Photo courtesy of www.3news.co.nz
By ANDREW LAM, New America Media
Recent news that Viet Nam might consider legalizing same-sex
marriage, a move that would make Viet Nam 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 Viet Nam’s capital and other cities.
In
fact, a gay-pride parade ― the first of its kind ― is being planned in Ha Noi
for Sunday.
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 Ha Noi in
2006 and opened a popular bar and restaurant called Tadioto.
New America Media editor Andrew Lam conducted an interview by e-mail with
Nguyen for his point of view on Viet Nam’s latest cultural trend.
New America Media: The news that Viet Nam might legalize gay marriage came
from left field for many of us in the West and many who think of Viet Nam 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’s advances
in the East [South China] Sea.
NAM: How are gays and gay couples being treated in Viet Nam 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 Ha Noi,
Sai Gon and Da Nang, there are gay clubs and cafes, but beyond that, there’s
really little presence. Comments on social sites, blogs, etc., show
discrimination, sometimes harsh.
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 toward development ― there’s also a “live
and let live” attitude.
NAM: You’ve been in Viet Nam for over six years now and opened a
bar called Tadioto in Ha Noi. 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 Viet Nam 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 Viet
Nam, 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 Viet Nam is making
waves. Why do you think Viet Nam 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 Viet Nam.
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 Ha
Noi, 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: Viet Nam is now having the first gay pride parade ever in
Ha Noi. 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, or
for example, cracking down is not too hard [for authorities], 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.
