Kevin Truong
Posted on July 15, 2014 by A&U in Columns, Ruby's Rap
Ruby’s Rap
by Ruby Comer
Kevin Truong
Photo by Kevin Truong
What keeps Miss Ruby on top of her game? The four divine “P’s,” that’s what—Patience plus Persistence plus Passion equals Payoff!
This is my daily mantra and it seems to be the same for photographer, Kevin Truong (rhymes with “thong”). Creator of The Gay Men Project, he travels the world to capture men in their own intimate habitat and then has them pen their own personal story. Photographing his subject’s personal possessions, like their wallet, backpack, or even their pet, further reveals their inner life. In the past two years, he’s photographed over four hundred men on four continents.
I catch up with him in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton (CST approved: Certification for Sustainable Tourism), after hiring a driver from Chico’s Tours to transport my fanny from the capital, San Jose (a ninety-minute ride). The driver was Chico himself, a charming and most informative tour guide, who’s been in this business for over twenty years. Possessing a Zen-like aura, Chico’s parting words to this señora were, “Pura Vida!”—live life!
Breezing through the Resort’s grand entrance in the early afternoon, I’m greeted with a chocolate chip granola cookie and then escorted
Illustration by Davidd Batalon
to my top floor suite that overlooks three connected pools and the Gulf of Nicoya, just off the Pacific Ocean. Swaying palms, lapping turquoise waves, manicured lawns, and vibrant flowers surround me. I spy inviting deck chairs with thatched umbrellas for the protection of my fair Irish-girl skin from the tropical rays, and I sigh, This is cloud nine, kids!
If you’re a health nut like me or have special needs, the chef will happily cater to your whims—and there’s a wonderful fitness center to work off all those lavish meals. Freshly blended fruit and veggie drinks are on the breakfast menu, and in the evening, the kitchen offers some unusual salad dressings like beetroot, basil, strawberry, and fennel. Don’t even get me started on the desserts—Oy!
As I kick back on my cozy balcony with a tangy pineapple cocktail in hand, the sunlight sparkles on the Pacific white caps, while swimmers in the pool splish-splash below. The telephone rings. It’s Kevin. We agree to meet for dinner.
Kevin was born in a Vietnamese refugee camp. He and his family moved to Portland, Oregon, when he was one year old. After receiving a degree in economics he spent five years working in youth development programs for various nonprofits. At twenty-six he joined the Peace Corps and was placed in Belize where it was illegal to be gay. Soon after, he changed careers, having graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. His dream is to eventually work in the non-profit sector “marrying my passion for social awareness and my belief in the power of art as a tool for visual communication.”
Several of Kevin’s subjects in The Gay Men Project are HIV-positive and are very open about it in their testimonials. Inspired by friends who are HIV-positive, Kevin participates every spring in New York’s AIDS Walk.
Since its inception two years ago, The Gay Men Project has been completely financed by Kevin, who earns money from freelance work to pay for plane tickets. Several months ago he turned to crowdfunding and raised his goal of $30,000, which will now allow him to continue with his project for six more months. He plans to travel to fifteen more countries.
With the fireball sun setting, I amble over to the resort’s retro-classy Macondo restaurant, which dishes up Latin-American specialties. I pass over pedestrian bridges that arch over the many pools of this spacious (315 rooms) resort. When I arrive at Macondo, Kevin is already seated in the intimate quarters upstairs, tucked away in a plush vivid crimson booth.
Ruby Comer: What was your purpose in founding The Gay Men Project?
Kevin Truong: It’s my giant love letter to gay men around the world. Really, I’m trying to celebrate our stories. I always say it started when I came out to my mom. She looked so confused, and later she told me she was trying to figure out if I was going to look different. I hope The Gay Men Project shows people that there is no stereotypical “look.” We are who we are. [Kevin lived in fear for ten years that someone would discover that he was gay.] My goal with this project is to have a true collection of stories of gay men from around the world.
Awesome. When did you first learn about the epidemic?
I’m of the generation that went through high school not too soon after Magic Johnson came out as being HIV-positive. It was very much discussed at the time, including in my high school health education classes. But I don’t ever recall thinking of it within the context of an epidemic. It just registered simply as something I didn’t want to get. It wasn’t until I was older and came out that I tied HIV to an epidemic.
Aerial view of the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Photo courtesy Hilton
When was your first encounter with HIV?
It happened nine years ago when I was twenty-two. A guy I was dating found out he was positive. We hadn’t been intimate yet, so I wasn’t in fear of having been infected.
I knew very little about the disease, and so I went to the bookstore. I came across And the Band Played On. To this day it’s one of the longest books I’ve ever read. That really was my way of learning about HIV/AIDS. I highly recommend the book.
And you might know that it was also turned into a dynamic film, too. How has the epidemic affected you?
I’ve witnessed its effects on my friends who are positive. I remember ten years ago watching my friend take his cocktail pills for the first time. That always left an impression with me….
What’s your interest in helping others?
I’ve been given a lot of opportunities in my life, and so volunteering in any form is my way of giving back. My form of giving, though, comes more in the form of pursuing a career which I feel will effect positive change in the world.
After finishing dessert, we stroll along the low-lit pier, leaning over the wood railing and continue.
When did you first get tested?
I was twenty-two. Now I get tested regularly. I’ve read articles about an increased rate of infection among young gay men in large
Bridges to paradise at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton. Photo courtesy Hilton
cities. From my work, I’ve noticed HIV is not something young gay men think about, as compared to the preceding generation. Since AIDS is no longer a death sentence, some young gay men no longer view it in the context of an epidemic.
One approach to decrease rates of new infections is to tackle the stigma associated with HIV, so that more young gay men will get tested. If positive, they will disclose their status, and hopefully practice safer sex with future partners.
Of all the subjects photographed for The Gay Men Project, does any one stand out?
I once photographed a gay Anglican priest in London. I was raised Catholic, and I still have a strong faith in God. I will always remember our conversation and the questions I was able to ask the priest. It was unforgettable.
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Ruby Comer is an independent journalist from the Midwest who is happy to call Hollywood her home away from home. Reach her by e-mail at MsRubyComer@aol.com.
