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
Barna, in his own words: “It is hard to be gay in Hungary, but everything depends on your lifestyle. So if you have the right friends, if you have the right profession and workplace–if you have the right life for the gayness you can live in peace. The society isn’t open enough for the gayness. I think the reason is that we are really simple in the society. If you are walking down the street in Budapest you can see only Hungarians and whites and that’s it. We don’t have any other nationalities in our society, we don’t have immigrants, this is why in Budapest it is so strange to be black, Asian, or to be gay.
It’s not impossible to walk hand in hand on the street with your boyfriend, but it’s not safe. You cannot feel comfortable. You might not have to feel afraid about any violence, but for the girls it is easier. So if you are a lesbian, I think it is more OK to walk hand in hand. But if you are a gay guy, it’s not the best option and I would not recommend it.
It’s not possible to get married for gays. You can get a document about your relationship, but that’s not marriage. We are about halfway, but I think in the near future, this can be changed.
I’m recently after a separation, and I’m trying to organize my feelings. I would really like to survive my feelings and I would really like to rebuild my life and the things around me. I would feel successful if I could stay open in my heart for the future. I really don’t want to stay sorrowful and sad like I am now. I’m just trying to open up my heart and my mind.”
Diary: Barna, Budapest, Hungary from The Gay Men Project on Vimeo.
Barna, thank you for sharing. I hope your life soon is filled with the presence and joy of a man you love again, to take away the pain of the separation. Your life is better in Hungary than in Zimbabwe. Here it is actually illegal to be gay so you can go to prison for it. That makes it almost impossible to live openly, though one can live quietly and discreetly as we do! Lol. Of course, marriage for gays is a total dream. I wonder if it will ever be possible here. But across the border in South Africa there are laws to protect gay folk and you can get married there. I hope one day to go and live there with my man.
very interesting..I did not know Budapest was that segregated.You should not live life being sorrowful or sad.Explore other options,other places to live?
Hi, all the support from Czech republic. I´m gay and artist too. http://www.iboys.cz/Ardo 😉