New America Media, Question & Answer, Andrew Lam, Posted: Aug 03, 2012
Photo: Currently hot on movie screens in Asia is "Hot Boy Noi Loan," one of the first sympathetic film about the gay life in Vietnam.
Recent news that Vietnam might consider legalizing same-sex marriage, a move that would make Vietnam the first Asian country to do so, stirred up quite a bit of debate among the diaspora of Vietnamese people in many countries, as well as in the gay community. Although the discussion of whether to legalize same-sex marriage won’t take place by the National Assembly Congress until Spring 2013, gay weddings have been happening in Vietnam’s capital and other cities.
In fact, a gay-pride parade--the first of its kind--is being planned in Hanoi for August 5.
Nguyen Qui Duc is a Vietnamese American author, artist, translator and radio broadcaster, who has worked with NPR and the BBC and written for many newspapers in the United States. He returned to his Hanoi in 2006, and opened a popular bar and restaurant called Tadioto. New America Media (NAM) editor, Andrew Lam conducted an interview by e-mail with Nguyen for his point of view on Vietnam’s latest cultural trend.
New America Media: The news that Vietnam might legalize gay marriage came from left field for many of us in the West and many who think of Vietnam as a conservative, police state. How did this come about? Do you think it might actually happen? Or is it blown out of proportion?
Nguyen: The news came out of left field here, too, but it seems it’s Western foreign media that’s focusing on this. I am not sure how this came about, but there had been incidents within the last weeks where there were a couple of ceremonial weddings, including among university students.
I don’t think it will happen. Local people feel it may be a diversion from economic issues. People don’t seem to be talking about it too much, except within the rarified urban elite using social networks like Facebook and private blogs. This news came as people are very concerned about economic downturn, price hikes and government reactions against people protesting China’sadvances in the East [South China] Sea.
NAM: How are gays and gay couples being treated in Vietnam in your opinion? How are they portrayed in the media--are they still being frowned on in general?
Nguyen: People are generally tolerant, but in several occasions I’ve seen rather unsophisticated attitudes toward homosexuals. As I mentioned, in the media they’re odd balls, farcical, criminals and prostitutes. A few stories I have seen have shown them in better light but it’s a long way toward full acceptance.
I feel that many still keep themselves pretty hidden. In big cities, such as Hanoi, Saigon and Danang, there are gay clubs and cafes, but beyond that, there’s really little presence. Comments on social sites, blogs, etc., show discrimination, sometimes harsh.
Children use the word PD [short for pederast] in derogatory fashion. In many areas, the Vietnamese are still very conformist due to Confucian and Communist pressure, but at the same time--in a society in transition, fast changing, overcrowded and in the rush towards development--there’s also a “live and let live” attitude.
NAM: You've been in Vietnam for over six years now and opened a bar called Tadioto in Hanoi. With your eyes on the social scene, can you comment on shifting social mores toward homosexuality?
Nguyen: I see more and more openness, especially in urban areas. There are more openly gay men and women, there are cafes and clubs for them, and it seems to not bother people in general. The mainstream media sometimes report on their activities. There are no celebrity cases, however, and in private, attitudes are still rather discriminatory.
I have also found that there’s a community of lesbian women. Some tell me they don’t like the sexist and disrespectful attitudes of Vietnamese men, so they turn to women for love. A couple of years ago, there was a trend in which women experimented with same-sex sexual relations. It was described as a fashion. Sexual activities in general seem to be unlimited for many. People say they want more independence, break-ups and divorces are frequent, and men and women have affairs fairly easily; it’s just accepted. This has a bearing on homosexual life as well.
In my bar, homosexual clients come and go openly, express themselves through attitudes, clothes, stories and normal affectionate behavior without anyone raising an eyebrow. I’ve seen this at other clubs and bars, but these are rare places where anyone is welcome. I don’t know that other establishments are the same.
But there are many gay blogs and website. The media have reported on parks and public spaces where older, more established men, presumably married, go to have gay sex.
NAM: The cultural scene is changing fast in Vietnam with hip-hop dance crews, rap artists and independent films being made, such as "Hot Boy Noi Loan"--a first sympathetic film about the gay life in Vietnam, with main characters who are gay. What do young people think of the movie?
Nguyen: I have not heard a lot about “Hot Boy Noi Loan.” I have helped on several movie scripts in which gay men and women are portrayed as alienated, poor, on the fringe of society, and are criminals and prostitutes.
NAM: China hasn't moved on this issue, but Vietnam is making waves. Why do you think Vietnam is advancing in this area of human rights when it's behind in so many other areas?
Nguyen: The opinion here is that this is a diversion, a measure to block criticism on repression of bloggers, or on urban protesters of government, party policies and corruption. It is also a sensitive time in regards to conflict with China. Cynical views of the government and of the ruling party are rampant, so this issue naturally falls into a category of “one more thing to doubt the government.”
In reality, I think it’s just normal in a fast developing society. People travel to many countries in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Korea and Japan where attitudes are different. As for the government, sometimes it’s trial balloons being floated around, or some high-ranking person in the government or party, who happen to have said something. Then it just balloons out to something bigger, more official. I don’t know that anything will happen.
NAM: In the form of freedom of speech, it seems on the cultural ground there 's been some major shift. There are YouTube videos being produced showing gay weddings in Vietnam.
Nguyen: Urban Vietnamese now have access to social media, to new technology, to things like YouTube. And they use them. Even in a place like Hanoi, there are few things for young people to do but hang out in cafes and karaoke. So people turn to the Internet. But one must be aware that such videos or expression of alternative lifestyle only happen with a small segment of the population. They are novelties, and they are noticed. But in general, most people I know don’t even think about such issues.
NAM: Vietnam is now having the first gay pride parade ever in Hanoi. August 5th. Somehow this is permissible when religious events are still tightly controlled. What to make of this?
Nguyen: It is surprising. I think it’s one of those cases where things are allowed to relieve pressure, to let people let off steam. But if it grows too big, takes on a political tone or becomes a “dangerous” precedent, for example, cracking down is not too hard [for authorities], and stopping further expressions will happen easily enough. I don’t think too many people are aware of this parade. It remains to be seen whether it will actually happen, draw a real crowd of people wishing to express themselves, or more curious on-lookers.
Having said all the above, I feel that the attention to this issue, both by foreign and local media, will bring out the issue, get things in the open, and slowly
Andrew Lam is author of East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres and Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora. His next book, Birds of Paradise Lost, is due out in 2013.
US and China argue over South China Sea (FT 6-8-12)
Vietnam detains anti-China demonstrators (AP 5-8-12)
- Cần bắt giữ tàu xâm phạm chủ quyền VN (TN).
- Truyền hình Hà Nội nói người biểu tình ‘ăn tiền’ – (BBC).-- Bản tin biểu tình của HTV Hà Nội – Mũi tên bắn ngược - (RFA). - Xem biểu tình, Việt kiều bị công an bắt giữ.
- Các lực lượng công an nhận tiền của ai để đàn áp biểu tình chống xâm lược ? – (Xuân VN). “Chuyện công an các lực lượng được nhận 500 ngàn cho ngày chủ nhật chống biểu tình là có thật, ngay cả lực lượng đến cắm chốt tại các nhà của nhiều biểu tình viên cũng được tiền bồi dưỡng ăn nhậu ban đêm, xăng xe và bồi dưỡng tiền cũng là có thật”. – Vẫn rất cần cảnh giác – (Bà Đầm Xòe).
- Việt Nam phá tan cuộc biểu tình chống Trung Quốc tại Hà Nội (Huffinton Post/ TCPT). - - Cách biểu tình hiệu quả: ĐÁM ĐÔNG! (boxitvn). – Không thể hiểu nổi! Nhân dân cần một lời giải thích.
- Khánh Hòa tiếp nhận bộ ảnh nghệ thuật về Trường Sa (TTXVN). - Quân y đảo Song Tử Tây cứu sống bệnh nhân bị nhồi máu cơ tim (QĐND).
-Diễu hành đồng tính thì được, biểu tình chống Trung Quốc thì không?-
-Có lẽ những người biểu tình chống Trung Quốc nên kết hợp các bạn này, cùng xin phép được diễu hành và hô khẩu hiệu chống Trung Quốc-
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-Cộng đồng LGBT (cách gọi tắt của những người đồng tính, song tính và chuyển giới) đã công khai đạp xe diễu hành quanh các tuyến phố của Thủ đô.
Khoảng 8h ngày 5/8, tại Sân vận động quốc gia Mỹ Đình (huyện Từ Liêm, Hà Nội), hàng trăm người đạp xe đạp xuất phát từ đây đi qua các tuyến đường Cầu Giấy, Liễu Giai, Hoàng Hoa Thám và kết thúc tại cổng công viên Bách Thảo.
Ngày hội đã thu hút rất nhiều bạn trẻ Việt Nam và người nước ngoài tham gia.
Bà Nguyễn Thanh Tâm, người điều phối chương trình Liên hoan bình đẳng giới (Việt Pride 2012), cho biết: Đây là lần đầu tiên chương trình này được tổ chức tại Việt Nam (bắt đầu từ ngày 3 đến 5/8) nhưng Ban tổ chức đã nhận được phản hồi tích cực từ những người tham gia.
Hàng trăm người thuộc cộng đồng người đồng tính, song tính và chuyển giới đã tới Viện Goethe (Hà Nội) để tham dự các chương trình nằm trong khuôn khổ của Việt Pride.
Hàng trăm người thuộc cộng đồng người đồng tính, song tính và chuyển giới đã tới Viện Goethe (Hà Nội) để tham dự các chương trình nằm trong khuôn khổ của Việt Pride.
Việt Pride là một chương trình thu nhỏ của Pride festival, hưởng ứng sự đa dạng về xu hướng tình dục có quy mô khắp các châu lục.
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| Kéo khẩu hiệu trên đường |
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| Thể hiện tình cảm với nhau |
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| Họ không ngần ngại tiếp xúc với PV ảnh |
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| Tập kết bằng xe đạp để bắt đầu xuất phát |
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| Đoàn người đạp xe trên phố |
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| Vừa đi xe đạp, vừa kéo khẩu hiệu |
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| Có rất đông người nước ngoài tham dự |
-Người đồng tính diễu hành trên đường phố Thủ đô (05/08/2012)
