A British man who claims to have "woken up gay" after a gym accident led him to suffer a stroke is speaking out about his experience to the BBC.
Kris Birch, who works as a hairdresser, was known to his Welsh friends and family as a rugby-loving jock prior to the stroke. But the 26-year-old Birch says he realized his personality had completely changed as he was recovering. His story caused a sensation late last year after being reported by the Daily Mail among other publications.
At the time, Birch told the Daily Mirror that his most profound discovery came while he was watching a TV program featuring a handsome actor. "I felt my stomach flutter and the same feelings I used to have for pretty girls came across me," said Birch, who also added he was no longer interested in sports and had little in common with old friends. "I had never felt like that about a man before but I knew immediately what the feeling was. I fancied him."
In this BBC Three promo clip, Birch -- who was living with partner Jack Powell, 19, as of last year -- speaks frankly about his coming out process. "It was sort of a lonely time, it was a time where I was afraid to tell anybody because that wasn't who I used to be, so it shouldn't be who I am now," he said. "I suppose I doubted it...by having to realize who I was all over again."