The Gay Men Project is a personal project by New York based photographer Kevin Truong. It is one of the single, largest collections of photographs and stories of gay and queer men in the world. With over seven hundred subjects photographed across 90 cities, 37 countries, and six continents, Truong has photographed a wide diversity of subjects, including the first openly gay member of Congress in Peru, members of Parliament in Brazil, Switzerland, and Australia, HIV outreach workers in South Africa, a retired Justice from the Australian High Court, even a prince in India.
In Truong’s own words:
“This project is simple. Basically I’m trying to photograph as many gay men as I can. My goal is to create a platform, a visibility on some level, and a resource for others who may not be as openly gay. A visual catalog of gay men and their stories. When I think of my own experience, and all the time I spent in the closet and hiding the fact that I was gay–to be at a place now where I feel completely comfortable being on the blog and telling the world “Hey, I’m a gay man,” I think there’s a power in that, for me and for a lot of the men on the blog. So it’s kind of a numbers game, I think the more men I photograph, the more impact the project has.
My dream is to take the project to as many different cities as I can across the world.”
If you would like to participate please contact:
kevin@kevintruong.com
The Gay Men Project: the First 338 Portraits from The Gay Men Project on Vimeo.
What a great collection of photos! Came here to comment because I found it impossible to single out the “likes.”
Obviously I am not a gay man, all I am is “me” which is as much as any of us can hope to be.
All best to you with your project!
Hey Patti, thanks for the message. I think that’s beautiful what you just said, “all I am is ‘me”” I love it. And I completely agree with you, in that’s all we can hope for. I guess that’s what I’m trying to strive for with this project, doing what I love (photography), while meeting others who share a common thread with me (being a gay man) but ultimately are just who they are. Themselves. 🙂 xoxo!! kev
Continue with this Kevin. I know you will reach the world. I hope to meet you in the future and have m y share. 🙂
xx
Jaye
Thanks for the support! It means a lot..
Love your photography, the humanity each is imbued with and the intent behind the whole project. Kudos!
Thank you so much for the kind note! This is a passion project, so it means a lot that it’s being well received!
Such beautiful photos and posts. Love this idea. I would love to be involved in something like this one day.
thanks! you’re in japan? would love to have you be a part of the project, maybe someday i’ll take a trip out!
kev
Hey I just found out your blog and I find it very interesting. Thta’s why I now follow you, I really like your honesty and I admire the aim that pushed you to start up this blog. I wanted to ask you what do you think about gay marriage and the church/government opposition in some countries? I just wrote an article about that, please let me know your opinion. http://beinquisitive.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/the-odyssey-of-gay-marriage/
hey thanks for writing! and nice article. I personally feel, love is love. Of course, I’m a gay man, so I may be a bit biased 😉 keep up the good work and keep visiting the blog!
Great photography, and inspiring writing. I really like your work, and the way your work has a message and comes to expression in the texts. I should really send the url of this blog to some friends of mine, I think they can learn a lot something solely by reading your posts.
Hey thanks for writing! It would mean a lot if you shared the blog! I’m hoping it can be of some help and good to people!….kevin
What a great project Kevin! Bonne chance pour la suite!
Your portaits are beautiful.
merci, mon ami!! bisous!
Thanks for the wonderful collection of photographs, and more importantly, the stories behind it! I stumbled on this website via Buzzfeed and sent the link to my family and friends. My brother, who’s gay and Vietnamese, has yet to come out. But upon seeing the photographs and reading the stories, his eyes were brimming with tears. The reality is that it’s hard to reconcile the identities one hold, and I’m glad that you have this blog up, because while I know my brother might not want to claim his “gay” identity, he is grateful of this artistic depiction of gay men (as told to me in Vietnamese).
Hey! Is he in Ho Chi Minh City? I’m going there in three weeks!!!
Come to Australia
I found tnis page and crie, findind that im not alone, that its dificult but not imposibul to get out and say without fear im gay.
Thanks so much i will do it
Congratulations on this wonderful project Kevin! I came to your website via Nguoi-Viet.com. I read yours and your Mom’s stories. Her story moved me to tears. I like these personal stories and photos that you’ve shared on your blogs. My friend from college is a gay man. He has taught me so much in term of appreciation for our share love of performance arts. I love and appreciate my friend to pieces. I know that my life is more fulfilling with him in it and I feel thankful for that. You, my friend, along with so many others has contributed so much to the world and has yet to fully receive what you should from it. I continue to hope that all the rights that belongs to individuals like myself will be given to you in the not so far distant future. You deserve the best of everything – freedom to live, learn, create, share, be happy. Thank you for creating this amazing platform! Wishing you all the best as you continue to do great work and make your life count. Shout out to all those featured in your project too!
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This is SUCH a lovely project/idea – simple ones are often the best… and this embodies that, beautifully. 🙂 Thank you for making and sharing this! anthony in nYc.
I just want to say thank you for this project and what you are doing. It is heart-warming and encouraging to see how gay men everywhere have struggled and in many cases won through to victory and joy in their lives. It is especially encouraging to someone like me who lives in a very homophobic country and cannot live open as a gay man.
Always good to hear from you, hope you’re well!
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lovely idea, beautifully done. congratulations!
Thank you so much!
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This was a truly inspired idea! I simply adore all of the photos. Congratulations on your success. I can’t wait to see what comes next. You are truly gifted. 🙂
thanks a lot James! I’m trying to figure out the next steps for the project, I have high hopes!
Wow. Such an inspiring, sincere and humble project! This is the reason why Art exists: to show us that there’s much more to see in this life, and that the world is greater than we suppose. Congratulations! (From Brazil)
Thank you so much for your encouragement! Brazil is my favorite country, and Brazilians my favorite people!
This project and others like it offer encouragement to gay men all over the world .Thank you !!
Thank you for your support, Mike. It really means a lot!
Lovely.
Every now and then I come back to your project and it always makes me smile, and I guess smiling is the first sign of happiness.
Thanks and cheers from Vienna.
Aw, that comment really made me smile! Thanks for letting me know, I really appreciate it!
What a wonderful gift is this project. You are remarkable, Kevin Truong! So very moving to see so many of us — gay men — showcased on camera, out and proud. I live in NYC, a gay senior, and this has me thinking about contacting Kevin.
I’m in New York City quite a bit, if you ever want to be a part of the project send me a message!
Thank you for sharing. Self acceptance and allowing our true selves to shine is key for all people, and this has been made very challenging for gay people … However we are getting there and work like yours is a part of that journey! Hugs from Sydney Australia!
Thank you! I loved my time in Sydney! Aussies are absolutely lovely!
Excellent…..congratulations
Thank you!
Abused from 11, working the street till 18, thought being gay was going to get me killed early in my life, nothing but violence and more abuse, met a boy from Darwin, picked me up, taught me the difference between right & wrong, we just had our 28yr anniversary, heart broken, now happy. I’m ok with being gay now because people like u give men like me something positive to see in life, ta! Martin & David,
What a compelling story! If you ever wanted to share it, send me a message! info@kevintruong.com
Love the photos and the whole concept :), I would like to participate, cheers from Mexico
Thank you! Feel free to send your story to info@kevintruong.com! Also I’m hoping to finally make it to Mexico this year! I’ll be in touch.
Man what a good resource of stories! I’m a graphic designer in Rio and I am in my last year of school. I was looking for references to my final project, which is about Homosexuality and Cristianity, and I found your beautiful project. It encourages me and somehow give me strengh to go forward. Thanks for this! Greetings from Rio!
This project is gold dust for all the LGBT around the world. I have to give you thump up for dreaming and bringing this project to limelight. This is the quintessence of a true and caring brother. I love you kevin. Thank you so much for this project.
Nicely done! So many gay men alone in the photos. I hate being the same, alone in life. Too much missing for so many of us. Painful life.
Thank you, Kevin, for your blog. I am living for it. It gives me inspiration into my own endeavors to document LGBTQ culture here in Cleveland, Ohio. Your work is an inspiration. Keep it up.