Photos document lives of gay men
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Out of the closet: Photos in an exhibition depicting significant moments in various gay men's lives, from the time of realising their sexuality to the pressures of coming out. — VNS Photo Doan Tung |
HA NOI — As many as 120 photos of gay men are being exhibited at 45 Trang Tien Street in a show entitled Khoanh Khac Cuoc Doi (Moments in Life).
Photos under the headings Who am I and Love provide visitors with a peak into the identity and love stories of over 20 men who took part in the project by submitting their own photos. Through these photos, the men share memories of their family and the pressures they experience in their daily lives.
HIV prevention is also touched upon in the exhibit. To discriminate or ignore the issues of HIV/AIDS increases everyone's vulnerability to it and other diseases, is the message from one participant.
One display consists of two old photos with the note "Two weddings – I was the groom in one, and the bride in the other" written by T from HCM City. Another photo depicts the 1,000 paper stars and cranes which R&F from Ha Noi made hoping it would make his dream come true.
Through this exhibit, Tung Anh describes his first feelings for boys at the age of 17. "Being gay often means having to hide your sadness deep inside your heart because you can't share it with others. Love tends to end faster because you know that you cannot stay with the person you want. I've seen many sad stories in the exhibition," he said.
Some find solace in religion. For example, LL in HCM City wanted to become a monk in a pagoda to escape society's judgements but after a few months was sent home. T. in HCM City confessed to a priest that he was in love with a boy and then was advised to marry a girl and try to forget about him.
M. from Ha Noi spoke at the ceremony: "We want to convey the message: Although we are gay, and some of us are HIV infected, we are still human with basic civil rights. One such right is to live happily with others."
The exhibition is one of the activities to support the gay community in Ha Noi, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, HCM City and An Giang organised by the Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population with financial assistance from the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. It aims fight discrimination and to give voice to an often silenced population.
The exhibition will run until Friday. — VNS