「約束の再会」

Author of A Blind Date Astroina lives in a country where the LGBT community is small and hidden. Though Astroina is not LGBT, he is a supporter and hopes that the future will change for the LGBT

(Names are pseudonyms to protect their identity)

By Alex N.
June 4, 2020 (31 years nothing happened in China)

Astroina is from South Asia, he is a university graduate and also a very popular writer on Wattpad. He enjoys reading, listening to 80s/90s music and watching lots of Japanese anime. And because of one certain person, he still watches a romantic comedy once a week.

Interviewer: So what made you write LGBT stories?

Astroina:I write on this topic is because I couldn't find enough variety. I have read a lot of LGBT stories, but I felt that there wasn't enough genre. Most of the popular stories are TeacherxStudent or something like that. So I wanted to bring something new.

Interviewer:What made you read stories with LGBT topics to begin with?

Astroina: I have always been open minded. I think the first time I saw a same sex couple was in a movie called "Imagine me and you". I was really young at that time and it seemed normal to me. I did some research, read some stories and that's how I became a part of this.

(Imagine me and you – British film from 2005)

Interviewer:So it seems some people support LGBT due to slash fan fiction, with you it was because of film. Are your family fairly open minded if they allowed you to watch that film? Because I feel that film would be banned in your country?

Astroina:I saw it on the internet. As for my family, I would say they are fairly open minded. But I don't think they know about the LGBTQ community either. It might seem unreal but that's the truth.
And my country has a different parenting system than others. We are a poor country. Parents are busy. And we grow up among our friends and stuff. So watching porn, smoking from young age is pretty normal. In short they don’t know what we do when we are by our-self. Even my parents do not know my views on LGBT, and I see no reasons in telling them so.

Interviewer:Do you know any LGBT family, friends or classmates?

Astroina:Nope. All I know is from the internet. I guess it’s a good thing that I found the good part in there. Otherwise I would have become a member of the "Westboro Baptist Church" (chuckle).

Interviewer:As you said, parents are busy so kids do a lot of wild stuff therefore do you think young people are more open minded?

Astroina:Nope. 100% not. Simple example = **A lot of atheists were murdered in public places just because of their thoughts and opinions. **And a lot of people support those murders. You can guess why.

Interviewer:I probably should have asked you a lot earlier, but are you LGBT yourself?

Astroina:Nope. I am straight. You probably didn’t expect that answer (chuckle).

Interviewer:But as your views are progressive, would you support LGBT movements in your country?

Astroina: I will be honest here. If I am in spotlight, then nope. I am a coward. If it was some other country where free speech is a thing and people don't get killed for what they say, then I would go for it. But in this country you don’t' want to say something against the majority.

Here, the LGBT community is likely hidden and also tiny. I think most of the people would just leave for a western country. For their safety I think its the best option.

Please let me elaborate and share my own view here=

I feel like people's view on LGBT community depends a lot on religion. If we talk about Christianity - "Homosexuality is Sin". In Islam - "Homosexuality is a Sin"......It's written in the holy books. So I guess we can see why it's not seen as a good thing. But my POV is different because there is no such thing as "Homosexuality is a sin" in my religion. So when I was a kid, I wasn't taught that it was a bad thing. So when I grew up, I looked at LGBT community like it was a new thing. And I analyzed it with my own thoughts. There was no higher being telling me that it was a sin. So I started understanding it. And that's how I started supporting it. But it's not the case for most of the people in my country. It's a religious country. If they were to ask, if they support LGBT. They would say no cause it's in the holy book. They don't know much about it because they have never tried to understand it. They will say whatever they were taught since they were kids.

I myself am not even that religious.

Interviewer: Do you worry about your own safety when you write LGBT stories?

Astroina: That's why I never use any information from my personal life. Our country isn't that bad. We don't know about the LGBT; we don't talk about LGBT. As long as that's your motto, it's all good. But if you try to change the society then we have a big problem.

Interviewer: Just to confirm its dangerous to have different views in your country?

Astroina:Yup. Just go with the general views. But in the future I would love to be a part of different point of views.

Interviewer: What do you hope to gain from writing LGBT stories = do you hope more LGBT will love who they are? Or realize they are not alone?

Astroina: Not really. I am not an influencer. I write stories because I love doing it. And I don't write only LGBT related stories. So I can't say that I write to influence people. Because that would be a lie. I write for entertainment. That's all.

Interviewer: Most of your writing are only lesbians and not on other parts of the LGBT society, may I ask why you only write about lesbians?

Astroina: I tried writing a story with a gay character. But I just couldn't portray the romantic aspect. When I write a lesbian story. I know what to write. I know what I like most in a girl. I know what will make me interested in that certain person. But I can't do the same thing for gay story. Because I will only be able to portray the characteristics. I can't portray the physical aspect. Like what will make me swoon over him? Why would I be interested in him but no one else. That's why I gave up midway of a story.

Interviewer: You mentioned other countries being safer earlier, India seems more friendly towards LGBT, do LGBT individuals from your country seek to go there instead? Or perhaps some choose to go other western countries?

Astroina: I don't think they will go to India. India recently passed the law in favor of LGBT. But still a lot of people there opposed it. India is on is way to become an accepting country but not yet. I would say western countries that doesn't care about a person's sexuality is way better.

Interviewer: Scenario question = What would happen if your close friend or relative tells you they are LGBT, would you support them? Or just tell them to keep it hidden?

Astroina: I would support them no doubt. But not all my relatives are great. So I will tell them to go abroad and settle there. It's much better. They can live their life happily and be who they actually are.

Interviewer: Thank you for your time Astroina, it has been eye opening to learn about the LGBT situation in your country, and though you are not LGBT, I hope you stay safe. I hope one day in the future that your country can be more accepting of people who are different