Category Archives: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Alejandro and Ernesto, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Alejandro (left) and Ernesto (right), photo by Kevin Truong

Ernesto (left) and Alejandro (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

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

Alejandro and Ernesto, photo by Kevin Truong

Ernesto and Alejandro, photo by Kevin Truong

Ernesto, in his own words: “(Being gay) Significa una vida en libertad para vivir tu sexualidad de la forma más natural posible.

La ley de Matrimonio Igualitario que logramos en Argentina fue el desafío más notable que hemos tenido los homosexuales no solo en nuestro querida patria sino también en toda América.

Nunca tuve que salir del placard porque nunca me sentí adentro. Lo que sí hicimos con mi marido, fue iniciar el camino para lograr la sanción de la ley que mencioné anteriormente. La exposición mediática por ese tema, me dio más fuerza y convicción acerca de quién soy y lo que quiero

(The Gay community in Buenos Aires) Muy variada, muy ecléctica. Desde las personas trans hasta los/las homosexuales con aspecto hétero, las diferencias son enormes. Pero podemos ponernos rápidamente de acuerdo cuando hay que luchar por el respeto que nos merecemos solo por ser seres humanos.

(Advice I’d give my younger self) Nunca pierdan las esperanzas de vivir en un mundo mejor.”

In English:

“(Being gay) means a life of freedom to live your sexuality in the most natural way possible.
 
Equal Marriage Laws we achieved in Argentina was the most significant challenge we’ve had for homosexuals not only in our beloved country but throughout America.

I never had to leave the closet because I never felt inside. What I did with my husband we did was to start the way for the enactment of the law that I mentioned earlier. The media exposure for the subject, gave me more strength and conviction about who I am and what I want.

(The gay community in Buenos Aires is) Varied, eclectic. With trans people up to / with hetero homosexual aspect, the differences are huge. But we quickly agreed to fight for the respect we deserve just because we are all human.

(Advice I’d give my younger self) Never lose hope of living in a better world.”

Joel, Student, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

photo by Kevin Truong

Joel, in his own words: “(Being gay means) Para mi significa algo más físico que mental, de hecho es parte de mi vida. Ser gay lo somos todos, lo único que cambia es el concepto que le da esta palabra para otras personas. Todos sentimos lo mismo hacia alguna persona que queremos, amamos, deseamos, etc. De hecho puedo decir que ser gay es parte de mi vida, nacía siéndolo y moriré siéndolo, eso no cambia al lado de alguien que ama a su prójimo.

(With regards to challenges) Creo que de hecho aceptar mi sexualidad, a su vez entender que es normal que me atraiga los chicos. Para empezar yo sé que desde niño ya tenía atracciones a personas cercanas, como algún primo donde nos besamos o el vecino de mi barrio, pero las bloqueaba por un tema de la sociedad peruana (de donde provengo) y la religión evangélica que estaba tan presenta en mi casa. Fue duro pasar la etapa adolescente creyendo que si era una confusión hasta que me enamoré de un chico y realmente me di cuenta que soy gay, que tenía verdaderos sentimientos de pasarla con él, de pensar en romances y lo que toda persona siente alguna vez.

Quizá lo otro fue “salir del clóset”, ya que mi familia siempre lo sospechó desde pequeño, para mi fue fácil y muy decidido se los dije, no me importaba si tenía que “perder” el cariño de ellos, al final de cuenta es mi vida y no tienen porque entrometerse en lo que siento. Pero lo divertido de esto, es que siento que todo los problemas familiares que tuve al salir del clóset o con los amigos son los mismos problemas que puede tener un heterosexual, travesti, bisexual, etcétera… es parte de la vida, todos tenemos los mismas anécdotas, solo cambiamos el género.

Mi historia repito es la misma la de un heterosexual, travesti, bisexual, transexual, etcétera. Para mí el compartir mi historia con otras personas de distinto sexo/género hace que tenga un lazo de amistad. Ya que siempre me pasa que tengo anécdotas que contar y la otra persona le pasa lo mismo, reímos y compartimos consejos al respecto. Todos aprendemos a convivir con la sociedad por más dura y homofóbica pueda ser, para mi ser gay es casi ya tener un título de valentía. Ponerte la camiseta, tener correa (como se dice en Perú ante las burlas) y sudarla es parte del día a día. De hecho mucha gente no sabe que soy gay porque luzco como alguien “normal” pero cuando converso no guardo etiquetas ni mi preferencia sexual hacia otros, de hecho aprendí a hacerlo sin tener miedo a las reacciones de otros… porque para mi es normal y si “no lo es” discuto un poco el tema con todo el respeto posible.

Buenos Aires me ha enseñado muchas cosas respecto al sentimiento de formar y querer ser parte de la comunidad, de hecho cuando vivía en Perú aún no sentía parte de esa comunidad por más que lo decía de boca para afuera con mis amigos, ya que existe aún mucha discriminación (ya sea social o racial) dentro de los homosexuales y sobretodo más con los transexuales, travestis, queers. Esto me parece espantoso y mucho por cual trabajar.

Buenos Aires tiene una historia consolidada respecto a los derechos humanos con los gays, temas tan evolucionados desde el DNI para personas transexuales hasta la Unión Civil. Estoy contento con lo que se ha logrado y quiero ser parte de ello, de hecho quisiera ser parte del organismo y propagar actividades en las calles respecto al arte, es una manera muy factible de llegar a las personas que aún no comprenden nuestra comunidad.

Además sobretodo llevar estas actividades a mi país de origen: Perú, ya que se sigue luchando por los derechos. Una frase que me gustó de Carlos Jauregui, fundador de la CHA (Comunidad Homosexual de Argentina), es: “En una sociedad que nos educa para la vergüenza, el orgullo es una respuesta política.”

(Advice I’d give my younger self) El primer consejo que me di cuando tenía 12 años fue quererme, de hecho siempre tuve miedo a que la gente no me quería, tenía miedo al rechazo y es algo que aún no supero cuando conozco a alguien que me interesa. Un par de consejos actuales es 1. pasa más tiempo con tu familia y 2. que me daría como gay es que pueda amar a otro gay, que enamorarme no me es imposible, que en mi cabeza deje de pensar tanto y pueda decir al chico que me guste: hola.”

In English:

“For me (being gay) means more something physical than mental, in fact it is part of my life. All that changes with being gay is the concept that gives the word to others. We all feel the same way about anyone we want, love, desire, etc. In fact I can say that being gay is part of my life, so to die and be born with it, that does not change next to someone who loves his neighbor.

I think in fact accepting my sexuality, (was a challenge) in turn understanding that it is normal that I am attracted to guys. For starters, I know that as a child I had attractions to nearby people, like some primo where we kissed or a neighbor in my neighborhood, but I was blocked by Peruvian society (where I come from) and evangelical religion that was so present in my house. It was hard to pass the adolescent stage, thinking I was confused, until I fell for a guy and I really realized that I’m gay, I had real feelings of the moment with him, thinking about romances and what everyone feels sometimes.

Perhaps another (challenge) was “coming out” as my family always suspected since childhood, for me it was easy and I was very determined I told you, I did not care if I had to “lose” the love of them, at the end of the day it is my life and it should not have to intrude on what I feel. But the funny thing is that I feel that all my family problems I had coming out to them or with friends are the same problems that may have a straight person may have, or shemale, bisexual, etc …it is part of life, we all have the same anecdotes, only a change gender.

My history repeats itself with that of a heterosexual, transvestite, bisexual, transgender, and so on. For me to share my story with other people of different sex / gender helps create a bond of friendship. As always happens to me I have stories to tell and the other person feels the same, laughs and shares advice. We all learn to live with the society, as hard and homophobic as it may be, for me being gay already means having a degree of courage. Wearing the shirt, having the belt (as they say in Peru before teasing) and sweating it is part of everyday life. In fact many people do not know I’m gay because I look like someone “normal” but when I talk I do not hide labels or my sexual preference to others, in fact I learned to do without fear of the reactions of others … because for me it is normal and if “it is not” discuss the issue with all possible respect.

Buenos Aires has taught me many things about the feeling of being and wanting to be part of the community, in fact when I lived in Peru I still did not feel part of this community, as there is still much discrimination (either social or racial) within the gay and especially more with transsexuals, transvestites, queers. This seems frightening and much work needs to be done.

Buenos Aires has an established community regarding human rights to gay history topics, as evolved from the DNI for transgender people to the Civil Union. I’m happy with what has been achieved and I want to be part of it, in fact I wanted to be part of the body and spreading activities on the streets about art, it is very feasible to reach people who do not yet understand our community way.

Moreover, especially these activities in my country: Peru, as they are still fighting for rights. A phrase I liked about Carlos Jauregui, founder of the CHA (Homosexual Community of Argentina), is: “In a society that teaches us to shame, pride is a political response.”

The first advice I (would give my younger self) is to love myself, in fact I was always afraid that people did not want me, I was afraid of rejection and it is something that did not leave when I met someone who interests me. A pair of current advice is 1. spend more time with your family and 2. that you can love another gay, that to fall in love is not impossible and that in my head to stop thinking so much and if I like a boy I can say: hello.”

Daniel, Artivist, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

Daniel, in his own words: “I think being gay has a different connotation only when there is prejudice against. I can say: it means nothing more than to be a person. But if I think I could never say goodbye before a boy with a kiss. I remember feeling as a child as a superhero with a hidden identity.

I’ve dealt with mockery. I come from a place that attacks the differences, but I found people who want to change their environment. That’s a big win. The I’m Not a Joke campaign change my life. Transforming the abuse in art, maybe it’s my greatest success

When I was 5 I told my mom that I liked a boy. I remember I got beat and I did pee on the floor. I never thought I was wrong, I just thought: They shouldn’t know. Now my mother is my best friend and defend LGBT students.

In Venezuela being gay is legal, but it is not free. If we decide to express affection in public that would put our physical and psychological integrity at risk. I am an activist for marriage equality project, the project was delivered on January 31 and has not yet received a reply.

(Advice I’d give my younger self) You don’t have to please anyone. Who wants to be with you, Will be with you, no excuses. Who loves you, will be loved your light and dark with passion.
You’re weird, and always will be. And that’s great.”