Parents Traci and Andre called life coach Iyanla Vanzant for help because they feel their two children -- 24-year-old Jovan and 20-year-old Jazmin -- are making life choices that are not only tearing the family apart, but also causing them serious health problems.
Three years ago, Jovan came out to his parents and Andre has been struggling with the idea ever since. In this video from "Iyanla: Fix My Life," Iyanla urges father and son to have an open discussion. She asks Andre to explain why he chose to deny his son's sexuality at first.
"The emotion that I experienced was that it's shameful, or it's wrong, it's ugly," Andre says.
Jovan says he doesn't have any shame around his sexuality anymore, but he did in the past. "I had shame and I lied to myself, and I was just as scared," he says. "[I] thought it was just as disgusting and didn't want anyone to know my whole life, as well."
While speaking with Andre the previous day, Iyanla discovered that when Andre thinks of his son as a gay man, he only thinks of the physical side.
Hearing that, Jovan says, "If all you can see in me is the disgusting man that sleeps with other men, then you don't need to be a part of my life at all."
"You do more as a gay man that just sleep with other men," Iyanla says.
"Right," Jovan says.
Iyanla asks Andre if he's open to having more conversations with Jovan and learning more about who he truly is.
"Yes, I'm open," Andre says.
Also in the video, the family discusses 20-year-old Jazmin's choice to get engaged before the family thought she was ready.
"Iyanla: Fix My Life" airs Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on OWN.
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