In a short paragraph, email us your pitch: Harmonious moments in cross-cultural love Chances are there's others facing the same highs, lows and life experiences. Paul is very patient, and he is giving me the space to handle things at my own pace.ĪBC Everyday's Perspectives is all about giving you a chance to share what you're going through.
As for whether I will come out with them in the future, maybe only time will tell.Īlthough Paul's family and I got along very well and they are just like my family, he is still just a "housemate" in my family's eyes. Unable to share my life in Australia with my family sometimes makes me feel tired, but I know I can't rush it. This conversation made me realise that compared with Paul's coming out experience, coming out with my family will be a long and rocky road. I wanted to "confess" directly at that moment, but I held back.
He went on to say, "I don't care what other people do, as long as my son is not gay!" When I heard that, I was speechless. When I heard his words, I immediately became angry and started arguing with him. The next morning, I received a phone call from my dad, who told me that homosexuality only exists in foreign countries, and there is no homosexuality in China. This has something to do with my previous experience of "testing the water and coming out of the closet" with them. Although all my friends in Australia know about my sexual orientation, I haven't come out to my parents in China. My coming out experience is very different from his. His mother said, "I knew it for a long time! Do you want me to tell the rest of the family for you? So that you don't have to say it again. 'Fully coming out' and 'half coming out'īorn and raised in Australia, Paul came out to his parents at an early age. Of course, there have been quarrels, as well as the distress, joys, and embarrassment caused by cultural differences.īut overall, it is our differences that help us get to know, and like each other, better. We spent a long time living together in lockdown. That was three and-a-half years ago - and we've been together ever since. When I first came to Australia to study, I met Paul* on a dating app.Īfter several dates, we just felt right.