Gay Pri png imag | PNGWg

Contents:

• PAPUA NEW GUEA'S GAY AND TRANSGENR MUNY FDS SAFETY HANUABADA VILLAGE
• GAY PRI PNG IMAG
• GAY LOVE VECTOR
• GAY PNG IMAG
• GAY PNG & PSD IMAG

PAPUA NEW GUEA'S GAY AND TRANSGENR MUNY FDS SAFETY HANUABADA VILLAGE

The sleepy astal village of Hanuabada ss on the north wtern outskirts of Papua New Guea's pal, Port Morby, and is probably bt known for producg half of PNG's natnal cricket is ls known for is beg a safe haven for Port Morby's gay and transgenr muny.

Homosexualy is illegal Papua New Guea, punishable by up to 14 years prison, but actual prosecutns are not mon, and the laws are rarely enforced.

GAY PRI PNG IMAG

Instead, is the hate crim, vlence and discrimatn ced by the law that puts gay and transgenr Papua New Gueans at risk. Gay men walkg the streets of Port Morby are often targeted by lol men, particularly those who hail om PNG's highland provc, and have been raped, beaten and even Hanuabada, thgs are different. "[It's] probably the only place Port Morby where they feel safe and many of them, they were born different plac so they moved to Hanuabada village bee they are accepted by the lol muny there, " Vlad he and his -producer Roman Kalyak got to know the gay and transgenr people of Hanuabada, he learned that was a safe space where people live openly, whout fear of retaliatn om lols.

"I heard about many s where gay and transgenr people were raped or were beaten and sometim was even by the police, so they feel safe Hanuabada.

(Vlad Sokh/Panos Pictur)About 30 gay men, or 'Gelegele' the lol tongue, permanently live the village, while others drift and Papua New Guea, the Gelegele tend to take tradnally female rol society.

GAY LOVE VECTOR

They do the okg, wash cloth and participate on the women's si cultural ruals and tradnal of the Gelegele featured Vlad's documentary film Guavas and Bananas: Livg Gay PNG, is Haraga, known to lols as 'Speedy' has lived Hanubada village for 22 years, movg there at the age of 15. "'Straight' men seek gay sexHanuabada is a known homosexual hub amongst lols, wh many 'straight' or bisexual men and boys travellg to the village seekg sex wh the men says some teenage boys e to gay men seekg their first sexual experience bee they are too shy to approach gay PNG mician Mos T said the documentary, that PNG, most gay men go wh straight or bisexual men.

"Though lols ll the men straight, Speedy says he has no doubt that there is a huge number of closeted gays the pal. Mike "Marbelle" om Hanuabada danc wh a man durg a gay night party Port Morby.

GAY PNG IMAG

'Straight' men often go to gay club nights to meet Gelegele. (Vlad Sokh/Panos Pictur)Vlence and stigma the palSome of Port Morby's nightclubs hold gay nights, attend by both Gelegele, often drsed women's clothg, and straight or bisexual men om the says leavg the safety of the village to attend the nights is always a risk. When we're the club, well, 's a gay club so we have to act like a gay, but when we are outsi of the club we have to be a strong guy to protect ourselv.

"Film changg hearts and mdsThe documentary Guavas and Bananas: Livg Gay PNG has been screeng as part of the fifth PNG Human Rights Film ftival tours around the untry, om big ci to ty villag, screeng films addrsg human rights issu Papua New Guea and the Pacific.

GAY PNG & PSD IMAG

"So far, I heard already really posive feedback Port Morby and on the Facebook page of the ftival they posted a photo of a man who they terviewed and he said before he didn't really appreciate, he didn't like transgenr and gay people but after seeg the film, he changed his opn, " Vlad said. "I want Papua New Guea ernment to make somethg for gay people Papua New Guea so we n move eely PNG, let ee, give eedom to live ee and move eely.