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Maika feels that in Vietnam, people
misunderstand homosexuals due to the
unrealistic and ridiculous way they are
portrayed in images and on film. She
wants to portray them for whom they
really are. “They work, contribute to the
society and express their loving cares
for their beloveds, just like everyone
else,” says Maika, emphatically.
The 45 photos exhibited recently
at the Goethe Institut in Hanoi re-
vealed many moments of homosexual
love and drew huge crowds each day.
Thousands of comments have been
posted on the internet as a direct re-
sult, with the show prompting debate,
praise and controversy.
Among the many positive com-
ments was this one, from Ngo Duy: “I
love the photos as they are not set up,
they are natural moments of the cou-
ples - they are not afraid of expressing
their love.”
Another, from Quang Ngoc reads:
“The photos have changed my views
about homosexual people. Before,
when watching films, I used to feel
mercy for them and thought that their
relationships are not right according
to nature’s laws. Now I know that they
have tried to create a life together and
also have warm happy moments and I
can accept it as a normal part of life.”
However, a few directly aired their
prejudices. Some said they were afraid
that the exhibition represented the first
step in gays and lesbians coming out
to be ‘bad examples’ for their children.
30 year old Manh Thang complained:
“How about the young kids who will
try to imitate this? Who try to be differ-
ent from others? Many kids will imitate
them in this deviant sexual trend.”
35 year old Trang, who now lives
in Germany, also expressed concerns:
“In Germany homosexual marriages
are allowed, but even there, they do
not diffuse gays and lesbian images so
widely through the media as in Viet-
nam today, because they worry that this
can become a rising movement among
youths. And homosexual people’s rights
are still restricted to some extent to
ensure the kids are not badly affected. ”
Some echoed Manh Thang and Trang’s
views, while others blamed this so called
‘imitation’ on a lack of education.
Although there are different opin-
ions about this mater, thanks to the
increasing acceptance of homosexual
relationships, gays and lesbians feel life
is becoming easier. Tran Huu Ngan, 23,
says he discovered he was gay when he
was 15: “I am an independent person
and didn’t feel too shocked and my par-
ents seemed to understand and never
tried to control my private life. Me and
my boyfriend have now lived together
for some time and I have received many
supportive messages from my friends
and acquaintances.”
While there are mixed opinions
about the technical quality of the pho-
tographs, it is undeniable that Maika’s
idea has received a lot of recognition
and appreciation.
timeout
45
Some of the photographs from The
Pink Choice exhibition, documenting
homosexual relationships
art scene