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THE INSIDER
V
o Chi Dung researched many
documents and studies to in-
clude in his book which aims
to show the world that being
a homosexual is normal.
“Homosexuals can lead a normal
life and obtain equal rights as accepted
members of the public, but only if Vi-
etnamese society has all the correct
information,” he says.
The book, Mom, I’m gay, was re-
leased recently in Hanoi following six
months of work. Through it, Dung
hopes to encourage the gay youth of
Vietnam to speak out loud about who
they are.
The book is not just about the cour-
age to open their hearts and lives to
their mother, but also about how to
project their voice in Vietnamese soci-
ety and through that, how to help so-
ciety understand lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) citizens.
“Recently, there have been some
positive LGBT rights activities in Viet-
nam, and these have appeared in the
media,” Dung explains. He also says
there has been a positive change in the
tone of reporting.
However, he did admit there is still
some misinformation and a communi-
cation breakdown about LGBT issues in
some articles and on some television
programmes. Contributing to this is the
lack of published materials from LGBT
organisations.
The current literature on LGBT is-
sues is not just fiction either, but
there are real stories about love and
life out there which give the public
an opportunity to understand these
people better.
Dung stresses that he wanted to
take a scientific approach to the book,
so would researched academic papers
on the subject as well as interviewing
those working with LGBT people.
He hopes the book will set straight
some of the previous misinformation
and open up the lines of communica-
tion between people.
WHY MOM?
In Vietnam usually the mother is the
one who tells stories to her children and
is also the person who can listen and
help solve problems, often more so than
a father. This is also true when it comes
to talking about sexual orientation.
It is hoped that the title, Mom, I’m
Gay, will attract readers and, hopefully,
change some minds. The book explains
the social, historical, psychological, and
linguistic knowledge surrounding LGBT
people and breaks away from the bio-
logical and genetic studies.
For example, some of its chapters
contain questions that may help LGBT
people to find ways to address com-
ments and questions from others, espe-
cially from those who do not believe it
is a natural way to live.
Explaining the thoughts and feel-
ings faced by LGBT people in everyday
life is a big part of the book.
It offers some other social view-
points surrounding LGBT issues in other
countries including the US, Germany,
Japan, China and Vietnam, and profiles
some famous LGBT people, including
the composer Tchaikovsky, singer Ricky
Martin, pop star Lady Gaga, and the
Prime Minister of Iceland.
CHANGING ATTITUDES
“At first, my friend Nguyen Ngoc
Thach and I knew problems would exist
when we sought to propose this book
to publishing houses but, after five or
six attempts, the book was finally ac-
cepted,” says Dung.
At present, Vietnamese society
is starting to support LGBT rights, and
Dung sees this as extremely positive. His
book too has received some excellent
feedback. This means that Vietnamese
people are starting to turn the tide of
attitudes toward LGBT issues and people.
Recently, Vietnam has made sig-
nificant progress in accepting and im-
proving the rights of the lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender community,
but it will take more time to secure the
National Assembly’s approval for same
sex marriages.
Dung hopes his writings on LGBT
issues will be a strong motivation and
inspiration for the LGBT movement and
help rid society of discrimination.
LGBT people can take encourage-
ment from the book as they realise they
are not alone, and being lesbian, gay,
bisexual or transgender is not wrong.
They may even, perhaps, present the
book as a gift to family and friends.
Sexuality
in Vietnam
Vo Chi Dung’s recent
book, Mom, I’m gay, has
caused something of a
stir.
Ounkham Pimmata
caught up with the
author during Hanoi’s
recent Viet Pride parade
PROFILE