"So I joined the Army" [所以我加入了軍隊]... with Justin L

[Original in Mandarin; English version follows]

帶者些許醉意，我走出台北最大的夜店，回頭看著還在狂歡的其他人們，心裡想的卻是還在家裡的男朋友，也許真的是到了不愛玩的年紀了～ 我１７５cm.71.kg.29years,一個在台北長大的小孩，本來是在一個普通的家庭長大，但是我１４歲那年我父親去世了，家裡只剩下我跟我媽，所以我加入了軍隊來幫助家裡，

​ 在剛到軍隊的初期真的很困難,軍事化的管理，同期軍校生的競爭，由其是軍中對同性戀的高壓政策，可是越是困難我就越是要証明“同性戀在軍中也是可以很優秀的“，所以我在軍中真的是很努力，從體能到學策我一直都保持在前面的排名 這時我生命中的第一個男孩出現了，他陽光健壯而且還是體育代表隊，其實我跟他的關係真的很微妙，我們可以分享許多方面的想法跟夢想，甚至連喜歡的電影也都差不多，我們一起上課一起出操一起放假一起吃飯，軍中的封閉環境反而加溫了我們的關係 第一次跟他發生性行為，其實我們都知道會到這一步，只是年青的我們都不知道如果進行下去，就傻傻的作了，現在想起都覺得好笑 我抬頭看著台北這從不睡覺的城市天空，就算是夜晚也充滿了五光十色的光芒，其實在台北當個gay 真的是很幸福的事，你永遠都可以有事情作，可以去party,可以出門２小時就到另一個城市去旅遊，可以很晚出門也不怕有犯罪，隨時都可以吃到美食就算是３am, 對我來說，台北是我的出生地跟成長的地方，乘載著我所有的情感，既迷人又神秘，台北～我的城市… - Justin L.

[Still a little tipsy, I walked out of Taipei's biggest nightclub, looked back at the people still partying, but I was focused on getting to my boyfriend's house. Perhaps not really typical for someone at the age of 29 and 175cm and 71kg.

I grew up in Taipei in an ordinary family, but when I was 14 years old my father died. So I joined the Army to help the family. In the early days, it was really hard in the Army. The military training of cadets back then was harsh and competition was tough. Also hard was the high-handed policy against homosexuals in the military, but the biggest challenge was me wanting to prove that "homosexuality in the military is also possible and very good". So I worked very hard in the Army. In both the physical areas to the school areas I always kept at the front of the rankings.

At this time in my life first appeared a boy. In fact, my relationship with him was really very subtle, In many ways we could share ideas and dreams, and even favourite movie. We also did exercise together classes, had a holiday dinner together. The Army's closed environment somehow warmed our relationship. At first it happened sort of innocently and bit by bit the sexuality blossomed.

I looked up at the Taipei city sky that never sleeps, even if the night is full of colourful light. In fact, being gay Taipei is really a very joyous thing, You can always do something, you can go party, you can go two hours to travel to another city, you can go out late with no fear of a criminal, you can always eat the food even if it is 3am. For me, I was born in Taipei and grew up with all of this, all of these emotions take, both charming and mysterious, Taipei - my city ...] - Translation from Mandarin by Google and edited by Liam Campbell.

Elska Boy: Justin L

Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Photographer: Liam Campbell

#TaipeiTaiwan