Backpack, belongings and reading materials of Mein

These stuffs belonged to Mein (1986 -2012), a gay man in Hanoi. Mein collected and contributed many items for the exhibition. After he passed away, his family sent them to CCIHP.
Mein was forced into prostitution when he was really young, and then infected by HIV. Mein was sexually abused, harassed or discriminated for many reasons, sometimes because he has HIV, used to be a sex worker, or for being a homosexual. He was even discriminated by the gay community.

When Mein knew he was infected by HIV, he realized that he should do something to help other people after been through a depressing period on his own. He participated in many activities of civil society organizations, which involved communication, and consultancy activities about HIV for homosexual men and male sex workers.

Being very open about his sexual identity and HIV condition, Mein hoped that his story could help people who experience what he’s been through.