Gay NYE Kiss Couple Shrug Off Trolls, Speak about Representation

Eriksson, who grew up Mormon and identifies as bisexual, described for Pink News the toll of internalized homophobia.

"I turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with my feelings of confusion and impending doom," Eriksson said. "After years of suffering, and two suicide attempts, I got sober and decided that I would no longer live my life in fear, and decided to pursue my dream of becoming an actor."

Now, with the love and acceptance of his "amazing family" and loving parents, Eriksson has arrived at a much different, and far healthier, place in life. "I am very proud to be me today," he told Pink News.

Christian, by contrast, came out at age 14, sparing himself years of turmoil and discovering that his embrace of authenticity was "One of the best moments of my life."

The couple don't just want to be an example of happiness for LGTBQ+ youth; they also want their representation to be meaningful for parents of LGBTQ+ offspring.

"It's OK to love your child unconditionally whether you understand it or not," Christian said. "There is nothing in the world worse than living your life in fear every day."

And to "all the couples out there," Christian had this to say: "[L]love your partner with everything you have because there's nothing better than having comfort to fall back on when you need it."

Love, commitment, honesty, authentic family values... it sounds like a recipe for good living, not just in 2024 but for a lifetime.