Monthly Archives: June 2015

Andrea, Activist, Budapest, Hungary

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

Andrea, in his own words: “(Being gay) means not lying to myself.

(With regards to successes) my activism, which is starting to be heard internationally. I have always been very critical towards both the conservative views of the Church and the violent ways of the homophobic far right. Starting from last year after a provocative performance at Budapest Pride I have been receiving tons of death threats, my personal data including home address and workplace were published in nazi forums and I had to move apartment several times fearing for my safety. Now I’m waiting for authorities to finally start investigating my case. I believe it will be a long and intense trial.

Of all my coming outs, the funniest one is probably the one I had with my mother. I was home in Italy visiting, and told my mom I had found a new flat for rent in Budapest. Then I added I was moving in with a friend. Then I told her this friend is a very special one. Then I told this friend is a guy. And then I told her that we are a couple. Last but not least, I also told her that he was downstairs, waiting to come up and introduce himself. We were having lunch, and I still clearly remember how she basically froze with the spoon full of soup in front of her mouth, her eyes staring into nothing. Not one word (or movement) for a very awkward minute. She knew I had some things with guys, but until then she also saw me with girls, so she thought my gay “thing” was just a phase. She refused to meet him that day, but did see him one day later. By the third day she bought us gifts for the house and told me she liked my taste in men.

There are tons of things to do in Budapest for the LGBTQ community – parties, festivals, sports groups and cultural events. I just wish the community were more courageous and would speak up against bullying, in addition to the fact that I think we should impose ourselves a lot more in the political debate.

(Advice to my younger self) I wish I would have started being an activist sooner.”

Boban and Adam, Belgrade, Serbia

photo by Kevin Truong

Boban (left) and Adam (right) photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

Boban, in his own words: “(Being gay means) the ability to perceive the world from the perspective of the unprivileged and make your life as best as possible.

Although I think that the fight for human rights are some of the largest (challenges), I realized that the fight for our own happiness is an even bigger fight. I’m happy because I’m happy: I live how I want, do what I want, love whom I love and it’s the greatest thing I could do for myself.

Generally I don’t have (a coming out story), I never hid that to my friends. If we talk about coming out in front of my family, it was when my parents saw me on television at the Pride Parade in Zagreb. My mother called, said she always knew, concluded that I was sleeping with all my male friends, she would get cancer and behold ten years ago we haven’t been in touch.

I always maintain that the gay community in Serbia and east Europe does not exist. Community implies recognition of a common history and a desire to us as a community to be better. It includes support and action, but that in this part of Europe is almost nonexistent.

(Advice to my younger self) Things what you dream can be said in words. And if there are words, it means to dream what is realistic.”

Adam, in his own words: “(Being gay) is a complex question. Labels come from outside. I am everything that I am.

My greatest success is that I live my life the way I want.

I always knew I was different. I remember when I was little, adults always asked: When are you going to marry? I have always been puzzled and said: But my girls are not interesting. I think nobody realized that I was gay.

(The gay community in Serbia is) the group of terrified people are afraid to come out into the street and fight for their rights.

(Advice to my younger self) be persistent and keep right.”