"The Truth About Who We Are..."

Kyle and Bradley, Nashville, Tennessee by thegaymenproject

Photos by Kevin Truong

Kyle, in his own words: "Being gay to me means very little. The way my family raised me, just never made me feel different or like I was wrong for liking men instead of women. I was raised to never let the word "gay" define me and I hope our next generation is raised that way. Just unconditional love for those with every ethnicity/sexual orientation/wealth. You have to look at someone based on the character of their heart. That's what my grandmother always said to me.

Moving to Nashville from Tampa and starting a brand new life, with friends that have turned into family members over the past few years has been probably one of the biggest challenges and successes in life. Starting my chocolate company (Facebook.com/oursundaedates ) in honor of my grandmother and the chocolate she made for every Sunday dinner date we shared in Clearwater Fl who passed away last summer and all the success we had from it is what I'm most proud of in my life. The last thing she ever said to me before she passed was "My Kyle you will be FINE, out of all my grandchildren (22) and great grandchildren (17) we have a bond like no other, I'm going to be watching you handsome" and she has been and I can feel her ever day. I also lost 200 pounds from the time I was 15-24 just by hard work and determination. And about (5,000 hours in the gym) lol. I definetly would not be the man I am today or have the life I do now if I never lost the weight.

The gay scene in Nashville is very talented. From musicians to artists to entrepreneurs it's a city full of love and light. I love how limitless life can be for the average gay man in Nashville. It's something I only found in this amazing city.

My coming out story is really simple in a way. I first came out to my grandmother and her response was "OH OK....my handsome boy where are we going for dinner?!?" She always called me her "handsome boy". Then my brother and mother and it was like nothing. I NEVER felt different. They just wanted me to be happy and they have never hidden my life. My two nephews who are 7 and 4 call my boyfriend "uncle brad" and they are being taught just like my brother and I that being gay/straight is nothing, it's the LOVE that counts. I come from the most supportive and beautiful family.

The advice I would give to myself is to be ready to have everything you ever wanted in life by 25. That my love life would not be a 70 year version of Adele's "someone like you". That a man will want to love just me and that I am good enough to feel love from another man forever. I wish I could take a Polaroid of my life right now and give it to my 15 year old self to keep in my pocket to remind myself that one day life will be this beautiful."

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"Fear Eats the Soul"