"The Truth About Who We Are..."

Siya, Outreach Worker, Cape Town, South Africa by thegaymenproject

photos by Kevin Truong

photo by Kevin Truong

Siya, in his own words: "Being gay to me means life, future and lots of successes as any human creature could ever imagine and above all I think I'm privileged to be a gay man in South Africa, especially coming from a township where there's so much stigma imposed on homosexual people.

(With regards to challenges) Not much but the issue of being homo-prejudiced has played a huge role for quite some time and also being negatively labeled in your own community, but I guess back than people were slow to adapt in all this, as we black people put culture and traditions as paramount in terms of our customs as far as they are concern.

My coming out story was never much of an issue, my mother was not actually happy with it but in no time she eventually adapted to it too and my father was the most supportive and the siblings were not surprise because they claimed the fact that they had recognized me at an early age (as being gay).

Cape Town with no gays will be like Cape Town with no Sea, I guess gay men play a huge role and also since the world evolves I believe they play a huge role as part of that mechanism, and for me that's a learning curve and people around the city are mostly the nicest ever, also tourist from other countries do like to associate themselves with people like myself.

(Advice I'd give my younger self) go to school and study hard, whether you gay or bisexual nothing can stop you from reaching your GOAL."

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"Fear Eats the Soul"