Hand puppets, the Green Wind Choir and an unexpected workshop in Hanoi

While I was in Hanoi, I had a number of meetings, including one with Fulbright scholar and talented karaoke artist (he may kill me for that comment!) Luong Thé Huy, director of iSee, The Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment. iSee works for the rights of minority groups in Vietnam, and has an LGBTQ+ advocacy program, funded by INGOs. As part of their advocacy activity, iSee started a choir called ‘Diversity Choir’, which I went to see in action (see previous post).

I was daunted and not a little excited when Huy also suggested I do a workshop myself at ISee only a week after my arrival. It is a tribute to his leadership and dynamism, and also to the hard work of Vuong Kha Phong in the LGBTQ+ program, that a week later, I did indeed give a workshop to 15 queer activists from across Hanoi.

In it, I told my ‘hand puppet’ story. I discovered at NYCGMC that a good way of looking at the arts is as a powerful advocacy tool. A choir becomes a hand puppet, that organizations can use to tell stories, and so communicate their messages in more compelling, entertaining and impactful ways. I learnt this initially during NYCGMC’s 2010 show ‘High’ about crystal meth addiction in New York gay men. Here, we partnered with medical, social and spiritual organizations across the city, all of whom were looking for innovative ways to put thero message across, that were more powerful than spreadsheets and powerpoint presentations.

Workshop underway …

Thanks to the workshop, I also met a number of cool people doing important groundwork for the LGBTQ movement in Vietnam. I had a really moving and informative meeting with Ha Thanh, who runs an organization called T-Time, which supports and advocates for trans people. I learnt a lot about how the government in Vietnam treats trans folks. I also spent a fun evening listening to vocal standards at Binh Minh Jazz Club with Baochau Nguyen, who curates Hanoi International Queer Film Week.

Coffee with Ha

Baochau Nguyen

Ninh Binh Jazz Club

Yuwrajh and I also met up with Hai Yen Nguyen, who runs a new and ambitious progressive community singing group featuring kids, older people, ethnic minorities, the disabled and the LGBTQ+ called Green Wind Choir. As you can see from the video, Hai has a LOT of energy!

Hai Yen Nguyen