PhotoIsrael 2021 Photomarathon Winner Daniel Adams
‘Malaysia’s federal code, which dates back to British colonialism, punishes “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” with up to twenty years in prison. The country’s thirteen states and federal territories each have their own Sharia criminal enactment, applicable to Muslims. Almost all such state laws prohibit same-sex relations. They also prohibit “posing” as someone of a different sex, making Malaysia one of the few countries in the world that locks people up for being transgender.’ (The Deceased Can’t Speak For Herself: Violence Against LGBT People in Malaysia – Neel Goshal, Human Rights Watch, 2019)
It’s never easy growing up in a home yet alone in a home country in which your sexual orientation is constantly looked down upon. The LGBT community still faces struggles every day in and day out. I wanted to create a series of images of gay men (all of whom I know/have met before who inspire me). Thank you for constantly being yourselves and pushing boundaries.
Teiajman
MUA: Vivien Loh
High school was the most difficult time I had to sit through. From figuring my sexuality and having to deal with the constant bullying I got from my classmates, and other personal issues. I’ve been called “pondan,” “faggot,” which in turn made me feel like an outcast. It was a lot to deal with that I fell into serious depression. It also affected me when I was in college thinking that I will be cast out. But I also started finding ways to accept myself, slowly but surely. I would find my solace in arcade games, spending countless of hours there alone.
Accepting yourself as who you are is always the first step to loving you as you are, and that was when my journey started. But being ostracised by your own community was another obstacle I had to face.
Racism/Colourism doesn’t just stop because you’re gay and that’s a prevalent issue in our community. One night at a gay bar, I was given a face of disgust by other gay men that was different from me, I immediately felt unwelcome and left. I couldn’t for the love of god go through the judgement that was passed on by those men.
Teiajman
Hazlami
Hazlami
MUA: Hazlami
My orientation is something that I have never been comfortable talking about. Throughout my life, I have stayed positive and with that comes a blissful life -- I always feel lucky despite being labelled by people. I've set my mind to not succumb to the labels being put on me, instead I focused on being my own person. I always hope people would recognize me as an individual, for who I am rather than what they see on the surface or my orientation, race and etc. But if they don't, oh well, we can't please everybody.
The French have this saying “je une question d'amour” which translates to “just a question of love”. This saying has stuck with me from as far back as I can remember. All this while I’ve lived in my own bubble, floating from one place to another, only to be comfortable when I'm being myself. For me, its not your label nor your orientation that defines you, its how you love and care for people that makes you who you are. Most important kind of love is loving yourself no matter what others say about you. I guess that’s what keeps content and oblivious of the outside world. I'm just happy in my own bubble and in my bubble, there's no place for hate, all love.. always.
Sam
MUA: Samuel Effron
I’ve always been the most feminine boy ever as far as I can remember and have always been bullied for it. At the time, I didn’t understand the reason behind the bullying and wasn’t affected by it much either. It really didn’t bother me when they called me names like “pondan” until it did. Fast forward to my college years, I started accepting myself and leaving toxic people behind (best choice I’ve ever made). Resorting to art and humor was few of the ways I coped with the constant reminder that my existence as a gay individual was not welcomed by the society.
Today, I am so grateful enough to be surrounded by queer people who uplift me in what I do, straight people who aren’t focused on my sexuality, but rather in my art, and I am filled with gratitude because of it. Sure, it’ll take time to unlearn all the homophobic sentiments that you were taught, but it takes no effort to be kind to another fellow human being.
At the end of the day, we all bleed the same color.
At the end of the day, we all bleed the same color.
Sam
Carlos
Carlos
MUA: Carlos Khu
I was blessed growing up and having a beautiful childhood with a Loving family. I remember the bullying started during primary school. Other kids would call me names and I never understood what all that meant. Until one day I found out what all those words meant. Knowing deep inside that that's who I really am, I felt like I was falling into a deep black hole.
I realized that I'm gay when I was around 9 years old. I was terrified of what my family, friends and people would think of me. This was the moment where I felt and believed that I could be unloved. I remember praying every night to be straight, so I can wake up be happy and feel loved again. School days were the toughest and loneliest times, not because I didn't have friends or of the bullies but because I was so unhappy and lost with myself, I didn't want to accept who I am and that end up turning me into a bully too. I couldn't tell my best friends at that time, the only people who knew about me were my online friends, they made me realize that I wasn't alone and the first time I felt loved, understood and accepted for just being myself.
Self acceptance was the toughest journey for me. It was a long, dark and lonely road. But everything changed when I knew of Lady Gaga, her artistry, music and messages gave me hope and made me brave and accept who I truly am. Through her I made amazing friends along the way who are now my family. I had to rebel to learn how to Love myself. I had Pink hair for 6 years (since 2013) despite my mum's disapproval but now it has become something so "normal" and I've become the gayest person and I LOVE IT! My pink hair taught me to embrace my insecurities, my loneliness, ultimately it taught me to love myself. I admit some days I don't feel so strong, but I'm so lucky and grateful for the people around me who Loves me unconditionally. My only wish is to give this Love to everyone.
Self acceptance was the toughest journey for me. It was a long, dark and lonely road. But everything changed when I knew of Lady Gaga, her artistry, music and messages gave me hope and made me brave and accept who I truly am. Through her I made amazing friends along the way who are now my family. I had to rebel to learn how to Love myself. I had Pink hair for 6 years (since 2013) despite my mum's disapproval but now it has become something so "normal" and I've become the gayest person and I LOVE IT! My pink hair taught me to embrace my insecurities, my loneliness, ultimately it taught me to love myself. I admit some days I don't feel so strong, but I'm so lucky and grateful for the people around me who Loves me unconditionally. My only wish is to give this Love to everyone.
Adam
Adam
MUA: Vivien Loh
Being gay in Malaysia is no walk in the park, it’s not exactly a living hell either. Scratch that, sometimes it is.
As a child, I was bullied for being effeminate ever since kindergarten. I grew up being called names like “pondan”, “lembut”, “sotong”, “faggot”. I still wince and die a little inside when I hear some of those names now. Though I excelled academically, I dropped out of secondary school after PMR. The verbal and physical abuse I endured on a daily basis was too much. The relentless homophobia I experienced culminated in being diagnosed with depression when I was 16. I went through stints in psychiatric wards and survived countless suicide attempts. I still carry around my self-harm scars, though they’ve faded it is a constant remainder of my painful past.
Growing up, I was told that I was an abomination, that a mongrel had more dignity than me, as a family member once remarked. I went through hell and back to stand where I am today.
My message for all my queer brothers and sisters out there who feel alone, ostracized, struggling to come into terms with their sexuality and or gender identity: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We are here for you. We are lawyers and doctors, painters and teachers, activists and neighbours. Our strength is in our united diversity. We belong in this world, we matter. We are deserving of unconditional love and endless compassion. We love you, I love you. Hope is unwavering, never give up on yourself. We haven’t given up on you.
Growing up, I was told that I was an abomination, that a mongrel had more dignity than me, as a family member once remarked. I went through hell and back to stand where I am today.
My message for all my queer brothers and sisters out there who feel alone, ostracized, struggling to come into terms with their sexuality and or gender identity: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We are here for you. We are lawyers and doctors, painters and teachers, activists and neighbours. Our strength is in our united diversity. We belong in this world, we matter. We are deserving of unconditional love and endless compassion. We love you, I love you. Hope is unwavering, never give up on yourself. We haven’t given up on you.
Peter
MUA: Peter
I’ve always feared yellow.
Growing up in a very heteronormative upbringing, I was told that yellow was a colour for girls and having struggled with my sexual identity, I couldn’t risk showing any semblance of femininity. But yellow itself isn’t a scary colour, it does not care whether I am afraid of it, it does not falter. It does not bend to the stereotypes we assign them to.
Growing up in a very heteronormative upbringing, I was told that yellow was a colour for girls and having struggled with my sexual identity, I couldn’t risk showing any semblance of femininity. But yellow itself isn’t a scary colour, it does not care whether I am afraid of it, it does not falter. It does not bend to the stereotypes we assign them to.
Sunflowers still bloom in their full glory even when a thousand aphids fear them.
Marigolds come back every summer no matter how hard the previous winter had buried them in snow.
Like a lion learning how to roar,
And a child standing up after their first fall,
I will learn to love -
Every sunset drenched in yellow,
Every leaf at the end of autumn,
No matter how melancholic and mellow,
I will learn to love,
And embrace that fearless color, I call yellow.
Marigolds come back every summer no matter how hard the previous winter had buried them in snow.
Like a lion learning how to roar,
And a child standing up after their first fall,
I will learn to love -
Every sunset drenched in yellow,
Every leaf at the end of autumn,
No matter how melancholic and mellow,
I will learn to love,
And embrace that fearless color, I call yellow.
Peter
Kevin
MUA: Kevin
I grew up in a Christian school so it was hard being different; the name calling, the bullying, been told to change and seek for God by people older than me etc. Life was tough. But I wouldn’t change myself for anyone. Why? Because change must be something you have to do on your own, not when people tell you to. One shall not seek for change just for others’ sake. Because you will never be happy being something or someone you’re not. People sometime think being different is a bad idea and it will effect a lot in life but I beg to differ.
As you see in this picture, I am no different from anyone else, I’m still a human, I still have feelings, I can be success like anyone else. I think the message I want to put out there is to just be yourself, don’t let others tell you what you should and should not be because that’s what makes you ... YOU . Unique.
Kevin
Win Shean
Win Shean
MUA: Mandy Lee
Being queer scares me. At least the thought of it. Fortunate enough, i wasn’t a victim of bully but what if I was ? The thought itself frightens me.
It has always been hurtful being told you have to do what boys do, being rejected or being told names that just couldn’t seemed to scrub of the back of my head. It isn’t pleasant.
Later on, I found myself surrounded with the community. with their trust and support, They created a safe space for me to express and understand myself better. That’s when I’ve never felt more alive.
Everyone deserves a chance to be themselves. So instead of turning out backs on each other, let’s help each other to create a better world for the future generations of queer individuals. I had that treatment growing up so it’s only fair that I give back to the community.
Later on, I found myself surrounded with the community. with their trust and support, They created a safe space for me to express and understand myself better. That’s when I’ve never felt more alive.
Everyone deserves a chance to be themselves. So instead of turning out backs on each other, let’s help each other to create a better world for the future generations of queer individuals. I had that treatment growing up so it’s only fair that I give back to the community.
