Radio Interview with Light FM

I was recently interviewed by Clayton at Light FM, a community radio station in Melbourne, Australia, about my experience of discovering that my partner of 24 years was gay. I also talked about the counselling I offer to people who have discovered that their partner is LGBT. Hopefully, fewer people will feel alone and isolated in their situation and know that there is specialised therapy available with a lived-experience counsellor who understands something of what they are going through.

Opportunities like this interview help raise awareness of the impact of mixed-orientation marriages (where one partner is closeted) on the heterosexual/cisgender spouse and any children. When a closeted LGBT person marries a non-LGBT person who is unaware of their partner’s sexual orientation or gender identity, there are at least two people affected by the coming-out process. In fact, the traumatic impacts are felt in a covert, subconscious way even before discovery.

Clayton was a fantastic interviewer! I was impressed by his ability to hold space for my experience and the complexities of the larger situation being discussed.

The intersection of faith and mixed-orientation marriages was another important topic of our conversation. If you are a person of faith and you have experienced a relationship with a closeted LGBT person, I would love to hear from you! I invite you to complete my ‘Faith and the Closet’ survey (temporarily paused – reach out by email) to help inform my advocacy about these issues. Your voice matters.

• I’d love to hear your feedback about this interview if you’d like to leave a comment below.
• I also welcome other speaking opportunities, so please get in touch by clicking the button below.
• If you’re interested in booking a counselling session, you can do so here.