Impressive guest speakers at previous Viet Pride’s you may have missed

*Đọc bản tiếng Việt

From public figures to openly gay politicians, these four guests have come to Viet Pride and left their own distinctive marks with the Vietnamese LGBT community.

1. Huong Giang “Idol”

• Profession: Singer

• Years active: 2012-now

Nguyen Huong Giang made her debut on national television in the fourth season of the national singing contest Vietnam Idol – hence the nickname Huong Giang “Idol”. In the show’s third episode, she came out as a trans woman. The judging panel, contrary to the LGBT community’s concerns, praised her courage and announced that she was through to the Top 16 finalists.

Nguyen’s beautiful appearance, along with her tenacity and infectious personality, drew the public closer to the concept of LGBT. During and after the show, she received much support from both LGBT individuals and non-LGBT individuals alike – making her one of the most liked LGBT figures in Vietnam.

2. Mr. Cas van der Horst

• Profession: politician

Mr. Cas van der Horst, Deputy Head of Mission at the Dutch Embassy in Hanoi, has been one of our most beloved supporters. He spoke at Viet Pride 2013’s after-rally party about the Vietnamese LGBT community’s growth and potential. He also proudly introduced his husband to the crowd, setting a fine example for every LGBT individual in attendance.

3. Maika Elan

• Profession: photographer

• Years active: 2006-now

Hanoi-based photographer Maika Elan (Nguyen Thanh Hai) only took up documentary photography in 2010. Her first project in 2013 made waves internationally and won her many awards including the Wordpress Photo Award for Contemporary Issues.

The project revolved around the lives of LGBT couples in Vietnam.

In many ways, this photo essay (named “The Pink Choice”) was different from any other LGBT projects at the time. Trying to hide their subjects’ identities, other projects were mostly conceptualized, subjects were models wearing masks or turning their backs against the camera, and settings were organized and decorated to fit the brief. Thus, the photos didn’t feel real, nor did the LGBT people in them. “The Pink Choice” took a completely different approach. Maika wrote a note on her Facebook page to ask for help from real LGBT couples in Vietnam, and then spent a few days living with them in the comfort of their homes - trying to snap shots at their most genuinely intimate moments.

LGBT lives, for once, felt as vivid and as natural as ever.

To see more of “The Pink Choice”, click here.

4. Stuart Milk

• Profession: activist

Global human rights activist and LGBT advocate Stuart Milk has been working tirelessly to carry the legacy of his uncle (Harvey Milk, that is) onto the global stage.

He is a board member of many different organizations including: the Harvey Milk Foundation, the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), Marriage Equality USA and the International Conference on Disadvantaged Youth (ICDY). He has travelled the world and written numerous articles on major newspapers to advocate for LGBT rights.

In 2014, he came to Viet Pride to talk about the Harvey Milk legacy, his foundation and prospects as well as challenges for Pride in Vietnam.