Renaldo Bano and Kevan Hudson are a gay couple living and working in Tirana. As a couple without complexes and ready to talk about their lives in front of everyone, they have told the love story in the show "Tirana Hour" on Top News.
What is it like to be a homosexual in Tirana? How difficult it is for people with sexual orientation to adapt differently and live in a prejudiced community.
Renaldo, 22, met Kevan, a 26-year-old from the US, through social media and then met in one of Tirana's cafes. Kevan has been living in Tirana for some time and works as an English teacher. While Renaldo works as a photographer and editor.
Their story started with a message on Instagram and the one who took the first step was Renaldo.
"We met on social networks. We followed each other on Instagram because we had some mutual friends. Then we met in one of the cafes in Tirana. The first time I saw it, I thought it was fun. Then I said to myself 'I can not dislike it'. "Over time, I started to love him," says Kevan.
Renaldo reveals that it was love at first sight and thinks it will be the only love for him.
I texted him because I saw that we had mutual friends. I found it interesting. I wrote, the first sentence was 'Hello', 'How are you doing'. I then made a comment to one of his posts. That's where it all started. The messages started, then we met. He is the first partner and I believe he will be the only one. I believe in love at first sight. And if it is love, why not forever ?! ”
"I am very happy. "Renaldo is one of the most beautiful things that has happened to me lately, I knew him in a difficult period and he came in as a Superman and changed my life," Kevan said.
He confesses that he told his family that he was gay 2 years ago. Their reaction came as a surprise to Kevan, as they showed support. He says he decided to tell them via email because it would be very difficult to tell them over the phone.
“Mendova se mënyra më e mirë ishte t’ua shkruaja ato që ndjeja në 11-12 faqe. Po, shkruajta vërtet shumë. Në fillim ia thashë babait, gjyshes dhe motrës. Nënës ia thashë një vit më vonë. Përgjigjja e babait ishte: Unë prapë të dua dhe jam krenar për ty. Gjyshja më tha: E dija! Mamit ia thashë para një viti dhe le të themi që kaloi një atak paniku. U shokua, por për mua kjo bën sens. Iu desh kohë që ta pranonte dhe e kuptoj. Nuk mund të pres nga njerëzit e mi që ta pranojnë menjëherë, pasi edhe mua m’u desh kohë që ta pranoj faktin që jam gay”, -shprehet Kevan.
Ndërsa Renaldo tregon se ka humbur shumë njerëz për shkak të orientimit seksual. Shumë miq e mikesha nuk e kuptuan dhe u distancuan.
Renaldo and Kevan show that they feel very good in Tirana. However they do not get very close to the public, as people see, speak and not everyone understands them.
