True love doesn’t really have a certain age, a specific timeline, or even a particular circumstance. We keep hearing these sayings a lot. However, Christian Ownes’ grandmother is proving it right!


What happened?

Christian Owens shared a sweet video that went viral on the social networking app TikTok , detailing her grandparents’ 63-year marriage.

However, that love story came with a twist.

For more than six decades, Owens’ grandfather, Donald, was living as a gay man, and her grandmother, Elida, was bisexual. The revelation came after Donald’s death in July 2021. It was then his family spoke about how he never got to live his truth as a gay man.

Owens told People how Elida shocked her family when she revealed that she was attracted to women and announced, “At least I get to live mine now.”

Elida told People, "Being able to live as my true self now means more to me than freedom, it is freedom. Please don’t get me wrong, I loved my husband so much. We had a beautiful life together, but not being able to be our true selves made us felt like we were in a prison."

Owens revealed that the pair’s love story began decades ago when Elida and Donald crossed paths at a club in West Hollywood known for its LGBTQ+ nightlife scene. As per Owens, “They started out as friends” and that “they were inseparable.”

Elida moved to Los Angeles from Colombia at 18 years old, while Donald was working as an artist in Hollywood. They decided to get married due to the discrimination around sexual orientation at the time.

Owens said, "With my grandmother being an immigrant, him being in Hollywood, and it not being accepted, they said 'Okay, why don't we get married’." She added, “My grandparents had an arrangement. When my grandfather was home, he prioritized him and her and their family.” This arrangement allowed them to present a conventional front to the world while privately acknowledging their true selves.

However, Owen revealed that they were able to date people outside of their marriage as long as they followed a set of rules.

Despite their differences around sexuality, Owens revealed how deeply they respected each other, saying, “My grandfather worshiped the ground she walked on. He did everything. He opened doors for her. He paid bills. He was even the stay-at-home dad so she could pursue her dream.”


Life for Elida now:

After Donald passed away, now at 90 years old, Elida is embracing her sexuality, with her family’s full support.

Owens revealed her long family history of acceptance, noting that Elida's daughter is a lesbian, her son-in-law is bisexual with three gay brothers, and Owens, herself, identifies as a lesbian.


Living in an environment of acceptance within the family had made coming out easy, as Owens remembered feeling "very protected" when coming out herself. She remembered that being the norm throughout her childhood. So when Elida came out, Owens even joked about helping her grandmother find a date, saying, "This would be a good time to post your video about you being gay, and then I can get you a girlfriend."

As Owens reflected on her grandmother’s journey, she revealed that one lesson remained important to her, "It's never too late to love who you love, and there’s nothing wrong with loving who you love."


What is Lavender marriage ?


A lavender marriage is a marriage between a man and a woman where one or both partners are homosexual, and the marriage is a way to hide their sexual orientation. The term originated in the early 20th century, when the color lavender was associated with homosexuality.

Lavender marriages are often marriages of convenience, and are a way to protect the partners from societal persecution, legal consequences, or personal hardship. They can also be a way to preserve careers and protect public reputations.