Tag Archives: the gay men project

Faces: Kam from Boston, Eric from New York City

I decided to add a new element to the blog. Let me know what you think!

photo by Kevin Truong

Homo Riot, Street Artist, Los Angeles

photo by Kevin Truong

Photo provided by Homo Riot

photo provided by Homo Riot

photo by Kevin Truong

photo by Homo Riot

photo by Kevin Truong

photo provided by Homo Riot

photo by Kevin Truong

Homo Riot, in his own words: “I never thought I would be as comfortable with being gay as I am now. I grew up an only child in a very conservative community in the South. I was raised Southern Baptist and attended church three days a week and could spout off bible verses like a televangelist. But like so many gay and lesbian people, I knew from a very early time that I was gay. My problem was there were no positive gay role models for me. The only men who I even had remote contact with who were gay were the church florist (a married man with three gorgeous football player sons who was ultimately murdered by a gay hustler in a hotel room), and male hairstylists who worked at the salon where my mother got her hair done. (Ironically, most of my boyfriends have been hairdressers and florists) I was embarrassed by these effeminate and flamboyant men. I was a pretty astute kid so I picked up quickly that there were certain traits and behaviors that were desirable and others that were not acceptable. As an adolescent I was always dressed sharply, smiling and shaking hands with adults and holding doors open for old ladies. I molded myself after motivational speakers and ministers. As a teenager I was rebellious, but just to a point. I was the president of the student body, prom king and dated all the right girls. It wasn’t until I was a senior in college that I realized I couldn’t put up this front for ever.

At 25 I finally came out to my family. That was when I learned that my maternal grandfather, a man I had never met due to an ugly divorce before I was born and who died a decade prior to my coming out, was a homosexual. That rocked my world for a few weeks but in the end there was something really therapeutic and healing in that knowledge. I think it gave me strength and a sense of place within my family that I had only pretended to have before because my gayness wasn’t as foreign and “unknown” to my family as I had grown up imagining it was. My TRUTH became a badge of honor for me and I gradually began to open myself up to everyone around me. It was and continues to be an amazing and rewarding journey. I really embrace it now and obviously through my art I advocate and celebrate it.

Ultimately my homosexuality has given my art focus and direction. I’ve been a compulsive artist all of my life. I’ve felt at various times that my compulsion to create was like a sickness. My creative life has been full of manic episodes, tremendous highs and deep dark lows, and like a drug addiction, my drive to make art has disrupted my personal and professional life repeatedly. However, for the better part of my life I created art in isolation. Even as a street artist twenty years ago (before anyone called it street art) I was spray painting and bedazzling street signs and overpasses and trying to communicate with my community but always anonymously. It wasn’t until I hit the streets as Homo Riot, putting a gay spin on my work that I gained any recognition and found a framework to build from. Now my art is two fold. One side is activism and propaganda, encouraging dialogue and promoting pride, courage and strength through street art. The other side is more fine art focused, moving my street imagery in to a gallery setting, merging it with my own internal struggles, comments on life and sex and society. Maybe my art and life can be the role model for some kid today that I never had.”

Cesar, Computer Technician, New York City

photo by Kevin Truong

Cesar, in his own words: “For me, being gay is a gift and an honor. And although it means that I may have to work a little harder in different areas of my life, the rewards have been abundant. Being gay is who I have been most of my life, so I can’t really remember what not being gay was like. I’m ok with that.

I haven’t had too many challenges because I am a gay man, so I feel fortunate. I wasn’t disowned by my family nor have I ever been involved in a serious altercation. The challenge has been realizing that others in the community can like me for being unique and for not being “perfect.”

I never thought I’d come out to my mom first. I was terrified of what she would say and what she would think about her only child liking boys. My mom was a single parent and knowing she had been through a lot, I didn’t want to disappoint her. I was certain I’d come out to my cousin Annette first and use that conversation to learn from and tell others. One day in college while on the phone with my mom homosexuality came up. Before I knew it, we were in an argument and just like that, the words “mom, I’m gay” were flying out of my mouth. It was too late, I had said it and couldn’t take it back. I called my cousin, wished her a happy birthday, and then asked if she could talk to my mother about me being gay. She said “Aww thanks… Wait, WHAT?!” Since that day almost 8 years ago, my mom and I can openly talk about boys. My coming out story was tame, and for that I am grateful.

I live in Hell’s Kitchen, recently one of the go-to “gay-borhoods” here. The city’s gay areas are diverse from one another, so explaining what the “scene” is in New York is fairly difficult. I can say though, there’s a place for everyone and it seems the city embraces that. In order to bring together the gays of the different communities, a friend and I have started co-hosting a monthly wine club and it has become quite successful. In the mix of millions, it’s nice to have a smaller group of friends.”