Lifestyle
Marius (76) ran away from home as a teenager due to his sexuality: 'I couldn't survive there'
Marius Vroegindeweij, 76, left his conservative Papendrecht and Delft home as a teenager because he could not reconcile his homosexuality with his family's expectations. His father, a local minister, initially sent friendly letters with money which Marius returned, but later accepted his son's identity before dying three weeks after Marius revealed he was gay at age 19. Vroegindeweij has since fought for LGBTQ+ rights through art and education, though he criticizes Pride for creating labels that separate people rather than promoting equality. He advocates for a dynamic identity focused on being a gentle, playful man rather than defining oneself solely by sexual orientation.
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