June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate love and diversity. Akash and Diego, a same-sex couple, recently shared their love story and the struggles they faced with SheThePeople. They met in September 2022, when Akash moved from India to Canada for his master's degree and instantly connected. Despite a long-distance relationship and its challenges, their bond remained strong. Now, they are happily settled together in Toronto.
Here’s their story in their own words.
Akash & Diego's Journey To Love & Acceptance
"It started in September of 2022. I had moved from India to Canada for my master's—that’s when I first met Diego. There was an instant connection, like the one you have in movies. That's when I realised he was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
We spent 4 months together in Canada. It was the best time of our lives. Soon Diego has to move back to Spain to complete his graduation, which means spending the next 6 months apart until June 2023.
The biggest struggle we faced during our long-distance relationship was the time difference. Keeping up with school, studies, and our relationship was a lot, but that didn’t stop us from making each other our priority. We’d take time out of our busy schedules to talk every single day! We knew we might not find something like this ever again, so we did whatever it took to hold onto each other even with thousands of miles between us.
Luckily, my parents were very supportive of my relationship from the beginning. I remember them loving and treating me the same after I came out to them. They have always been there to support my decisions. It was the same with my friend circle as well. There was no hate when I came out to them; they were just not aware of things; they lack knowledge, and sometimes all you need to do is educate your family and friend circle so they understand what you are going through and support you in any way possible.
What I have learned is that life is too short. If you keep thinking about what others think, you won't be able to live your life the way you want. Just live and love every day. Don’t worry about the rest. In the end, nothing is going to matter but your memories of the people you love the most, so love them as much as you can."