Tag Archives: brazil

A Note from Mauricio, in São José dos Campos, Brazil…

Photo provided by Mauricio

Mauricio, in his own words: Essa história de amor começa da forma que eles se conheceram.

O Maurício Caetano ( @maucaetano_ ) recém chegado na cidade de São José dos Campos ( interior de SP ), encontra o Arnon Cypriano ( @arnoncypriano ) aleatoriamente para pedir informações. Ele de prontidão lhe da as informações e nisso começam a conversar. Era 25/08/13. Eles trocam número de telefone, e desde então não pararam de conversar. Com 4 meses juntos oficializaram o namoro e comunicaram aos familiares.

Hoje fazem mais de 3 anos que essas almas de encontraram e cada dia mais sonhando viver a eternidade juntos. Em breve irão se casar e sonham também adotar uma criança e assim então viver felizes para sempre.

In English:

“This love story begins with the way they met.

Mauricio (@maucaetano_) newly arrived in the city of São José dos Campos (São Paulo state), meets Arnon (@arnoncypriano) at random to ask for information. He gives him the information and they start talking about it. It was 08/25/13. They exchange phone numbers, and since then they have not stopped talking. Four months together and they officially starting dating and informed their family.

Now after more than three years since these souls met, and each day they dream more of living eternity together. They will soon get married and dream also of adopting a child so they can live happily ever after.”

Matheus, Fashion Producer, São Paulo, Brazil

photo by Kevin Truong

Matheus, in his own words: “Actually I think being gay it’s not something that has a meaning for me, it’s a part of who I am just as being black or being tall.

I think the worst part of being gay it’s trying to fit in and find your place and sometimes being a little bit afraid of other people’s comments and reactions.

The gay community in Brazil in Sao Paulo is very diversed, I think there is a place for everyone twinks, bears, fashionistas and etc… and even for people that don’t like labels. hehehee

When I came out to my family I wanted to tell my father first because we have more of a open and straight foward relationship, but my sister who already knew at the time, convinced me to tell my mother first. My mom literally freaked out, and because of that started a little family war between the two of us, that lasted for almost a year. After things calmed down a little bit I told my father , he wasn’t that open minded, but he was supportive in his own silent way, and for that I’m very thankfull, because after I told him the bickering between me and my mom ended, and things actually started to get better.

Advice I’d give to anyone (who hasn’t come out) is, be patient to others,, it’s a process, sometimes you have to put yourself in someone elses shoes to understand their heads. and just be strong. being gay it’s not the end of the world, it’s just the beggining. hehee”

João Victor, Engineer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

photo by Kevin Truong

João, in his own words: “I had my sexuality stamped on me by other people when I didn’t even had traces of some kind of sexual drive. When I first noticed that I was different from the other boys, when I finally understood the looks, the giggles, the bullying I had nothing to do but to deny to myself who I was and do my best to fit in that world that I had been told that I didn’t belong to. I had to be straight. That goal made me put so much effort and energy trying to be something different that I ended up stuck in an unhappy middle.

My coming out was a long and calculated process. It started with me proving to myself that I was no worse than anyone else based solely on being gay and ended after some tequila shots in the arms of a polish guy in a club in Barcelona. That moment, when I finally allowed myself to touch a man in a sexual way, that was my coming out. I was 22 and I finally felt free.

Telling my friends and family that I was gay wasn’t hard. Again, it took me a little while and some planning to absorb everything that was I going through before spreading the word. I was happy and I wanted to share that. I have the most amazing supporting family and, as I predicted, they could not have had a better reaction.

During my so called coming out process, I surrounded myself with friends that I knew that wouldn’t make a big deal out of my sexuality. Most of them weren’t surprised and some couldn’t wait any longer for that moment.

For people to deal with my sexual orientation naturally I also try to deal with it as naturally as possible. In Rio, especially in Ipanema where I live, I feel safe and always walk hand in hand with my boyfriend. I never hesitate to hug or kiss him in public places. In these moments, the “I don’t belong here” feeling that I mentioned vanishes completely.

When you asked me if I could give any advice to myself before coming out, I’d say:

Man, surround yourself with kind people and be kind!”

THE GAY MEN PROJECT

The visual catalog of gay and queer men around the world.

Tag Archives: brazil

A Note from Mauricio, in São José dos Campos, Brazil…

Matheus, Fashion Producer, São Paulo, Brazil

João Victor, Engineer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil