What is a lavender marriage, and why are they so popular? The concept of ‘lavender marriages’ emerged as a result of this, several decades ago. A lavender marriage is assumed to be a ‘marriage of convenience’ (MoC) to mask the sexual orientation of one or both partners. They date back to the early 20th century, and refer to a heterosexual marriage where one or both parties are actually LGBTQ+ and keeping their sexuality a secret. This would often be due to social stigma, family expectations or having to keep up a certain image. These marriages were prevalent in Hollywood in the 1920s, when actors were pressured by ‘morality clauses’ to maintain public appearances. One example of this is Rock Hudson's marriage to Phyllis Gates. The concept of lavender marriage has broken into the mainstream, notably in the film 2022 Badhaai Do, which features a gay man and a lesbian woman who marry to appease their families. Lavender marriage has now become a trend on social media, especially TikTok. The concept has roots in societal pressure and hiding who you truly are. However, now in the 21st Century with rising costs of living, ‘lavender marriage’ is evolving into something that is more about creating stability and shared support systems. Gen Z are shifting the focus to financial security and reliable companionship. Behind the apparent wholesome aspect of lavender marriages, there is an underlying devastating truth. They are arguably a symptom of a deeply flawed system and homophobic society. Whether it is an unstable economy and lack of social support, or having to hide your sexuality to keep up appearances, the motivations for lavender marriages do not seem to be decreasing anytime soon. #lgbtq #lavendermarriage #genz #politics #marriage #gay #lesbian #badhaaido - @pinknews