MAGIC & COOKIE JOHNSON OPEN UP ABOUT THEIR SON COMING OUT AS GAY

Cookie and Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr., sat down with “Good Morning America” on Wednesday for a rare and candid joint conversation about living with Magic’s HIV-positive status and their collective journey to loving their gay son.

The interview was pegged to Believing in Magic: My Story of Love, Overcoming Adversity, and Keeping the Faith, Cookie’s new memoir, which detailed their 25-year marriage. While the interview is largely focused on the aftermath of the former NBA star’s historic announcement of his HIV status 20 years ago, the pair also discussed coming to accept their gay son, EJ’s sexuality.

Robin Roberts says in the above interview that Magic had a tough time with EJ’s coming out, initially not accepting his sexuality but later apologizing.

“I had to come to realize that he is who he is and he’s going to be happy,” Magic said to Roberts. “I knew he was looking for me to accept who he was and I had to get out of my own way and out of my macho [mentality].”

Cookie elaborated on Magic’s thoughts, saying she had to work through her religious beliefs.

“We know that religion says no, and I did have a big problem with that,” Cookie explained. “Ultimately, I just prayed to God and said God, ‘You reveal to me how you feel about this,’ and he was like ‘Love. Love your child.’ And that’s what I ― that’s what Jesus was about: love.”

Watch the interview for yourself above and head here for more information on Cookie’s memoir Believing in Magic: My Story of Love, Overcoming Adversity, and Keeping the Faith.

SOURCE: HUFFPOST QUEER VOICES

MAGIC JOHNSON TOLD ANTI-GAY PASTORS THAT HE LOVES HIS GAY SON

Earvin “Magic” Johnson said in an Anderson Cooper 360 interview that he loves his gay son.

Johnson, who tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, more than two decades ago, described himself as “the blessing and the curse of HIV.”

“I'm the blessing because people were talking about it, they ran out and got tested at that time,” Johnson told host Anderson Cooper. 

“Then I'm the curse because … people now say, 'Oh well, HIV is nothing because if I get it I can be like Magic. He's doing good, and I can do the same thing he's doing or take the same medicine he's taking and I'll be okay.' But what they don't understand, in 22 years, millions of people have died.”

On his 20-year-old gay son E.J., Johnson said “it was important that Cookie and I support our son. We love our son.”

And to pastors and Christians who voiced opposition, Johnson said he told them: “Hey, I love my son, nothing is going to change that. I don't care if you don't agree and you don't want to deal with me or don't like me, that's on you, but I said tell me when it hits your own family.”

SOURCE: ON TOP MAGAZINE