Category Archives: Uncategorized

Personal Diary, First.

Even though I’ve been doing the Gay Men Project for nearly a year and a half, I really feel like I’m only at the very beginning of where we are all going to take it.

One of the suggestions I get most often is to include more of my own personal experiences with this project–my own personal thoughts, memories, and experiences. So that’s what I’m going to do–start personally documenting this journey that I’ve found myself in.

I’ve carried with me a little book to all the cities I’ve visited around the world (except DC and Boston, I forgot..) and I ask every guy I photograph to sign it. Of all the things I physically own, this book has the most meaning to me in my life, and I wanted to share some of my favorite notes I’ve received.

xoxo kevin

A note from Andre, in São Paulo.

Eduardo and Filipe, Graphic Designer and Internet and TV Consultant, São Paulo

photo by Kevin Truong

Filipe, in his own words: “Understand who you are and can express it without the fear of the world doesnt love you is a human process. This process is made step by step and requires time and attention. However it is undoubtedly the best way forward.”

Eduardo, in his own words: “I guess when you are gay in Sao Paulo, maybe some things can be different or hard to deal, and it’s harder when you are black, when you are poor, when you are fat, when you are “ugly”, when you are effeminate… but you need to face up all these things and keep movin on, I guess São Paulo have been understanding it… but we have yet a long way to do that”

Wade Addison, Digital Advocate, Brooklyn, NY

photo by Kevin Truong

Photo by Kevin Truong

Wade, in his own words: “Never forget…
When you felt so alone with your thoughts
When you felt like you had no one to turn to
When you thought the world would end if you admitted or accepted your truth
When you prayed night-after-night for God to free you from your “evil” thoughts and attractions
When you tossed and turned over the thought of not having a spouse or a family

Never forget…
The fear that your eyes would wander toward theirs
The pain of exposing yourself to rejection from an unreciprocated crush
The loss of a best friend who misunderstood
The torment that festered inside you
The guilt experienced from such simple, innocent attraction

Never forget…
How you felt as a young boy or girl with that secret
How you blushed because you related to the target of a friend or family member’s slurs
How it took you years to get you where you are today
How people in your life have supported you along the way
How many hardships and hard days you faced just because you are uniquely, beautifully you

Never forget…
Those who are still in such a dark place
Those who are and will be bullied today and tomorrow
Those who have years before they can escape
Those who daily seek to find something to just get them through their day
Those who were and are just like you and me

– – –

In light of not forgetting those LGBTQ teens who are still longing for better days:

For my 25th birthday, my friends helped me launch an initiative called 25 for Trevor. It’s a 25-day campaign to raise $25,000 for The Trevor Project, which is the United States’ leading provider of crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. You can learn more about their resources at www.thetrevorproject.org. I hope its services are soon modeled in other countries, if not already.

To support or learn more about 25 for Trevor, visit www.25fortrevor.com.Your donation goes toward these lifesaving resources that are so imperative for our young friends.”