An agony aunt is being applauded after she sarcastically mocked a parent's homophobic embarrassment over her gay son.
Amy Dickinson, a columnist for the Washington Post, sardonically suggested the worried parent might consider changing their own sexuality to teach their son 'an important lesson'.
The American added they should show their son 'that a person's sexuality is a matter of choice - to be dictated by one's parents, the parents' church and social pressure'.
Ms Dickinson has received countless messages of support on Twitter for her pro-gay stance.
The letter reads: "Dear Amy, I have recently discovered that my son, who is 17, is a homosexual. We are part of a church group and I fear that if people in that group find out, they will make fun of me for having a gay child.
"He won't listen to reason and he won't stop being gay. I feel as though he is just getting back to me for forgetting his birthday for the past three years - I have a busy work schedule.
"Please help him make the right choice in life by not being gay. He won't listen to me, so maybe he will listen to you -- Feeling Betrayed."
Amy replies: "Dear Betrayed: You could teach your son an important lesson by changing your own sexuality to show him how easy it is. Try it for the next year or so: Stop being a heterosexual to demonstrate to your son that a person's sexuality is a matter of choice - to be dictated by one's parents, the parents' church and social pressure."
But she adds more seriously: "I assume that my suggestion will evoke a reaction that your sexuality is at the core of who you are. The same is true for your son. He has a right to be accepted by his parents for being exactly who he is.
"Pressuring your son to change his sexuality is wrong. If you cannot learn to accept him as he is, it might be safest for him to live elsewhere."
More on Parentdish: Talking to kids about homosexuality. Really not a big deal.