Channel 7
Australia watched in horror last week as Bride & Prejudice’s Chris was brutally shut down by his parents, due to their beliefs about homosexuals.
In the emotionally charged segments, Chris’ parents Yvonne and Geoff refused to meet his fiance Grant, 32, or attend their upcoming wedding. While hearts broke across the nation for Chris, audiences will be glad to meet Chris’ ‘surrogate mum’, Yvonne’s younger sister Alison, who has supported him over the years when his sister couldn’t.
Alison reveals to New Idea how difficult it’s been watching her nephew and sister struggle throughout the years.
It’s been an emotional roller-coaster,’ she admits with a heavy heart. ‘We’ve always avoided the topic [of Chris’ homosexuality] to preserve everybody’s dignity and have respect for each other. Of course, that doesn’t exclude people from getting hurt.’
As a child, Chris, now 39, was very gentle, which was one of the things that brought him and Alison together.
‘When he was little, Chris was a lot more sensitive, very creative,’ explains Alison, who like her sister, has experienced life as a Jehovah’s Witness, but has now distance herself from the religion.
He was more gentle than the other kids. I’m like that and that’s why we connect. It’s not in me to be too harsh or hard. I’m flexible and understanding.’
For the full story, see this week’s New Idea – out now.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
