Discovering a Mutual Language of Love Through Signing
Jerald Creer, who is deaf, and Kent Williams first crossed paths on a cruise in 2009. It wasn't until nearly 15 years later, and after a card game, that they fell in love.
Jerald Jerard Creer and Kent Michael Williams attribute their lengthy journey to becoming a couple to communication challenges, unrelated to Mr. Creer’s deafness. Since their initial meeting on a Carnival cruise in June 2009, Mr. Williams frequently texted Mr. Creer, inviting him on dates, but was consistently turned down. Mr. Williams initially thought it was due to their age difference, as Mr. Creer is seven years older.
However, the reality was more complex. Their friendship, which began on a cruise from Miami to the Bahamas, faced hurdles from the outset. At the time, Mr. Williams, an engineer with Cox Communications residing in Baltimore, was traveling solo. Meanwhile, Mr. Creer, a social worker, educator for the deaf, and actor living in Suitland, Maryland, was on vacation with his boyfriend. Both were part of a group of LGBTQ people of color enjoying the trip together.
Mr. Williams recalled being captivated by Mr. Creer when he saw him outside the ship’s nightclub early in the voyage. However, he was unaware of Mr. Creer’s deafness, leading to awkward interactions. Mr. Creer, whose primary language is American Sign Language, can read lips and hear some sounds with hearing aids but struggles in dimly lit and noisy settings.
Mr. Creer noted that sometimes he’s unsure if others are adapting to communicate with him, which was true for Mr. Williams. Additionally, Mr. Williams’s social anxiety played a role. “I’m shy and introverted,” he admitted. “I’m still trying to understand why I approached Jerald in the first place.”