They were just like any normal teenage couple. They would sit together at lunch time, hold hands between classes and be happiest when around each other.
They met in Sarina, Mackay. Senija from an immigrant Muslim family, Jex from a supportive Australian household.
Though for Jex and Senija, their relationship would be anything but a normal teenage romance.
"We had rocks thrown at us across the school yard by a couple of boys in grade 11," Jex said.
“We were told to not sit together by teachers… not to hold hands.”
When Jex originally came out as gay (they now identify as a non-binary transgender person), they lost many friends.
For Senija, whose Muslim family did not know about her sexual orientation, being with Jex proved to be much more difficult than either of them ever thought.
“The deputy principal pulled us out of class one day and threatened to tell my mother about our relationship,” Senija said.
Eventually, Senija's family found out about the relationship and with nothing said, she was moved against her will over 1000 kilometres away to Brisbane.
“Everyone knew me at school (in Sarina) because of my music… and being really creative,” Senija said.
“(When we moved to Brisbane) my dad smashed my phone… I wasn’t allowed on the internet.
“I need to be with people.
“It was like living in a detention centre… I felt so isolated.”
Despite the isolation from Jex and her old life, Senija was able to stay in contact with Jex through friendships made at her new high school.
“I smuggled phones to her through those friends,” Jex said.
“I’d buy the phones and pay for the credit.
“I had to speak with her because not knowing what was happening was scary. Were her family being physical with her? I just didn’t know.”
After almost eight months of this kind of contact, Jex followed Senija to Brisbane and they began seeing each other more and more.
While they have faced some discrimination in Brisbane – including an incident where, following a marriage equality rally, two young men came up to them in a major shopping centre and snapped their pride flags in half – homophobia and transphobia has not been as prominent as it was in Sarina.
“So many people yell out of cars at us, saying things like 'that’s disgusting’ or ‘that’s gross’,” Jex said.
“We’ve had parents with young kids encouraging them to look away.
“They think they’re being subtle, but really they’re not.”
Despite life in Brisbane being slightly more welcoming to Senija and Jex, they are not allowed to get married under current Australian law.
On August 10, Australia's governing coalition, the Liberal and National parties, held a meeting on whether to allow its members to have a free vote on the issue in parliament, instead of a binding vote against marriage equality, which is currently in place.
Around 60% of members voted to keep the status quo, meaning marriage equality would be delayed in Australia for at least another year.
In response to the no vote, Prime Minister Tony Abbott - who is against marriage equality - said the issue should be put to a public vote in the form of a referendum or plebiscite.
Any form of a public vote on marriage equality would bring with it a tirade of anti-marriage equality comments.
Jex clearly remembers seeing an anti-gay television advertisement in 2012 by Katter Australia Party (KAP) leader Bob Katter.
“The ad basically said if you vote for Campbell Newman, just know they support this filth,” Jex said.
“I just looked at the TV in shock.
“I remember how graphic and awful it was.”
While Jex already had strong convictions on who they were when they saw that ad, they worried about the effects ads like the KAP ad could have on their 14-year-old sister, who recently came out as bisexual.
“If my sister saw something like that, she’d be devastated,” Jex said.
“She’d be watching this play out thinking there are so many people out there who hate us.
“It causes a struggle within yourself.”
Jennifer Kaighin, from QUT’s School of Public Health and Social Work, shares Jex’s concerns and believes a large anti-marriage equality campaign will have a negative effect on young LGBTIQ+ people.
“The challenges around coming out stem from discriminations, not from something inherently wrong with being queer,” Ms Kaighin said.
“If discrimination, homophobia and hate didn’t exist then young people’s journeys would be so much easier.
“A negative campaign will simply reinforce that they are wrong, different, other, not worthy of the same rights.
“Some can shake that off, if they feel secure within themselves and have good support, but for those who are vulnerable it can be devastating - as evidenced by over representation in suicide, substance use, homelessness and early school leaving.”
This is echoed by a statement made in 2011 by Australian Psychologists Society President Professor Simon Crowe.
“Decades of psychological research provides the evidence linking marriage to mental health benefits, and highlighting the harm to individuals’ mental health of social exclusion,” Professor Crowe said.
“The APS supports the full recognition of same-sex relationships, on the basis of this evidence.”
Four years later, Senija’s mum and sister are finally becoming more accepting about who Senija is, though she no longer has contact with her father.
“There is still a long way to go though,” Senija said.
“I say gay jokes with them, for instance the other day my sister was parallel parking and she asked am I straight.
“I replied, yep, but I’m not.”
Senija’s mum and sister have also begun building a relationship with Jex.
“It’s important to note they do like me,” Jex laughed.
“It can only get better from here.”
When same-sex marriage is finally legalised in Australia, do Senija and Jex want to get married?
"Yes," they both replied passionately.
And they have already began planning the big day.
