Monthly Archives: December 2012

Pulum, DJ/Chef/Professor, Panama City

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

Pulum, in his own words: “Que significa ser gay para ti?

What does being Gay mean to you?
Answer: It doesn´t mean anything. I am Me.
¨We all are a reflection of ourselves¨

I am Pulum / Dj, Chef, Professor.”

Guille and Alvaro, Panama City

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

Alvaro and Guillermo, in their own words: “So we saw each other at the gym, made eye contact, never spoke and each of us went on his way. A few days later a combination of a common friend and Facebook made its magic and after a friend request we started chatting. A couple of weeks after that we had our first date and the rest is history. To this day we’ve been together for 3 and a half years, not without facing a lot of obstacles and learning how to deal with them as we go. From time management to learning to support each other on their personal endeavors, sharing friends (and families), facing homophobia together and the series of extra “coming outs” that being in a relationship triggers.

Each of us has his own way of thinking and facing life, and most of the time we show each other different perspectives. You could say we balance each other out in a very positive way. Besides, considering your partner in every decision you make is not easy but it’s important to do it if you want to be in a real relationship.

As long as you’re partners (as in a team) and you’re willing to evolve your relationship into something new you can make it. In our country there’s a lot of homophobia and many gay couples behave like friends when they are in public. A lot of people react to the way we behave and to how open we are when it comes to being a couple, but in the end we get mostly positive reactions from straight and gay people. So we like to think that by working hard in our relationship and keeping it real we contribute to the cause.”

Reinier, Graphic Designer, Panama City

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

Reiner, in his own words: “I used to think being gay, meant about rejections from the people you love, about the body, about parties, about sex and I was really scare about it but now I know that being gay its much bigger than that, it’s about being who you are no matter what, it’s about to loving yourself and always be proud.

Coming out for me was really easy and I’m very lucky I have the must wonderfull mother I can ever ask for, and I thought will be harder then that because I was comparing with my other friends experiences and I told her because I was in a relationship, I was traveling all the time and I was sick of so many lies, so I decided to make her part of my life and was a very emotional momment.

I was really scared and with my brother there to support me and I told her and she was like “so? what you expect me to do? You’re my son I have to love you no matter what” and she started to cry when she was talking, then my brother was crying too, and she hug me and told me “no matter what I will be here for you, because I love you and I am proud of you” and the very next day she was treating me like always just like my brothers, my dad and my friends when I came out with them.

So my story doesn’t have drama or hate and that’s why I feel lucky and proud to be gay. When it’s about to be gay in Panama its kind of hard because there is a lot of gossips and jealousy in this country, that’s why I refuse to let those with dirty feet walk through my mind, and just be happy.”

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong