###Bride & Prejudice: The Forbidden Weddings
From Monday 30 January at 9:00PM
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###GRANT & CHRIS, NSW
A gay couple who face opposition from Chris’ devout Jehovah’s Witness mother and Army father.
Bar manager Grant, who’s originally from the US, was travelling around the world when he met Chris three years ago.
“First port of call was Australia,” Grant says. “He was out with his friends. I was out with my friends. Eyes across the bar and I threw everyone out of my way as I made a beeline for him. I just knew!”
Chris, a General Manager for a logistics company, adds: “It was instant chemistry. The best things happen when you least expect it.”
They had a long distance relationship for a year before Grant relocated to Sydney. “I finally decided to move across the world for him,” Grant says.
“I have an immeasurable amount of love for Chris. I’ve never been in a relationship that has lasted as long as this and has meant as much as this has.”
Chris popped the question last year with a surprise picnic by Sydney Harbour and a choir singing their song. “It was beautiful,” Grant says. “When your best friend asks you to be their best friend
forever, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Grant’s parents have always accepted his homosexuality; however Chris’s parents have struggled and remain uncomfortable with his way of life.
Chris, who was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, realised he was gay when he was five. His parents, Yvonne and Geoff, object but for different reasons.
“I have a strict Christian mother and a solider for a father. They believe homosexuality is a sin. That’s it’s not natural. I remember for years and years trying, hoping, that I wasn’t and trying to pray it away.”
Chris has not spoken to his parents for over a year and has not seen them for over two and they are yet to meet their future son-in-law.
“Deep down you just want your parents to say we’re proud of you and my parents haven’t,” Chris says, choking back tears.
The couple are desperate for their blessing but, with such staunch opposition, it won’t be an easy task.
Chris says: “I’m hoping they put their prejudices aside and really get to know me and my partner and celebrate like a normal family. I’m hopeful but not entirely optimistic.”
###MARINA & DONNY, SA
A multicultural couple battling the disapproval of Marina’s mother.
A holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand, changed the lives of Donny, 33, and Marina, 31, forever.
Account Manager Donny recalls the moment he first laid eyes on his bride-to-be two years ago. “She was a blonde bombshell at the time,” he says. “What attracted me was she’s beautiful, gorgeous and full of life.”
Four months after meeting, Donny left Melbourne to begin a new life with sales rep Marina in Adelaide.
Sadly, it hasn’t been smooth sailing since their idyllic first encounter.
Donny is of Indian descent while Marina’s family is Russian. “I feel like my mother doesn’t approve of my partner being dark skinned and Indian,” Marina says. “Her preference would be Australian…white Australian.”
Now they’re engaged, Marina admits she will struggle without the support of her mother.
“I don’t want to choose between mum and Donny. I want mum to accept him into our family and to see him as someone that could be a son to her.”
Donny says they’ll be heartbroken if she refuses to attend their nuptials. “This is a day every girl
dreams of,” he says. “To not have your own mother at your wedding would be gut-wrenching.”
Marina was born in Kiev before immigrating to New Zealand with her parents when she was 11. When her parents divorced, she moved to Adelaide at age 20 to be with her mother, Natalia.
The women had shared an unbreakable bond until Marina met Donny. “I never had any problems with her,” Natalia says. “First time I met Donny I did have doubts because he is Indian.
“She was born in the Ukraine. [They’re from] absolutely different backgrounds. Of course every mother only wants the best for their daughter.”
Donny’s parents and Marina’s father Tony are supportive of the union but Natalia remains opposed.
To get their happily ever after Donny knows they’ll have to convince Natalia to change her mind.
“I’d just like Marina’s mum to accept me for who I am, my culture and the colour of my skin,” Donny says. “The worst part of all is it’s coming from the mother of the woman I love.
“I’d love to get closer to Marina’s mother and be that son-in-law she’s looking for.”
###COURTNEY & BRAD, NSW
Two young lovers who are too immature to be together according to Brad’s mum.
Young lovers Courtney, 20, and Brad, 18, met 5 years ago and have been together ever since.
“It was love at first sight,” says sales representative Courtney. “Brad thought I was the prettiest out of the girls and we just clicked.”
Having grown up together, they see a long future ahead including marriage.
But not if Brad’s mum, Sherrie, has anything to
do with it. She hasn’t seen Courtney for two years and thinks their relationship is toxic.
“They lived together with me two years ago,”
she says. “They used to have the best fights you’ve ever seen in your life. It’d be on for young and old; slamming doors, screaming at each other.”
Sherrie says she had no choice but to kick Courtney out. She fears getting married and having kids young will ultimately ruin their lives. “He’s my boy,” she says. “The last thing I’ll have is some girl taking my boy away from me.”
Courtney can’t understand why she feels this way. “It’s hurtful,” she says. “What have I done that is so wrong?”
Courtney’s mother Sheena doesn’t share Brad’s mother’s views, with the couple now living under her roof. “I was in love at 18 and I see the potential for young people to have real love and make it work,” Sheena says.
Greenkeeper Brad feels caught between his warring mother and young bride-to-be. The biggest problem in my life is that Courtney and my mum don’t get along,” he says. “I just want approval from my mum. It would mean a lot to me.”
Courtney dreams of the perfect wedding day but she knows it will be spoiled if Brad’s mum is a no-show. “The biggest fear is that Brad’s mum won’t come and Brad wouldn’t want to marry me.
“It’s supposed to be my perfect day. I don’t want anything to ruin it.”
Brad agrees it would put a major dampener on their special day. “I’d be pretty disappointed,” he says. “It wouldn’t be the day I wanted. She could be the whole make or break in this relationship.”
###GARRAD & ELIZABETH, VIC
A pair whose 16 year age gap has earned the ire of family particularly Elizabeth’s sisters.
Age is no barrier especially for Elizabeth and Garrad who have 16 years between them.
The Melbourne couple met three years ago at a casino where they both work as dealers. “We got to know each other slowly as friends,” Elizabeth says. “I felt really good in Garrad’s presence.”
Romance blossomed a year ago but it hasn’t been smooth sailing.
Elizabeth, 40, and Garrad, 24, have been the target of snark remarks by people who doubt their relationship will survive the big age gap.
“I knew Liz was significantly older,” Garrad says. “But it didn’t worry or dissuade me in any way. At work we were judged and stared at.”
Labelled a ‘cougar,’ Elizabeth has been married before and has two sons aged 15 and 20 while Garrad has never been close to marriage or having kids of his own.
Garrad’s immediate family approve of his unconventional relationship but his extended family are not so sure.
Meanwhile Elizabeth’s family, particularly her younger sister Katerina, are very sceptical claiming “he’s a baby” and “he’ll outgrow her.”
“First time I met Garrad was at Liz’s 40th birthday,” Katerina says. “He seemed like a great guy but honestly I was in a bit of shock. He could be her son. Not long after that, they were moving in together and I was like, ‘What are you doing?’”
“When Garrad is Liz’s age, she’ll be on the old age pension!”
The tension has caused problems within the relationship but so far their love has triumphed despite the rocky start.
They recently became engaged but telling Elizabeth’s family won’t be easy. “I love my sister and I want her to be part of it,” Elizabeth says. “My biggest fear is my family not turning up to me wedding.”
She says Garrad is the man for her and is desperate for her family’s approval. “I don’t have a relationship with him based on age. He’s the most beautiful man on the planet.
I just knew Garrad was the person I wanted to marry.”
Will Elizabeth’s family ever accept that age is just a number?
###CHARITY & PHOEBE, NSW
A lesbian couple combatting Charity’s family’s Christian faith.
Sydney couple Charity, 32, and Phoebe, 27, met at a DVD store three years ago.
Phoebe noticed Charity looking forlorn perusing the romantic movie aisle and a friendship eventually flourished into love.
“It was a beautiful friendship that was formed and it progressed from there,” says musician Charity.
Environmentalist Phoebe describes their relationship as a big adventure. “We do a lot of camping, hiking, swimming and go on some epic adventures together. We have a lot of fun.”
While Phoebe’s parents are supportive of her relationship, Charity’s conservative family have struggled with her sexuality.
As the daughter of two pastors, Charity was brought up in a very strict Christian environment.
“My parents believe in the Bible and are Born Again Christians so their viewpoint on marriage is that it’s between a man and a woman,” Charity says. “They truly don’t understand how I could actually love another woman.”
She realised she was gay in her late teens and that is when she began to question her involvement in the church. “If God is love, I don’t honestly believe I’ll be condemned to hell for loving another human being.”
Charity still loves her parents and enjoys a great relationship with them despite their failure to acknowledge or discuss her love for Phoebe.
The pair recently became engaged and the news was met with a lukewarm response and no
congratulations. “When I told them the news, they were pretty unresponsive,” Charity says. “They bury their head in the sand and pretend that it doesn’t necessarily exist. I would like my parents not to treat our relationship like it’s invisible.”
The couple wants to have the blessing of Charity’s family before locking down wedding plans, but with their staunch indifference, it won’t be easy.
“We both adore each other and that’s why we want to get married,” Charity says. “We’re looking forward to having our nearest and dearest celebrating our love essentially.
“But I think at this stage, my parents won’t attend a wedding for Phoebe and I. You want your loved ones to fully support all the decisions you make in your life. It’s not full acceptance of who you are as a person and that hurts.”
