A video on TikTok has won hearts by sharing a heartfelt moment of support and acceptance.
When Cyn Wang and Tessa Chavez married late last year, Chavez’s father did not attend because of his religious views. The way her brothers stepped up captured attention online, gaining over 1.4 million views and 190,000 likes on the couple’s TikTok video since it was posted on February 16.
Instead of the traditional father-daughter dance, Chavez’s brothers, Guillermo and Diego, offered to do a sibling dance with her instead.
“When her brothers stepped up, we felt very loved and supported by their meaningful gesture,” Wang told Newsweek.
Tessa Chavez and her brothers Guillermo and Diego have a “sibling dance” at Chavez’s wedding in Mexico City.
@bridgetrburnett/@cynandtessa
Wang said both of her parents attended the wedding, along with Chavez’s mother and all of their siblings on both sides. Chavez’s father, however, decided not to attend his daughter’s lesbian wedding because of his religious views.
“He did not inform us he wasn’t coming; he simply did not respond to our wedding invitation,” Wang said. “Naturally, Tessa was devastated. She held out some hope he would surprise her and change his mind or show up at the last minute…Sadly, he did not.”
Chavez’s father’s absence was especially notable because of the wedding’s location in Mexico City, Chavez’s hometown, where both of her parents still live.
The couple’s wedding guests came from all over the world, including siblings from Germany, Australia and New York City, Wang said. Diego, Chavez’s younger brother, came all the way from Melbourne to eventually give Chavez her sibling dance.
“Her brothers Guillermo and Diego offered to do a sibling dance with Tessa … You can see the joy on her face in our video,” Wang said.
Other viewers saw Chavez’s joy too.
“The smile on her face dancing with her brother made my heart happy,” @thatgirlrenae4 wrote.
“Whoever needed to be there is! You looked so happy & beautiful, most importantly surrounded by love & support, that’s all that matters,” @sariaaa79 said.
“I see a joyous love story and a family who clearly adore each other. Congratulations for your wedding,” @falemaa01 wrote.
When asked how life has been since their special day, Wang said they mostly feel gratitude for the love they share between them and others.
“Married life is unreal!” Wang said. “I have married a woman better than my wildest dreams. Tessa and I feel extraordinarily lucky to have found each other, and to live in a time and a country where we have the right to marry and spend our lives together…We feel absolutely blessed.”
Uncommon KnowledgeNewsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Source : Newsweek