In recent years, a global trend has taken hold as countries with statutes against gay sex have begun repealing their oppressive laws.
As of September, the number of nations with anti-homosexuality laws dropped to 73 , after India overturned Section A, adopted from the British Penal Code years ago. As a result, many people choose to lead a closeted life inside an extremely conservative, heteronormative society.
Lim followed this path, maintaining two lives, until the opportunity to speak his truth revealed itself. In and now they know , winner of the Steidl Book Award Asia, Lim gives us a look into his private life through a series of intimate photographs and handwritten verse.
Here, he shares his discovery the power that comes from publicly declaring himself to the world. One night I showed them a project featuring my partner, Alvin. My new friends were nothing but supportive and with that newfound bravery, I worked on my next project: a single staged photograph titled Till the day they know.
In Asian families, we rarely talk about our feelings, unlike our Western counterparts. I knew my family was speculating on my relationship with Alvin and with all my works dealing with homosexual themes. I always felt uncomfortable talking to him about such matters for fear of how he would see me.
