At 32, how a university lecturer became Mr Gay Japan’s first Taiwanese finalist - EUROPE SAYS
Academia can often feel like a stifled ivory tower, a place where theory is completely detached from lived experiences and personal stories. But Nick Kueh, a lecturer at the National Kaohsiung University of. . .
Academia can often feel like a stifled ivory tower, a place where theory is completely detached from lived experiences and personal stories. But Nick Kueh, a lecturer at the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan, wants to tackle education differently. The 32-year-old is stepping out of the lecture hall and onto the glitzy stage of Tokyo to become the first Taiwanese finalist in the Mr Gay Japan pageant. The final round is scheduled for August 10. “What I teach in Taiwan is the Japanese language,” Kueh says. “But actually, my master’s thesis was on LGBTQ education. ”Having lived and studied in Japan before returning to Taiwan in 2019, Kueh’s academic work also focuses on cross-cultural education andLGBTQ studiesin Asia – particularly in Taiwan, Japan and Thailand. “I don’t have a way to directly have an LGBTQ education course at the school,” he says. “However, I often sneak some LGBTQ concepts into my curriculum. For instance, if the textbook lesson today is about family, I will bring up some LGBTQ-related matters. ”Nick Kueh is making history as the first Taiwanese finalist in the Mr Gay Japan beauty pageant. Photo: GeeBefore entering academia, Kueh’s journey with his queer identity began with a classic adolescent heartbreak. At 14, he confessed his feelings to a girl, only to be rejected. “I even wrote a song for her,” he says, laughing. Tags:AsiaHong KongjapanLGBTQLGBTQ educationLove SalonMr Gay JapanNational Kaohsiung University of Science and TechnologyNick KuehTaiwanTokyo