I hope the personal version of the reply was a bit more specific about what "don't lay it on too thick" entails, just because I think LW could use the guidance. But/and omg I hope hope hope LW takes this advice. Apologizing -- treating his son and wife as full humans -- and modeling realizing one is wrong and changing and doing better -- can be absolutely momentous, not to mention apologizing for homophobia to a possibly queer kid (though of course he should apologize regardless, as Prudie pointed out). I hope hope hope so hard for them.