Photo: Instagram
Disgusting.
By Rebecca Jane Stokes — Written on Jun 29, 2019
Some families are better than others when it comes to raising LGBTQ kids. For some families, learning about their child's sexual orientation can come with a bit of a learning curve, while for others who their child chooses to love doesn't change anything at all. Other families, well, they have themselves a bit of a learning curve and that can be brutal.
Let's hope that's what's going on with former reality star Jim Marchese. He is currently in the news for cutting off his son, James Marchese, after learning that the young man is gay. Here's what we know so far and what his son is doing to fend for himself. Who is Jim Marchese?
1. Cutting Ties
Amber Marchese might not have been on The Real Housewives of New Jersey for more than a season back in 2014, but her family made an impression, particularly, her very "religious" hubby, Jim Marchese. Even now Jim is remembered by fans of the Real Housewives franchises as one of the worst proverbial "House husbands" ever to grace the show.
While he is no longer on the show (and neither is Amber, duh) Jim's name is still in the public eye, and obviously it's not for anything good. Right now, Jim is being accused by his son James of cutting him off financially (and in every single other way, unfortunately) all because of his issues with his son's sexual orientation. Classy move, Jim. Real classy.
2. What Happened?
According to Jim's son, 19-year-old James Michael Marchese, his father hasn't spoken to him in a year ever since his father discovered text messages on his cell phone that made it clear to him that his son was a gay man. Jim confronted James about the texts, effectively making it clear that he would be cutting all ties with his offspring because of who he loves. Jim didn't just cut him off emotionally either, though that would be bad enough. He's allegedly removed his financial support. On June 15th James went ahead and set up a a GoFundMe page where he is asking for $35,000 in order to help him meet the payments for enrollment at Fairfield University, where tuition, room and board and fees can add up to around $65,000.
3. His Own Words
James doesn't mince words on the page. “At the beginning of 2018, my father ‘found out’ I was gay,” he wrote on the site. “...My father has been slowly cutting ties with me until I ‘live according to his standards.’ Essentially, this meant — and still means — that I have to be ‘straight’ and date women while ‘admitting’ that I chose to be gay." He went on to say: With this, my father has refused to help in paying for any schooling because he believes I have to live in his home and follow his preferred lifestyle to be good enough to receive any financial assistance with school.” James certainly isn't afraid to mince words. This is a public declaration of who he is, and he isn't backing down just because of his father's bad behavior and threats.
4. Shows of Support
Luckily, James doesn't have to rely on his father. He's been making his own inroads to raising the money and not just by setting up his GoFundMe page. He spoke to Page Six about his efforts to raise funds. “[I've] been working really hard these past two years to try to get as many scholarships as [I] can to attend Fairfield."
“With not being able to get a co-signer for student loans and me not being able to just take out student loans without a co-signer, I turned to GoFundMe to try raise money just for the rest of the cost for my first year of tuition, because I’m currently working to build up my credit score, so that I can just take out a loan without the co-signer next year and the subsequent years as well,” he said.
5. Where's Mom?
So where is James' mom in all of this? It's a good question. His mother is a woman named Rebecca Grande (also my stripper name, JK) who also goes by the name Rebecca L. DePeri and she's had her own financial woes to reckon with. In 2005 she filed for bankruptcy and was arrested and pled guilty to stealing money in 2012. Currently, she is still repairing that debt of $32,000
James knows that he doens't technically have to go to school and that there are plenty of other options, but he says that Fairfield "feels like home to me." Luckily, Bravo stars like Lisa Vanderpump, Danielle Staub, and Ariana Madix have joined the throngs of people who are visiting his page and making donations to help him reach his goals.
Rebecca Jane Stokes is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York with her cats, Batman and Margot. She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime.