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OK. Hello. What's your name? Hello, Ben. I'm Ben. Um how old are you? 18. Only young. Um, So can you tell us about yourself? I was originally born in Canada, so I moved to New Zealand when I was eight years old, and I've been here ever since, So yeah, I think this is my second international interview then. Oh, wow. So you're from Canada. So, [00:00:30] um, so what's the change for you? Like coming from Canada to New Zealand? Uh, definitely. The huge weather change, because at the moment over there, it's like, really cold. So it's like it gets a minus nearly minus 40 degrees, so yeah, but yeah, it's definitely a big change. Yeah. So, um, what are your general interest is you know, any interest? Um, I like acting. Uh, photography, modelling, [00:01:00] clothes, music, sports animals. Yeah, Squirrels. Right. Um where was I? I was lost myself. Oh, yes. Um, So what is your gender identity? Male, Male. And what is your Oh, well, obviously Canadian. Yes. Um what is your sexuality? Gay? Gay. Ok, so when [00:01:30] did you realise when I was 14? Young age. Um So how did you feel when you realised um Well, my dad's pretty much knew from when I was born, so yeah, just came out. Hey. Yeah, but, um, I've, like, in the past. I've, like, tried to cover it up, like being straight. So I've, [00:02:00] like, tried to have, like, fake girl friends because, um, I actually didn't come out to my mom to my mom, my stepdad until earlier this year. So that's when they found out, So yeah. Yeah, I'm still quite interested on how your dad thinks that you're gay when you were born, a rainbow coming out of the uterus. Yeah, sure. With glitter, sparkle, sparkle. [00:02:30] Um, so, um, did you had to keep it? Um, did you feel that you had to keep your sexuality a secret? Um, yes. I felt I definitely felt like I did because, um, I actually grew up in a Christian family home. So my parents have I've actually been brought up as a Christian, and so, uh, when I came out gay, So Yeah. So, um, [00:03:00] how do you feel being gay and in Auckland and not in your own home country? It feels very different, but yeah. So you're out now? Yes, I am. Yeah. out and flashing. Yes. So, um, how did you come out? Um well, my mom actually found out through Facebook, so it's always Facebook. [00:03:30] Yeah. So did you, Um, Did your mom was your mom? The only person that found out from Facebook or Yes. And then eventually my friends found out. So So did you have to have the a conversation? How did that go? Um, with my family, I wasn't too good. I actually got kicked out of home, so Yeah. So now I'm living with my dad. How does your dad take it? He takes it very well. He [00:04:00] fully supports me being gay. So which is really good? Yeah. So, um, what was your reaction from your dad when you first told him? He definitely knew. He knew it was going to happen, So I knew since the rainbow. Yeah, um, but it does. It still comes to, like, a really huge shock to the rest of my family because, um, like, I've they always sort of lived, like a straight [00:04:30] life all the way through. But I actually haven't since I was 14, so Yeah, so as for the reaction from your other family, did you when you were kicked out. Was it like a You guys sat around and you had a talk, and there was an argument or something like that, or Yeah, that's pretty much how it went. All these arguments these days. Um, So how did you feel? Um, at that point in time, I did find I did feel very [00:05:00] upset. Like, um, like I went back home, maybe three back to my parents, my mum's house, like, maybe four or five weeks ago to get, like, the rest of my stuff. And Mom was just, like, really, really upset and stuff like that. She's like, Why are you living this life and everything like that? So, yeah, she found it really hard. Did you feel that You had to explain to her that it is not my choice in a way or Yeah, I felt like that, but, um, I didn't actually say anything to her. [00:05:30] So So how did your friends felt about it? Um, they were actually very surprised about like that. They found out that I was gay, so they totally didn't expect it from me at all. So. But they did have suspicions, though, so what were their main reactions? Um, it's, uh they're just, like, very shocked in a way. So, [00:06:00] yeah, it was the whole monkey thing, like the whole shock. Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil. Um, So, um, how did you feel after all these reactions? What we know about your mother's how do you feel about your father's reaction? Um, I feel totally fine with my father's reaction, but yeah, I knew. He knew it was totally He [00:06:30] knew it was coming, so he knew he was. What is he expecting from me? So how about, um, your friends? Friends? Yeah. Totally different. So, um, you're working or at study, or I have already finished university. So, um, when you were at uni, did you feel that you had to come out to them? No. Did they knew already? No. Nobody knew. Nobody knew. So you So you were in the closet at uni? [00:07:00] Yeah. And why is that? I just didn't, like, want all people because I thought they would be, like, quite like homophobic, So, yeah, I just don't want them to know anything, so Yeah. So, um, how did you feel about, um, about being closet at uni. Um, I thought it was fine at uni, so yeah, lived a normal life. Pretty dated. Who you wanted [00:07:30] A dated rainbow. Um, well, did you have any support? Um, at that time, No, I didn't have any support at all. So yeah, apart from your father? Yeah. Apart from my father. So, um, ramming support. Did you get any support when you realise or when you're coming out? No. No. How about any organisations like Rambo youth or curious or Rainbow Youth? Not until this [00:08:00] year. So is this your first year with rain? You? Yes. How are you feeling with Rambo youth? I'm actually very happy that Rainbow Youth is supporting me through being gay, which is really good. So, yeah. Do you go to the groups? No. Straight out. No. Um, So, have you been in a relationship before? Yes, I have, like, male relationship females relationship now. [00:08:30] Also, females relationship or just males only male. Um, So tell me about your male relationships. Have that any. Are they good relationships? Bad relationships? Pretty much bad. Um, they they've actually been, like, really tough, like they've all pretty much cheated on me. So Yeah, which is really [00:09:00] tough, but yeah, you get that? So, um, these were did you were you open about your relationships with your family? Parents, Friends? Um, I have been with my father like recently, but yeah, nobody else. No, not with friends. No. No. Facebook? No. Um, do you feel that? Is it because it's a because [00:09:30] your family being negative about it? Yeah. Yeah. OK, um, has you coming out or has your coming out affected your relationship? Um, it definitely has with my mom and my older sister, but yeah. So So you have siblings? Yes, I do. I have an older sister and a younger sister and a younger brother. [00:10:00] So has there been a bit, um what were their reactions, or were they a bit my older sister there? Her reaction was, like, really bad to it. Um, yeah, she got ready. She's just, like, not happy with me being gay at all, So Yeah, but my younger sister doesn't know anything about it. She's only 17, So yeah, and younger brother told me nothing [00:10:30] about it either. So little he's eight. So a time when I realised So what's your definition and virginity um I have no idea. I don't have a definition. So you don't have a definition. What do you think is one or anything? Um, [00:11:00] yeah, I really don't know. Do you think it's a physical thing or just a mental thing? Um, is it a religious thing? I think it can be like a mental and like, an emotional thing. Like, it probably depends. Like at that stage, Like what you're going through and like, how you're feeling about other people and stuff like that. So, yeah. Do you feel that it's mainly something to do with [00:11:30] sexual things with a loved one or anything? Yeah, Yeah. Or anything? Yeah. Anything? Yeah. Which one? Um, maybe with a loved one. Or maybe for, like, feelings that you have towards other people. That could be a loved one. So, yeah, a loved one being more appropriate. But generally, anything using both of the answers. So, have you experienced any abusive behaviour [00:12:00] or, um, any abuse because of your sexuality or gender identity? Um, I have with my older sister, um, like before I was currently living there before I where I am staying now with my dad. Um, I was currently living at her house with her husband. And, um, like at that time, I was in a relationship. Um, I bought it, brought my boyfriend over to [00:12:30] their house, and apparently, I wasn't allowed, so it was kind of like a huge risk for me. And, um, the shit hit the fan kind of thing. Yes, it did. She totally hit the roof, and then her husband totally went off at me. And then, um, I was outside outside the time and he like, pretty much like charges at me. And, like, I fall over onto the concrete and everything and then I, like, try like I, like, try [00:13:00] to ring the police. But then I feel like I shouldn't, so yeah. Yeah. So have you ever spoken to anyone about that or Yeah, I have. Yeah. Um, so going back to General you. So So you're interested in stuff like acting and stuff like that, right? So is that like a theatre? Shortland Street kind of thing? Soap opera. Oh, my God. Um, TV show kind of thing. [00:13:30] Yes. Um, I'm currently acting on TV shows at the moment. Um, the mighty Johnsons. Has anyone heard of the mighty Johnsons before. Yeah, OK, I'm just I'm just in the closet about this. I'm a closet. I'm a closet TV person. Yeah, And also Power Rangers Power range. You've been in power like, [00:14:00] um, there's a New Zealand version, isn't there? Yeah. So, um, which one are you? Can you give any details to us about that? I could, uh it's like something that I'm not allowed to say because it's, like part of the contract. So Yeah, that's right. Um, you're not allowed to reveal future storylines. Yeah. Has it been on TV yet? No, [00:14:30] it hasn't been on TV yet. It is on TV. OK, so can you tell us about your Can you tell us about your character that's already been on TV so far? Wow. Um, I'm actually a Power Ranger. So you're one of the proper Power Rangers. Yeah. So which one? I'm the Red Power Ranger, The red one. So in a way, it's It's kind of cool being a power ranger because he's so colourful. Yes, it is really cool. Is that [00:15:00] one of the main reasons why you wanted to do it? Not really. Probably because it's just like getting on TV. So, um but yeah. Just wanted a job. Sort of. But well, I'm with the agency, so they got me the job, so it was real cool. So you're very experienced with your acting career? Yeah, I've had a lot of experience. OK, well, thank you for the interview. Thank you. Thank you.
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