• TikTok user Sierra Orth was afraid to come out to her father
• Her father, Robbie, found out about it from someone else, but he didn’t have a negative reaction, despite Sierra’s fears.
• The relationship between the two men evolved over the years and new traditions were formed between the two.

A woman who was once afraid to come out to her father has gone viral on TikTok after sharing how the news brought them closer together – even sparking a tradition of them drinking beer and “talking about women” in their local sports bar.

In a video posted on the social platform, Sierra Orth can be seen drinking a beer in a bar, as the text says: “8 years ago I was afraid to tell my father that I was gay Now we go out once a week, have a drink.” beer and I’m just talking about women.

As the camera pans, Sierra’s father Robbie raises his glass.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Sierra says she never “came out” directly to her father. Instead, he discovered it second-hand when she was a teenager.

“My parents were the last to know. I told my close group of friends and even some of their parents. We live in a one-stop town, so I was pretty scared that it might s ‘escape,’ the Ohio native said.

But one day, Robbie found out via text message – even though it was news she had wanted to tell him herself.

“We told him, ‘Hey, Sierra’s gay,’ and he didn’t really have a negative reaction,” says Sierra, now 24. “I found out when I was 14… so there was a gap of two to three years where I knew but didn’t say anything. Trying to find the courage to spit it out was the hardest part. difficult.”

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Since coming out, Sierra says she and her father “have a different relationship now.”

“We’re both dating, so I’m open about my love life to him and he tells me. So in that way, my coming out helps the relationship,” she adds.

Robbie tells PEOPLE that he “never had a problem” with his daughter’s coming out as gay.

“I was like, ‘Hey, I’m not telling you who to love. I didn’t bring you into this world to tell you that you need a white picket fence and all that. I just want you to be a good person.” “Love who you love,” the self-described “military man” tells PEOPLE of that first conversation.

“And then we talk about girlfriends,” Robbie adds with a laugh.

Sierra says the reaction to her videos featuring her father has been overwhelmingly positive, with many approaching her saying it gave them the courage to come out to their own parents.

“A lot of people send me messages like, ‘You helped me see my true, authentic self,'” she says. “Back when I was in this position and trying to figure out who I was, it would have meant a lot to me to see someone else who went through this. Now, almost a decade later late, people come to me in this position.. it’s a full experience I think about it.

Parents of gay teenagers also spoke out.

In a comment on Sierra’s TikTok, a father wrote that his own daughter hadn’t spoken to him for two years, fearing what his reaction would be if she came out as gay. “She finally told me,” the commenter added. “My response: ‘You think I didn’t know? Come give your dad a hug. I love you little girl.’ ”

“People make comments all the time, like, ‘I wish my parents were this supportive,'” Robbie, who has two sons in addition to her daughter, tells PEOPLE. “When you read that, as a father, it’s hard to read. I just can’t imagine my kids not being comfortable enough to say something like that to me.”

He continues: “I would encourage parents who hear such news to be open-minded, accept it, support it and listen to it. Even those who think they disagree with this, they really need to think about their position and be open to it. This is what allows your child to be open with you.