Jimmy returns to update Karamo on his relationship with his mother after moving out following their first episode. He's now coaching cheerleading and gymnastics at his alma mater, and his mother has become more open, though they still rarely say the word gay. His story has inspired people worldwide.
Chapters
Jimmy was previously on my show with his mother to work on their strained relationship. He is one of 12 siblings and believed his mother Amanda treated him differently because he's gay. Take a look.
It just hurts. I want her to look at me more than just my sexuality. I'm not gay, I'm Jimmy.
Have you ever been close with your mom?
When I was younger, my mom and I were very close, but that's whenever the confusion, the back and forth was started. She would one moment tell me that I could be whatever I wanted to be in the world, and then the next moment she would tell me, "Put that hula hoop down, that's for girls." I was born this way. This is not a choice that I made. I don't want to be ridiculed. Got it.
I know that you were in college and that you had to stop because your grandmother passed, correct? And so you moved outta your mom's house? I'm sorry. What made you emotional right there? Here you go.
I'm so sorry.
It's okay. Talk to me.
Here you go.
Here you go. Here you go.
I'm sorry.
What happened, Karamo?
I'm so sorry.
Give me a hug. Give me a hug. Give me a hug. Give me a hug. What happened?
My grandma is the only person that's ever made me feel like I'm normal. God. You see, Dad, I don't have anybody. Nobody can look at me. I love him, but I don't have to like what he does. You don't, but you have to respect it. I've never said anything about you being— your sexuality. You constantly telling me G-A-Y. That is not a thing. G-A-Y? Gay?
I wanna give you a second to take a break in the green room, and I wanna talk to your mom alone. Do you have any shame in your heart that you have a gay child?
No, I'm not ashamed of him. I don't understand it. I don't understand it, so I don't speak on it.
Would you be open to talking to him more to understand who he is and understand more about his sexuality?
Yes.
You being able to say that I'm willing to learn will be a big step.
I am.
Jimmy, your mother and I talked and she has something that she would like to share with you.
I'm willing to learn who you are and I do accept you, I love you, and I'm sorry. For making me feel good.
Today he's joining me virtually with an update on how things have been since the show. Everyone, please help me welcome Jimmy. Hey Jimmy, it's so great to see you again. How you been since the show?
I've been good. I'm making it.
Okay, what's happening?
I'm just working right now. Shortly after the show, I took some of your advice and I started thinking about me. So I moved out.
Good. Okay. How has that process been?
It's been good. My mom and I talk a lot more now. We have a better open line of communication now that we're at a distance, so.
Good, good, good. So is she able to say the word gay?
We don't really talk about it, but it doesn't bother me anymore 'cause I mean, to each their own. Mm-hmm, okay. I've done a lot of self-reflecting and now it's about me.
Got it, okay then. How do your friends and family react to the show?
I wake up to like messages from all over the world from people telling me how I inspired them from telling my story and that just makes me not regret it.
Got it, yeah. I hear all the time, people be like, Oh, it's Jimmy.
I love Jimmy.
Jimmy was so great.
He inspired me to be so—
And I'm like, that's the impact you had by having the courage to tell your truth and also to say, Mom, just see me for who I am and love me. So I want you to know that you did that and helped other people.
Okay.
So what are you doing for work?
Right now I'm coaching cheer and gymnastics at a gym that I'm actually an alumni of.
Good.
So I get to coach alongside my coaches. [Speaker] Good. [Speaker] Which is really fun.
[Speaker] So listen, I know you said that things are just okay. I want you to understand that if you have some feelings, if you have something going on, you can reach out to me, Jimmy, okay? I understand what it is to be young. I understand what it is to be brilliant and to be Black and to be gay, okay? And you have all those qualities in yourself. And so sometimes we need a little guidance on that path. So if you need something, I'm here for you, okay?
Thank you.
You're welcome. It really does warm my heart to see you on this road to success and you finding your way because you're very, very special, okay? No, no, no fingers crossed needed. You got this, trust me. And the reason I know it, the reason I know it is 'cause I've been there. The sky is the limit.
It ain't even a limit.
You can go beyond. Well, listen, thank you, Jimmy, for giving me a little update. All right, listen, everyone, Stay with us. We'll be right back with more I Love Jimmy.
