Guest author Tom Nguyen explores queer identity and health through the lens of his migration from Vietnam to Australia.
Hi, I’m Tom from Vietnam. I am 30 years old and have been living in Australia for three years. This new chapter is not just about immigration. it was finding comfort in my identity and learning how to take care of my health without fear.
Health services in Vietnam
I was a closeted gay man in Vietnam, I lived in Hanoi for 10 years before moving here. Back then, I didn’t really learn about or connect with health support or LGBT organizations. I was not aware of any services that offered free or low-cost HIV and STD testing.
I went to general sexual health clinics a few times, but the male doctors assumed I was straight, asking about my marital status or my girlfriends. If I asked to be tested for HIV, I faced stigma.
Once, when I needed PEP, I found a phone number for an organization that works with LGBT people. I was able to order it over the phone, so it was possible, but not as widely available.
My experience in Australia
Now in Australia, I’m more relaxed about my sexuality and have more gay friends.
I go to a sexual health service for a free HIV and STD test.
“I was surprised to learn that some treatments for common STDs (such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) are also free, even without Medicare.”
I’m also on PrEP — and the process of getting it is easy. In Australia, when I talk about my sexual health, I feel less afraid and I don’t have to hide that I have sex with men.
I’ve learned a lot about sexual health from different places – asking friends where to go for an HIV test, reading queer publications, seeing campaigns around town, and doing my own research when needed.
Now I have a partner, so I don’t visit the clinic as often. But I know I can go to a sexual health service for a quick test and a PrEP prescription whenever I need to.
Preserving cultural and family values away from home
My relationship with my family is complicated. I haven’t gone out. There’s always a mix of fear, sadness, even anger — even though I know it’s not really anyone’s fault. I have no family here, and in a way, that gives me a sense of freedom. No one here knows me the way my family back home does or has any expectations of what I “should” be like.
Culturally, I still listen to Vietnamese music, read Vietnamese news and watch Vietnamese movies when they are released here. Many of our festivals are similar to Chinese cultural celebrations and I find my own little ways to mark them with the people I care about.
Balancing family values with my queer identity
I think Vietnamese culture is slowly becoming more accepting of queer people, especially in the younger generations. I’m not religious, so this has never been a major internal conflict for me. The difficulty comes from the expectations of the family — for men to marry, have children, and raise a family. It is similar in other Asian cultures.
I wouldn’t say I ‘balance’ it well since I still hide my sexuality from my family. But I made peace with being gay a long time ago.
“I’m happy with where I am now and with the fact that I can make my own decisions about my life.”
Advice for queer migrants arriving in Australia
Do some research on sexual health by reading Emen8’s Knowledge Hub and other translated articles available in Vietnamese. Here, you can find a service to get your first HIV and STD test in Australia.
The first time I went to a clinic here, I was nervous. You might be too — but you feel so much better knowing that help is easy to access and there are people ready to support you.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Thanks to Tom for sharing his story! You can find an HIV and STD testing service near you using our map.
If you enjoyed this content, you may also want to read:
HIV in Australia: HIV statistics and prevention
Medicare: what is it and what does it cover?
Private health insurance for gay and bisexual men on Australian visa
Getting your first HIV test in Australia — it’s easy and confidential
How to get PrEP as a visa holder
Theo’s story: ‘There is always a safe way to enjoy sex and pleasure’
