A 31-year-old man has explained why he got married to a woman despite identifying as a gay man.
Love is something that most of us either have, or aspire to have at some point in our lives and generally hope it lasts for a long time.
But sometimes, love can be unconventional and present itself in ways that others might not understand.
Actors Jacob Hoff and Samantha Greenstone met in 2015 during auditions for Fiddler on the Roof and soon hit it off.
“It was the perfect meet-cute,” Hoff said in a recent interview with The New York Times.
“From the lobby, I heard Samantha's cackle at the end of a song and instantly thought whoever just made that sound is an immaculate human.”
While their bond formed quickly, there was one complicating factor: Hoff identifies as gay. Despite this, he was drawn to Greenstone in a way he couldn’t ignore.
The pair became inseparable after being cast in the production. Greenstone, 37, described her growing feelings as both confusing and magnetic.
“I was living in utter confusion,” she admitted, noting that the connection felt so powerful she consulted an energy healer, who told her the two “share a spiritual umbilical cord.”
Unable to deny her emotions, Greenstone made the bold decision to text Hoff and confess her feelings. Hoff, 31, reciprocated, though not without being a bit nervous.
“I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. I can’t believe she did this,’” Hoff recalled. “The answer was yes. But then I was scared. I thought, ‘If I can’t make this work physically, it could ruin everything.’”
Hoff explained that his sexual identity remained unchanged. “I am gay. And as a gay person, you can keep your identity as that even if your relationship doesn’t match that,” he said.
Despite their challenges, the couple began dating in 2017 and embraced a monogamous relationship. “It’s beyond a visual, lustful connection. It’s a soulful connection,” Hoff said.
Their relationship has drawn both admiration and skepticism, particularly from those questioning how Hoff’s sexual orientation fits into their marriage.
Hoff has consistently defended their bond, describing it as transcendent.
“Samantha is the person I am connected to spiritually,” Hoff shared in an Instagram video. “She’s my soulmate, my partner, the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
The couple became engaged at the end of 2023 and tied the knot in November in Boca Raton, Florida. Hoff emphasized that their love goes far deeper than physical attraction.
“We are attracted to each other, we’re intimate - it’s just on a different level. It’s a soulmate connection,” he explained.
“It’s when you’re 90 years old, looking at your partner, wrinkled, withering away, the tragedy of life consuming you, and you still look at them with love, compassion, and devotion. That’s the kind of love we have.”
Summing up their unconventional yet very real relationship, Hoff said simply: “We’re in love, and it’s that simple.”
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