projectqueer:

Randy Phillips, a 21-year-old from Alabama, who recorded himself coming out to his dad on Tuesday when the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ban was lifted, has now become a hero to hundreds of thousands as his video makes it around the globe.

Phillips first chronicled his trials as a closeted soldier stationed at Ramstein Air Base Germany anonymously, shooting videos that didn’t reveal his face. But in his heartbreaking video, below, he comes out to his dad on speakerphone, first asking if his father will always love him, no matter what.

Then he tells him that he’s gay.

There’s a long pause.

But finally, his dad says, “OK.” And also “I love you” and “I’m proud of you.”

Phillips has become a sensation, his story covered on all the major networks and his video on the front page of the It Gets Better project.

The video now has almost 2.5 million views.

Click the link above to watch the video.