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Bowen Yang has only spoken briefly about his love life, revealing a tidbit of information about how he's navigating it. The comedian has also been candid about his upbringing as a gay teen living in a strict, conservative Asian household.

As an openly queer comedian in Hollywood, Bowen Yang has broken barriers for more than two communities with a history of being marginalized and underrepresented. The lack of LGBTQ representation in mainstream media during his youth left him feeling isolated.

Bowen Yang knew he was different in ways that his family and society, at large, had struggled to accept. But today, he is one of many emerging icons for queer visibility in mainstream media, making his way to stardom.

Bowen Yang at the CFDA Fashion Awards on November 7, 2022, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Bowen Yang: The First SNL Cast Member of Full Chinese Descent

In September 2019, news broke that Yang would join the "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) cast alongside Chloe Fineman and Shane Gillis. It was a culmination of full-circle moments, as he had always been a great fan of the show.

In high school, as a member of the improv troupe Spontaneous Combustion, he was voted "Most Likely to Be a Cast Member on 'Saturday Night Live.'" Yang had previously served as the show's writer, becoming well-known for co-writing a gay porn parody that starred Emma Stone.

But beyond being the first person of Asian descent, he was also the fifth person in the LGBTQ community to join the SNL cast. His LGBTQ SNL predecessors include Kate McKinnon, Terry Sweeney, John Milhiser, and Danitra Vance.

Bowen Yang during an appearance on "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" on June 15, 2023. | Source: Getty Images

Is Bowen Yang Dating? His Relationship Status Remains a Mystery

He had tried dating sites and apps, looking for a potential partner but admitted it was challenging. "Look, who wouldn't want to not be on apps and meet people? I'm having a hard time with it on my own," he lamented.

"Outside of work, I'm like, 'Oh god, I've gotta open this thing up and meet these people?'" he actor continued. Still, he admitted that he minimally engaged with a few matchmaking services, including Lorne and Raya. At the moment, however, it's unknown if he is dating anyone.

Bowen Yang during the "PDD: Hangxiety" sketch on "Saturday Night Live" on April 15, 2023. | Source: Getty Images

Bowen Yang's Parents Took Him to Conversion Therapy

Speaking about his coming out journey, Yang said he felt isolated. Part of what contributed to feeling alienated was the lack of queer visibility and not having the vocabulary to engage in conversations about his sexuality.

At the time, "You just had to rely on your own instincts," he recalled. He kept his identity to himself until his parents discovered he was gay. They stumbled on a "lewd" conversation he had with someone on AOL Instant Messenger.

Bowen Yang during the "So You Think You Wont Snap Cold Open" sketch on "Saturday Night Live" on October 8, 2022. | Source: Getty Images

"They just sat me down and yelled at me and said, 'We don't understand this. Where we come from, this doesn't happen,'" Yang explained. His parents took him to conversion therapy when he was 17, and he initially wondered if the treatment would work.

But his later sessions helped him realize that it wouldn't. He never held his parents' lack of acceptance against them but decided he would no longer explain himself. He was willing to meet them halfway but felt they needed to do the same. As far as his accounts have gone, it's still a work in progress.

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