Tag Archives: portland

Jason, Photographer, Portland, Ore.

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by  Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong


Jason, in his own words: “I grew up in Pleasanton, California, a relatively conservative suburb outside of San Francisco. My family was deeply involved in the catholic community and I was a Boy Scout all the way through Eagle Scout. The boy I was then would hardly recognize who I have grown into. I first knew I liked men at age 10, but as an awkward, overweight, computer geek, I did not feel like I fit into any social clique. That same awkward kid stayed with me until only recently when I met my second family – my gay family – while working as a photographer for CC Slaughters Nightclub in Portland, Oregon. I came out when I was 21, but have only started to appreciate what it really means to be an “out” male and how it manifests itself in many different parts of my life. CC’s has provided me with a diverse melting pot of strong, queer role models that have accepted me for who I am. With their support, I have been able to grow into the proud, outgoing and confident person that I have become today. I look forward to growing and learning more about myself as I continue to meet new people and widen the circle of people I can call ‘family’.”

Brandon, Singer/Songwriter, Portland, Ore.

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

Brandon, in his own words:“In terms of what it’s like for me to be gay, I’ll put it as simple as this: “I like Fruity Pebbles cereal because I like the taste, not because I’m a fruit”

I’ve always known I was gay since I was a young boy watching Kevin Bacon in Footloose. Yum. I can’t honestly say I was ever confused about my identity or who I was as a person. The problem for me was that I always knew exactly who I was and was aware that it wasn’t safe during my high school years in a small Midwest town (Quincy, Illinois) to be open and honest about it. The only gay people that were out in high school were the stereotypical gay guys who did the musicals and were the acting teachers pet. As much as I respected those boys bravery for being out and proud when the rest of us weren’t, I never identified with those stereotypes and have done my best throughout my life to avoid the comparisons.

Sure, I like a good pop song, I even dig glitter on the right night, but to sum up all gay people into one category that revolves around musicals, Bette Midler and makeup is unfair, inaccurate and a stereotype I will never be comfortable submitting to. I drink Whiskey, I wear the same thing twice in a row some days and have a deep love and appreciation for Pink Floyd thanks to my Grandpa Butch. Being a gay male is many things, mostly it just means you are attracted to men and that’s that. The End.