In recent years, the presence of the LGBTIQ
community, and specifically the transgender
community, in Vietnam has gained more recognition.
While transgender people are becoming more
comfortable being out in public, being trans is still a
taboo concept, and cultural and legal barriers have
made them socially vulnerable. It is estimated that
there are 300,000 to 500,000 transgender people in Vietnam, making up around 0.3% to 0.5% of the
total population. While this number may seem small,
when combined with the entire LGBTIQ community,
it represents a significant 1.6 million people who
should receive greater attention and acceptance
from society.
I conducted a documentary project that comprised of 11 single photos focusing on how transgender people sustain their livelihoods. The project was built and implemented within 18 months and centered on transgender individuals in the Northern part of Vietnam. In addition, the project’s aim
was to provide an objective and intimate look into a marginalized group. Through this project, I hope to challenge society’s taboo opinions
towards transgender people, and promote greater
acceptance and understanding of their experiences.
This project ended in 2019.
(Photo story @ https://www.tminh.com/follow-dan-ni-to-a-drag-show)