A young man has opened up about dating someone almost two decades older, explaining how the pair unexpectedly found themselves in their first same-sex relationship.
Drake, 23, and Mark, 42, crossed paths through work and say neither of them anticipated it would turn into something serious.
The two met around a year and a half ago while working on the set of an adult film, and their connection grew quickly after collaborating.
Because of their age difference, Drake says they often deal with judgment from strangers, with some people labeling the relationship as inappropriate or “weird.”
“When we’re out people will look and go, ‘Oh, is this your dad?'” Drake shared in video on the Love Don’t Judge YouTube channel.
Mark said the assumptions can be frustrating, as people sometimes jump to conclusions about his intentions purely based on his age.
Mark added: “People immediately think I’m trying to prey on someone half my age, but really Drake’s the boss here. I learned from Drake all the industry stuff.”
Both joked that the people leaving snide comments online are, in their view, also the ones paying closest attention to them.
During the conversation, Drake also spoke about how surprising the relationship has been for him personally, admitting he never pictured himself seriously dating a man.
“I never thought I could be in a serious relationship with a man, I always thought I was attracted to women,” he shared. “In high school I had many girlfriends, that was what I was just kind of into until I met Mark.”
Drake added: “I was a little curious but Mark really got me out of my shell.”
Mark, meanwhile, said the relationship was equally unexpected for him, insisting he didn’t realize he was capable of feeling that way about a man before meeting Drake.
“I had ‘no idea he had a gay bone in his body’ until he met his now-boyfriend Drake.”
He also described how his upbringing shaped his expectations of what adult life was “supposed” to look like, especially growing up in the Midwest.
“It’s like you go to high school, then you go to college, then you play football, then you get married to a woman.
“Then I moved to California and I realized that you don’t have to live that way – and it felt right.”
And while the couple says some onlookers mistake Mark for Drake’s father, they claim their dynamic doesn’t follow the stereotypes people often attach to age-gap relationships.
“When it comes to the filming part and everything, I like to be daddy,” Drake said. “You know, I like to take control.”
Mark argued that one of the most common misunderstandings is the assumption that the older partner must automatically be the one in control.
“I see Drake as my peer despite the years difference,” he said.