Monthly Archives: December 2012

Eduardo, Photographer, 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

Eduardo, in his own words: “Para mi ser gay no significa mas que elegir una carrera, o ser derecho o izquierdo. Creo que ser gay es algo natural, es algo que nuestra sociedad ha decidido ver como algo adverso y nos ha impuesto esa vision negativa. Hay que empoderar lo que somos.

Los mayores retos han sido mi familia o en la sociedad en general, donde muchas veces no encajamos o no pertenecemos por exclusión de la sociedad hacia nosotros. Desde bullying en las calles por como uno se viste, hasta el prejuicio familiar hacia quien uno es y quienes lo rodean.

La comunidad aquí es grande, pero siento que tiene un gran problema de vender la idea equivocada, refuerzan una visión social impuesta, y alimentan el morbo. Creo que deberíamos ser mas libres, y no ser quienes queremos ser simplemente en una discoteca o entre nuestras 4 paredes.

En un momento de mi vida, me di cuenta que me gustaba este chico. Era la primera vez, estaba solo, en otro país, fue muy difícil. El me ayudo a ir a través de esa situación. Cuando regrese a Panamá, se lo dije a mis amigos, quienes me apoyaron totalmente, incluso cuando se lo dije a mis amigas todas se levantaron y me abrazaron. Mi familia todavía esta en proceso de aceptación, hay historias de todo tipo en estos casos, pero creo que sea una historia buena o mala, uno siempre aprende algo.

Es muy extraño para mi esto, usualmente estoy tomando la foto, no al frente de ella. Es quizás el temor a verme expuesto, de ser vulnerable, y es algo con lo que no me siento cómodo, pero poco a poco he aprendido a que pequeñas dosis de situaciones que se salen de nuestra little box that is our head, es muy sano. Y expresar quien uno es, siempre es sano. Es la honestidad de uno mismo hacia los demas, eso lo aprendí en Argentina, eso lo aprendí en mis viajes, que los procesos de todo lo que somos, nos termina obligando a encontrar lo que realmente somos, y las mentiras llegan a ser un accesorio disfuncional.”

Mauricio, Fashion Blogger, 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

Mauricio, in his own words “Homosexuality has always been stigmatized in latino American countries, so coming out in a country like Panama was not an easy ride. The thought of not being loved by even one of my parents scared me to death and made me hesitate whether I had to tell them or not. My mother was the first to know, she cried and demanded an explanation on why I was this way, is there an explanation on why are we the way we are?

It took a while for the wound to heal, I am now happy that my mother and I have a really strong relationship, despite the normal fights and discussions a mother and a son have I would dare to say our bond has gotten stronger and stronger with the time and even though she is still reluctant with the way of living gay people have she is my cane and my leaning shoulder as is my dad, who has always supported me from the beginning, he even asks me in family lunches if I am ever going to introduce him to a boyfriend, it’s good to know people really love you for who you are and appreciate self honesty.

I am really proud to have great and very talented gay friends in my country, they are such an inspiration for me to try to be a better person and to spread equality in such a little country as Panama, whilst always keeping up with the fast development it is having as a modern metropolis, often called the Hong Kong of Latin America. We still have a lot to fight, people care a lot about what others think and since everyone knows everyone, gossip can be a very tough thing to handle and battle. But after all we are a growing community that has risen up from all the prejudices and have battled the sticks and stones that marked our lives and that’s what life’s about, rising up from our sufferings, learning from them and making the world a better place for us all.

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

Austin, Human Rights Activist, 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

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

Austin, in his own words: “Panama is just starting their gay revolution… I had the pleasure of befriending a group of great people (mostly gay men) who are the generation of change for the face of Panama and LGBT rights. What I find so fascinating is that many of these men that I talk to about their involvement in the movement don’t seem to realize how important they are to the future change for gay Panamanians. Many of my friends are just ‘being who they are, dressing how they want, and standing up for themselves’. I feel privileged to have friends who are a part of a group that are working towards so many rights because I feel like I’m getting the opportunity to see the beginnings of an LGBT movement. In a country where two people of the same sex can be jailed if caught sharing a single kiss in public, my friends are some of the bravest people I know.”