Our wishes for the next generation

Tit Man and Dul Thol (Pursat)

Photos by: Prum Ero

Story by: Heng Cheyleaphy

“It’s very special when we can be with someone we love until we both get old. But it’s not completely satisfied yet.”

Grandma Thol: I have been with my spouse, Thon, since 1975, during the hardest and unforgettable time. Forty years have passed, we have one child and seven grandchildren, many have migrated to work abroad. Only two grand daughters are still staying and studying. Our houses are next to each other, so they frequently come to sleep with and accompany us, especially when Thon is away and I’m alone.

(Thol calls Thon Yeay or Grandma, which Thon feels okay with it but for other people he would prefered to be called Ta or Grandpa.)

Grandpa Thon: We both have gone through thick and thin since we were young. I’m happy to be with her, the woman I love. We’ve been working hard, striving, and persevering against all odds to be together. Look back to the past, we both almost lost each other because her parents forced her to marry another man and they even threatened me using weapon. However, our pure love and determination have won them all. She and I are getting older now and it’s almost too late for us to get married. We’ve been sharing our life experience to get support from our community and to have the law protecting LGBT people in the next generation. So that they have the chance and right to get married and fulfill their wishes because it is their happiness. This is my biggest wish.

Grandma Thol: We both don’t have a lot to think about, as we are getting older now. We go to pagodas, do good deeds and build happiness. I want to tell the younger generation that: “Don’t worry! Don’t fret over having no children, because from my experience, we could raise young children and grandchildren and create a big family. It’s not necessary to give birth. Happiness or sadness, it depends on us. If you put effort together, earn income, help each other, save money, get along, forgive each other, take care of each other, then our family will be happy.”