ESPN Profiles Morehead State's Kenneth Faried and Lesbian Mother

 

If there is one thing that you read today, make sure that it's ESPN.com's touching profile of Kenneth Faried, the breakout 6'8 basketball player at Kentucky's Morehead State University. Faried's mother is lesbian and he lovingly speaks of her, her battle with lupus and her relationship.

Before he was born, his grandmother died from complications of lupus and since he was in the fourth grade, his mother, Waudda (pronounced Wa-dee-uh), has battled the crippling disease that attacks the body without discretion. And then 10 years ago, his mother introduced Faried to Manasin Copeland, the woman that would become her wife.

"I think people have an aura about them and the first time I met her, I thought, 'I like this lady," Faried said. "And when they got married, that showed me what commitment is all about, that there are people out there that can commit, even though for them it really has been the worst of times. I look at them, what they've been through and I think, 'Wow. That's amazing.' They're amazing to me."

Faried, who was raised in Newark, talks about growing up with two moms and their civil union.

Together for in the neighborhood of a decade—10 years, according to Waudda and nine, says Copeland—the two made their bond legal on April 5, 2007 in the Newark City Hall municipal court."Some people just say for better or worse and some people mean it," said Waudda, who was in another relationship prior to meeting Copeland but discovered quickly that the other woman couldn't handle her disease. "I know she's in it for the long haul."

Faried knows there are people in the world that will not approve of the relationship between his mother and Copeland, whom he calls Oomie, the Arabic word for mother. Somehow, Faried never encountered them growing up. No teasing, no snickering, not a reaction at all.

"I think maybe I was just lucky because I lived in New Jersey," Faried said. "There's everything there, every culture, every lifestyle. I'm sure it would be a lot different if I grew up somewhere else."

Faried's easy acceptance is exactly what Waudda and Copeland hoped for. They have never had any long sit-downs about life lessons with their children (Copeland has four kids), not even so much as an explanation. There never had to be. They loved one another, they love their kids and now they love their nine grandkids.

Read the full story at ESPN. It's very beautiful.

Kenneth Faried's story is a sharp contrast to Dez Bryant, the rookie drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. Bryant had a troubled relationship with his mother, who had her son when she was only 15 years old and later came out as lesbian. The wide receiver says he has become "comfortable" with his mom's "change in sexual orientation" ... but "still" doesn't "like it".

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Comments

[405 S]

this story really makes me smile

[DBarr]

Now that's a mature young man! Kudos to moms for raising a wonderful person.

[Honut Sinti]

He is a beautiful son inside and outside.

[Jim]

Three cheers for New Jersey.

Now, if only its governor would catch up.

[robert]

this is a wonderful story. as far as Dez Bryant is concerned he said he did not like his mother's sexual preference but that did not mean he did not love her still as his mother. I think people get upset too easily when people like Dez are not as unconditionally supportive as Kenneth is of his mother and her relationship.

[justme]

It made me cry after reading the whole story what a beautiful young man. The man upstairs is on his side. His parents must be so very proud of him...just beautiful.

[Zahraha Faried]

I have had to sit back and hear quite alot from others about our family but the 1 thing I never hear about is how his father has been there his whole entire life never not once did he not be ther 4 hiis son! When is somebody going to ask the question about what is ur relationship with ur father!! how did he empact ur life. Kenneth Sr. has always taken on many diffrent things that have came his way reguarding his mother lifestyle his father has not only taken care of his son but also the son of her life mate. Waudda was in and out of the hospital because of the illness . her lifemate spent most of the time with her at the hospital day and night .So let it be said that He has always been there 4 his and others as well. carrol son . Peolple always think the worst about or inner city children but this is a diffrent tune HIS FATHER IS NOT JUST A DAD HE IS A FATHER WHO DID NOT JUST LEAVE WAUDDA TO RISE HIM BY HERSELF SO PLEASE STOP