Gay
sitcom becomes unlikely hit in Vietnam
A sitcom portraying the lives
and loves of a group of young gays and lesbians has become an unlikely
nationwide hit in conservative, communist-run Vietnam.
By David Eimer, Bangkok (telegraph.co.uk, 4/4/2013)
The
first episode of "My Best Gay Friends" has now attracted over one million views
on YouTube. The show's success has come as a surprise in Vietnam, where gay and
lesbian people face routine discrimination in universities and workplaces and
are frequently ridiculed in popular media.
"I've
seen many movies and comedies about the homosexual community. The images of
homosexuals are very negative and audiences then have an ugly idea of the
community," said Dang Khoa, a 21-year-old gay student who wrote and
created the series.
While
never a criminal offence, as recently as 2002 homosexuality was described as a
"social evil" by the rigidly-controlled state press.
Vietbam’s adherence
to traditional Confucian morality places family at the centre of society, and
ensuring the family line continues is of prime importance. That means most gays
and lesbians marry and do not reveal their true sexuality.
Over
the last couple of years, though, a growing public debate about homosexuality
has emerged, in part because the ruling communist party do not regard it as a
challenge to their authority.
Last
April, Vietnam's justice minister announced that the government was considering
legalising same-sex marriages and that the subject would be raised at this
year's National Assembly Congress.
Although
the debate has now been delayed to 2014, if the legislation is approved Vietnam
would become both the first Asian and communist country to allow same-sex
unions.
In
August last year, the first-ever Vietnamese gay pride parade took place in the
capital Hanoi. Despite being unauthorised, the authorities permitted the march
to go ahead.
Now,
the success of "My Best Gay Friends", which began showing last year
and is largely performed by volunteer gay and lesbian actors, is the surest
sign yet that attitudes towards homosexuality are changing.
"I
see my life as very normal," said Mr Khoa. That's why I want to bring true
images of homosexuals to everyone, to change their perspective on us."
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου