Author Archives: thegaymenproject

About thegaymenproject

The Gay Men Project is a photo project by New York based photographer Kevin Truong. Truong received his BFA in from photography from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, and his photo credits include the New York Times.

Hoang, Graphic Designer/Illustrator, Ho Chi Minh City

photo by Kevin Truong

Hoang, in his own words:“People are born in a game of life and gay people are born in harder level of the game.

To me, being gay doesn’t mean anything, being yourself is matter. Because when you are who you are, what you are you will know what to do. During my “boy-time” being gay was all about discovering my own questions and gave myself the defend when hearing that is not ok, is freak and unnatural, especial with a shy boy like me.

My (coming out) story, it happened a bit late, I always wait for the right moment and it happened when I was 25. First I came out to my close friend, I think she is ready for it, and it was relief to me with her caring: “that’s why I took you to see another gay friend of mine”. That made me more confident to talked to another friends. But it didn’t work easy to my mom, she was confuse and hasn’t believed it yet, she still think everything has its cure… she believe it is a choice and can fix it. This gonna be a challenge, still is my challenge…

But now with more confident to be who I am , what I am to care less about people’s opinions to care more about what I wanna be and how I wanna be. As a gay man I believe we should not to sensitive about what people think and say about gay. I believe that love is fair to everyone, has no different and I believe gay is a part of the life, no one can deny. That is a fact and I’m happy to be a one of it.”

Coco Nac, Server, Ho Chi Minh City

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Keivn Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

Coco Nac, in his own words:“Being gay means I had to try hard, work harder than the other and I’m happy with myself, my life.

The challenges are not only for me, but for all gays in VN, that they are not accepted by the community for the different life style and culture. It’s hard to come out. But for me, I’m luicky and my family accept it, although they are unhappy by the first time.

I do not know how to describe my coming out. It was easy for me because my parents are open minded, and they accept me and still love me like before, when I said “I’m gay.”

Marcus, Recruitment Specialist, Ho Chi Minh City

photo by Kevin Truong

Marcus, in his own words:“No one was born twice, so live and enjoy your life at its best” one of my friends said. It lingered in my mind from a long time ago and I decided to come out with my family last year. My sister who is living in Germany came home to visit and on the occasion of Tet Holiday in 2013. I cannot forget that dinner. After meal, my father told us that he would buy me and my sister a house for each after selling his house with the purpose that It would help me to stabilize my life there in Ho Chi Minh city. I explained that now I am happy with my life and I would not get married with a girl to have the family. He was shocked from the beginning and he kept quiet. I really wanted to tell him long time ago, but for the fact that I was not so happy with my living and I was a bit stressed with my career so I did not make it happen. Since my mother’s stroke in 2011, I was so depressed and found out that If I do not make a move to change my life, I may not have chance to exposure to live as the way I like. And, coming out seemed to be the very best decision I have ever made. At the moment, I am enjoying life the most ever.

I am working in the education industry and I have had chance to visit a lot of countries and I have some comparison with the Gay Community. LGBT in Ho Chi Minh city is not mature, it is not easy to be found any long term relationship here. With the development of the smart phones and the applications, LGBT mainly use them to seek for the hook-ups. The majority is trying to be obvious and showing off too much instead of better their life by getting promoted at work. The floating part of the ice is not reflecting the truth which is lying deep beneath.

I am not so proud of/feeling sorry to be a gay. But, what I have found the meaning of life is how I can enjoy my life. I am what I am. I do not pretend to be someone else and act as the way people want me to. I have a good job, living independently and I own some good friends, and get my family’s loving me after my decision to come out.”