The Space Between Us, by Grace Baey

The Space Between Us

It is not uncommon for LGBT couples to face parental disapproval, even rejection, especially in Asia. Despite Ponleak’s family’s continued unacceptance of his relationship with Mong, a transgender woman, they’re trying hard to hold on to each other. Their love is one of distance mixed with desire, tenderness with tension, and passion compounded by the burden of parental pressure. Through Mong and Ponleak, I explore the force and fragility of relationships – where bodies encounter, separate, or merge – even as they negotiate their space and identity as individuals and a couple.