Exhibition on LGBT community opens in Hanoi

In recent years, the LGBT community in Vietnam has received increasing acceptance and tolerance from the society. On 21 November, 2013, the National Assembly deputies discussed for the first time same-sex marriage in the 6th Session of the Eighth National Assembly.

Decree No.110/2013 abolished the administrative fine on same-sex marriage. On 16 September, 2014, the National Assembly officially removed the ban on same-sex marriage in the “Law of Marriage and Family”.

This support is crucial but not enough in order to create a tolerant society with adequate understanding of the LGBT community. Still, the understanding about LGBT issues is still limited. For many people and families LGBT issues are still a new concept and considered a taboo and a topic best avoided to discuss. Thus, questions such as: "Who are LGBT? Why are they homosexual? How many LGBT people are there in Vietnam? Do they have love? How do they build a family? …remain unanswered to the public.

"The Cabinet" is a collection of over 80 true stories about the lives, love, conflicts between a desire to stay true to  themselves and prejudice and stigma, social support, pride and a new hope for the future.

The stories are told by objects, films, and pictures closely connected to the ups and downs in the people’s lives. They were told by different people coming from different regions, at different ages, in different occupations and positions, yet with a common wish to live a true life to themselves.

"The Cabinet" is divided into four themes: Identity, Pain, Pride and Sharing. The four themes are expressed by 4 main colors: red, blue, yellow and green. The exhibition will help the audience understand and answer to their concerns and curiosity on the LGBTs in the most candid way.

The exhibition is part of the project “Unstraight Perspectives” and carried out by the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam's Ethnic Groups in Thai Nguyen, the University of Culture, CCIHP, CSAGA and ISEE. The project is funded and technically supported by the Swedish Institute, UNESCO and the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Ms. Camilla Mellander said that the exhibition is unique and interesting and is in line with universally recognized principles on equal rights and non-discrimination established in the UN Declaration on Human Rights which both Sweden and Vietnam have signed.

“The Cabinet is an excellent exhibition and a joint initiative of numerous partners and museums from Vietnam and Sweden. Learning about all the touching individual stories presented at this exhibition only deepens my strong conviction that all people have the right to be treated equally in society," she said.

"Everyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, should enjoy the right to happiness in terms of family, relations and love and no one should be subject to discrimination.

We support LGBT communities in both Vietnam and Sweden as they lead efforts to fight social prejudices and secure their rights. I hereby invite you to come and show your support by visiting the exhibition,” she added.

The exhibition is open to the public daily from 10 March - 31 March, 2015, 8.00 am to 5.00 pm at 42 Yet Kieu Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.