"Dear Abby" always gives it to you straight. This week the syndicated advice columnist fielded a letter from a God-fearing family man haunted by his queer past:

DEAR ABBY: I have been married 36 years to a woman who has saved my life and soul. We are both faithful to God and to our marriage, sharing the love of our family. We are blessed in many ways—including a great son who is self-sufficient and prospering, and a daughter who is married and takes on any challenge with confidence.

I have one guilt-filled issue I have never shared with my wife. Prior to meeting her, for nearly 12 years through my military service and college years, I was actively bisexual. I'm not proud of this fact but learned it was more out of loneliness and experimentation than need.

This is the only thing I have never shared with my love, and I wonder if I should, as it weighs heavy on my heart. It melts me when she says "I love you" and thanks me for sharing my life with her. I have prayed to God about this. Should I share this with my wife?—DIFFERENT PERSON NOW

"I see nothing positive to be gained by opening this long-closed chapter of your life with your wife at this late date," Abby tersely responded, not pointing out that a person's sexuality can't be changed or prayed away. "Because you feel the need to talk about this, do it with your spiritual adviser." And there you have it, Mr. Different.

“Dear Abby” author Abigail Van Buren is the pseudonym of Jeanne Phillips, whose mother launched the iconic advice column in 1954.

In 2014 Phillips famously shut down a homophobic Florida couple who were excluding their gay neighbors. The next year she memorably advised “Heartbroken Gay Granny,” a lesbian grandmother whose homophobic son was keeping her from seeing her grandkids.

Phillips was honored in 2007 by PFLAG for promoting the LGBTQ organization and consistently supporting the LGBTQ community in her columns.