeks . No one is forcing you to stay!!

     •  Reply
  57. Missing large
    hillia  over 2 years ago

    There’s a huge difference between sexual experimentation and sexual orientation.

     •  Reply
  58. Missing large
    kamoolah  over 2 years ago

    There is only one person to blame for all this: Michael.

    Michael Aaron Patterson is 100% at fault for all of this. He is the one who goaded Lawrence into saying this to his parents. Lawrence did not do this by himself.

     •  Reply
  59. Missing large
    Susan00100  over 2 years ago

    SPOILER ALERT: Connie sobs to Elly (as usual) and Elly sends Michael out—in the middle of the night—to find Lawrence.

    Michael is successful.

     •  Reply
  60. Missing large
    gojuguy  over 2 years ago

    Sadly, this is very representative of some people’s reality. I have a gay friend who told me that when he came out to his mother, she said, “oh, I’ve known forever…. but don’t tell your dad. He’d kill you.” Imagine how living with that in your head while growing up.

     •  Reply
  61. Missing large
    mlncostume Premium Member over 2 years ago

    I think that’s his point. I know many queer people who were kicked out of their “Christian” home using exactly those words, and more. This strip is staying very accurate to this experience.

     •  Reply
  62. Flag
    BluNova  over 2 years ago

    I don’t think this is what Connie had in mind.

     •  Reply
  63. Chaos rides
    bryan42  over 2 years ago

    This is basically what happened to a friend of mine when he told his family he was gay back around 1976. The only family member who would talk to him was his sister, who I was dating at the time. She and I didn’t date long but I remained friends with him until I left the state.

     •  Reply
  64. Missing large
    theoldidahofox  over 2 years ago

    Ignorance and intolerance is overwhelming, now jet propelled by the GOP.

     •  Reply
  65. Missing large
    phoenixnyc  over 2 years ago

    And I thought Canadians were supposed to be nicer than Americans.

     •  Reply
  66. 259027132 10227637754311686 4875445286281990069 n
    PammWhittaker  over 2 years ago

    Horrid man. Connie should kick HIM out, but she’s too busy feeling sorry for herself.

    I’ve had gay friends since high school, and several gay relatives. Our oldest niece here married her wife last year shortly after they had a daughter. She’s still our girl and always will be!

     •  Reply
  67. Cat lying on back t2
    BJIllistrated Premium Member over 2 years ago

    I’m not gong to read all the reply’s as this was already probably said, but if I were Connie, after the dust settles and she’s had time to think about all this I hope her response to this is to remove Greg from the picture ASAP, and beg her son to come home. Nobody deserves to be treated in this manner and Greg is to old to change his ways.

     •  Reply
  68. Balloon32
    freewaydog  over 2 years ago

    Don’t worry, Greg will feel bad.

     •  Reply
  69. Zh7uxue
    GreggW Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Bet he votes Conservative.

     •  Reply
  70. Cr
    cranefriend  over 2 years ago

    THROW GREG OUT

     •  Reply
  71. 20180812 203935
    dlaemmerhirt999  over 2 years ago

    WOW!!! I had yet to see a comic character THIS evil-hearted! D8 My guess is he stays with his confused buddy Michael! (I’d let the poor guy stay with me if I was their age.)

     •  Reply
  72. Missing large
    Bwingblue1  over 2 years ago

    Doesn’t live there anymore. Maybe if Michael has come to terms with it, he could crash there.

     •  Reply
  73. Donna
    stillfickled Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Wow, a lot of comments. Go to Michael.

     •  Reply
  74. Bob s headshot 2016
    bobgreenwade  over 2 years ago

    Greg (like far too many people) does not understand the difference between being and doing.

     •  Reply
  75. Gocomics
    liahonagirl  over 2 years ago

    I know this particular scenario (ie Lawrence and Greg) isn’t real . . . but it makes my mother-heart weep for those children for whom this IS far too real. I wish I could take them all into my home.

     •  Reply
  76. Missing large
    Michael McKown Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Man, that’s just pathetic.

     •  Reply
  77. Missing large
    radicalmom  over 2 years ago

    a new story line!!!! thanks lynne

     •  Reply
  78. 1968 avatar 1
    pamela welch Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Poor child; this happens to so very many children :-(

     •  Reply
  79. D952539c 76e6 4b04 9f6d e49839f8a4c5
    KROverton  over 2 years ago

    I am having a hard time ‘liking’ this arc as I am hating everyone’s reaction to Lawrence.

     •  Reply
  80. Cathy aack
    lindz.coop Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Well, those parents handled that well…not

     •  Reply
  81. Picture
    CoreyTaylor1  over 2 years ago

    Astounding, considering the roof isn’t even his! That bastard Greg doesn’t even show up in the strip in the six years since he and Connie eloped to get a free watch, so it can be assumed that he completely ignores Lawrence, and suddenly he kicks him out on the street! LAWRENCE AND CONNIE HAVE FAR MORE RIGHT TO LIVE THERE THAN THAT PIG EVER HAD!

     •  Reply
  82. Glam rock days
    sykerocker  over 2 years ago

    The (probably coincidental) timing of this strip is both perfect . . . . . and horrifying.

     •  Reply
  83. Yoursign
    Statick  over 2 years ago

    What HORRIBLE reaction as parents. Lawrence deserves better.

     •  Reply
  84. Naturalhairmecartoon
    Nicole ♫ ⊱✿ ◕‿◕✿⊰♫ Premium Member over 2 years ago

    If I were his mother, I’d kick my HUSBAND out and bring my son back in. I feel so bad for Lawrence. With parents like them, who needs enemies?

     •  Reply
  85. 37cdc61d 2dfd 4a3c 9796 a93e73f76317
    MCProfessor  over 2 years ago

    Sadly, this scene has played out this way in far too many households.

     •  Reply
  86. 62a621d6 88c3 4002 80e6 3c8a0215efdb
    missyhyattfan  over 2 years ago

    This makes me sad and angry!

     •  Reply
Sign in to comment

More From For Better or For Worse