>From: "info@thaiscene.com" 
>Subject: Gays Organizing in Vietnam (was Re: AIDS Information)
>
>
>Dear Daniel,
>
>Thank you for your e-mail about the Nguyen Friendship Society, a group of
>gay men in Ho Chi Minh City.
>
>Because there is considerable gay discrimination in Vietnam and because
>such groups are not considered legal, the NFS keeps a very low profile. I
>am an American gay activist who is acting as their "Ambassador" to the
>outside world. I travel to Vietnam four times a year to provide moral,
>technical and organizational support, carry information and materials, and
>raise money.
>
>There are currently about fifty active members in the group. Although
>homosexuality is somewhat institutionalized in Vietnamese culture, only
>recently have younger men begun to identify themselves as "gay." At their
>weekly meetings the group members discuss issues of gay lifestyle,
>including family relationships, jobs, sexuality and AIDS. They often sing
>together and share what news they can get about events in the outside
>world. Guests are sometimes allowed.
>
>NFS's most important work is AIDS prevention education among men who have
>sex with men ("MSM"), which includes many, many bisexuals. The Vietnamese
>government has few resources and is reluctant to publicly recognize this
>group, which leaves the responsibility to grassroots efforts like NFS. Most
>NGO's in Vietnam include AIDS with womens' health programs. Although AIDS
>is still a small problem among Vietnam's gays and can be stopped
>completely, foreign sex tourism is on the rise. Many visitors leave behind
>everything they know about safe sex when they visit this new Land of the
>Virgins. Sadly, perhaps one third of Vietnamese men who have sex with
>foreigners do not use a condom and may have never used a condom before.
>
>Free condom distribution in Vietnam is still rare, and NFS has pioneered
>this work among MSM. Condoms are distributed in many public places
>(including coffee houses, karaoke clubs, swimming pools and brothels) where
>men meet other men for sex. Volunteer teams cruise the "dark streets" at
>night, to distribute condoms and crud safe sex leaflets to men looking for
>sex. I take from 1000 to 5000 condoms with me each time I go. We could give
>away 5000 a week if we had them.
>
>It will be a very long time before you see a gay parade in Saigon, or view
>quilt panels, or read a gay newspaper, or many of the other things we take
>for granted elsewhere in the world. Nguyen Frienship's work is vital and
>energetic, yet fragile. Consequently, I must initially protect the
>identities of the people involved.
>
>There are ways you can help:
>
>MONEY: In additional to nominal operating expenses, the group badly needs
>$2000 to buy its own motorbike. Street outreach is presently done on
>borrowed and sometimes rented motorbikes. Having their own vehicle would
>take a lot of pressure off leaders and volunteers. I hope to raise this
>money before I return in October. A U.S. AIDS nonprofit acts as a fiscal
>agent, so all donations are tax-deductible.
>
>CONDOMS AND LUBE: These are disparately needed. We especially need
>individual packets of lubricant. Normally, we distribute two condoms with
>one lube and some printed material. I will hand carry all donated condoms
>with me. If you plan a trip to Vietnam and can take a large quantity with
>you, we will collect them from you in HCMCity.
>
>CLOTHING AND SHOES: This is largely a volunteer effort and some of the full
>time volunteers live in poverty. (NFS's full time leader, for example,
>lives on about US$50 per month.) Basic needs for shelter, nutrition and
>personal health care are often barely met. New items of clothing are a big
>event. A pair of jeans or Adidas can be a tremendous morale-booster for a
>hard working volunteer.
>
>If you are able to help, please contact me personally and I will provide
>additional details.
>
>Please feel free to distribute this information to colleagues, friends, and
>to online discussion groups.
>
>			-- Douglas

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