Imagine being bullied for expressing how you feel. Think about the idea of potentially being abandoned by friends or family. Could you go to church? Would life be different? Is the workplace accepting? These are battles people in Demi’s situation face daily, and my sister dealt with the fear of facing similar misconceptions. But Demi wouldn't let anything prevent her from opening up to Derek that she has a girlfriend back home, representing a breakthrough in showing viewers it’s OK to express who you are. 

Demi's conflicted feelings grew strong enough that she grabbed Chris Harrison to have a chat. The level of trust Demi possesses is admirable, and in a moment where we thought Demi was giving up and leaving the show, she bounced back and rewrote Bachelor history. Next, Demi’s girlfriend, Kristian, arrived in Paradise. No, this isn’t a story about having a first kiss, or holding someone’s hand, or anything of that nature. It’s more subtle than that: This is history. It's a moment that lets us see the beauty of same-sex relationships on the Bachelor franchise for the first time ever.

Kristian’s face lit up when she saw her queen. But Kristian was shocked when she found out about Demi’s feelings for Derek. We saw Kristian try and hold it together while she was alone, but it was certain that hurt was strong. Kristian’s raw emotions showed me the genuine love she has for Demi, and that this love is real.

Many queer individuals face overwhelming feelings of stigmatization, invalidation, not feeling safe—real concerns that affect them daily. Bisexual visibility is very important, and Demi is providing that opportunity with the support of the Bachelor franchise. This is something that many fans thought they'd never see, and represents huge progress for the series in supporting the LGBTQ community.

But what helped ignite this was Derek’s understanding and compassion for Demi and Kristian’s relationship. This is a situation that Derek handled with maturity, and I believe that his reaction gave Demi the confidence to be this open. Demi was on the brink of leaving Paradise; Derek’s emotional intelligence and the level of comfort he provided to Demi allowed her to regain the strength and courage she needed to express every emotion she was feeling in her bones. 

Derek asked Demi if he can speak with Kristian about the situation. Upon seeing him face-to-face, Kristian displayed a level of calm and maturity that can’t be described. Derek was in pain but remained supportive. While Kristian struggled with meet the man Demi had feelings for, Kristian's composure let viewers digest the moment and see how a tough situation should be handled in real life. No one knew quite how to handle this, but seeing this love triangle showed us that whether you’re straight, gay or bisexual, it doesn’t matter—it was a reminder that we’re all equal. After the discussion, Kristian and Demi received a date card to rekindle the love they had before Paradise. Their chemistry and authenticity was obvious throughout the course of the date, where we witnessed laughs, compassion and two women just enjoying each other’s company as they gaze into each other’s eyes.

But it was the end that rewrote history forever. A kiss that signifies being comfortable, regardless of who you love. An kiss that’s iconic and inspiring for those who might worry about feeling shamed. A kiss that promotes queer and bisexual visibility for all. 

Thank you, Demi. Thank you, Kristian. And thank you, Derek.

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Christopher Randone competed for Becca Kufrin's love on The Bachelorette season 14. He ended up finding love with Krystal Nielson last summer on Bachelor in Paradise season 5.