Tag Archives: kevin truong

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.

Edu, Quality Assurance Test Leader, São Paulo

photo by Kevin Truong

Edu, in his own words: “I think being gay is just a part of my personality but it is not the main thing about me. I think either gay or straight I would be looking for the same things. You know, I’m a human being who wants to be loved, to grow, to experiment things and so on.
On one hand there is the prejudice explicit or implicit, depending on the culture/city/country you are in, but on the other hand you are free to build your own path in life. You don’t have to necessarily follow the steps the society pre-programmed for you, like to marry, to have kids and to buy a flat in the suburbs. You can choose being single, having an open marriage, spending your money traveling the world because you don’t have kids, or whatever you want to. I notice that many people are afraid of this freedom; they prefer living in the box. For me I see it as a blank canvas I’m free to paint as I please.

My biggest challenge was to go through the bulling I suffered during school time. Bullying is a topic that is much discussed these days, but back in the 80’s it was really complicated to be a shy/nerdy/gay kid. One interesting thing is that I was bullied for being gay before I understand what sexuality was all about or even actually having a sex drive.

My biggest success was to overcome a very limited scenario in which I was born and raised. I was born in a poor family in the suburbs with all its financial difficulties. My parents and grandparents helped me out as much as possible for me to study and to grow as a decent person. I took all chances and I was the first on my family to go to college and have “a real big job”. I am grateful to all of them.

I could define São Paulo gay community in one word: diversity. You can find here the princesses (in Brazil they call them Barbies), bears, indies, hipsters and so on. I find it refreshing because I come from a city in which the only gay archetype that is acceptable it the buffed-all-waxed-suntan-lined-porn-star-look-a-like guy.

Getting out of the closet was complicated just in my head. Once I figured it out and accepted it was all natural. I didn’t have “the conversation” with my mother; my family knew it all along.

(If I could give myself advice before coming out) I would say to myself: “relax and go ahead. It won’t hurt and once you are out they will respect you more than being in the closet.”

Andre and Rodrigo, VJ/Designer and Creative Planner/Content Creator, São Paulo

photo by Kevin Truong

Rodrigo, in his own words: “I’ve lived with my grandmother and my brother for the past 5 years. And her acceptance towards me and my brother being gay is something that shocked me at first. She was born almost 70 years ago, in a totally different world, and acts like every person should about us: naturally. It taught me that the ones that love you the most understand (or will at one point) that being gay is just one small part of who you are. And it doesn’t really change anything.

She says that in life, love is what matters the most. And I’d like to add something to that: learning.

Learning to accept yourself.
Learning that you’re different, and that it’s fine to be yourself.
Learning about who you are as a person.
Actually, if you think about it, learning also takes love and passion.
So yeah, she’s right!:)

Also, I know there is still prejudice in the world, even here in Brazil, and that’s why I define myself as a lucky gay man for having people around me who accept who I am, and a boyfriend who I can freely love. I hope I get to see this reality for all gay men in the world.”

“Imagine all the people living life in peace
You, you may say
I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one”
John Lennon

Andre, in his own words: “Being gay means being free. Each person must find his way of freedom.

Coming out was much easier than I thought. The biggest difficulties came from myself and not from people around me.”