"The Truth About Who We Are..."

Wilfred, Teacher, Cusco, Peru by thegaymenproject

photos by Kevin Truong

photos by Kevin Truong

Wilfred, in his own words: "I think that being gay should not be considered something extra special. A gay man for me is another human being with a different object of affection. I don't believe in ghettos since all that just brings isolation and more suffering.

When I look back in my life I feel amazed how I passed through some shitty situations and survived, for example some issues regarding family, loneliness and relationships. I guess, I did it right since I am still here and I don't have hard feelings for anybody in my life. Now I'm more focus on the bright side of life like my boyfriend and our common life.

I don't understand very much the term of "coming out". Maybe it implies that my duty as a gay man is to declare to society that I'm a special type of man (gay) or do a stand or propaganda for being what I am? I don't think so. Every human being has the right to live their life as they want so it doesn't matter if they are gay or straight of if they are vegetarian or vegan or anything.

Anyway, since my childhood I felt attracted by men so, I didn't pay much attention to girls. I thought it was kind of natural. Of course, I felt the pressure of the latin macho society as I was growing up and I had my short crisis period. But in general I tried to live my life ignoring the traditional female or male roles of the latin society and follow my instincts. I don't like the idea of putting labels on anybody's life and I don't want my life to spin around the idea of just being gay. That's a waste of time and energy. Life is more than that.

I would say (the gay community in Cusco) is growing and new generations of gay men are less and less afraid of showing what they are which I consider very positive. But still the influence of religion and traditional values is a hard burden for many gay people.

(Advice I'd give my younger self) Keep doing what you are doing. Don't give up. And live one day at a time and smile, fucker."

******

"Fear Eats the Soul"