FOF #637 - Thai Sex Slavery - 10.25.07

By Fausto Fernós on October 25, 2007 | | Link | Print |

 
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drewpersons-iTunes.jpgWould you belive this handsome guy speaks fluent Thai?

Today we’re talking to one of our long distance listeners in person, Drew Persons who lives in Thailand working as documentary filmmaker, fashion model and photographer.

For the past few months Drew has been working as an interprete and cultural consultant for the documentary film “Sold” about the sexual slavery underground in Thailand and in the world today. The hearbreaking stories of women being forced to sell their bodies or families being torn apart in order to make ends meet will make you think and want to take action. Why does sexual slavery still exsist? What can anyone do about it to stop it?

Listen as we talk with Drew about growing up as the son of Christian missionaries, suffering from epilepsy, coming out to his mom at the age of 12 and going through religious therapy to change his sexual orientation.

From time to time we get asked where our show’s subtitle “Gay Fun Show” comes from. When we used to perform our live show at a local Vietnamese banquet hall, we used to write “Gay Fun Show” underneath the posters to explain to the local non-English speaking crowd what our show was all about. When we went up on iTunes as a podcast, we took on the subtitle as a way of quickly explaining what our show was all about. We hope you enjoy our special introduction today.

A palace of many pleasures- Feast of Fools.

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  • AH HA HA FIRST COMMENT!

    Holy Eff! I think I’m in love! Drew is sooo hot!

  • I’ve often wondered about that strikingly good-looking guy from Thailand… and now… here he is!

    What a GREAT show. Hard-hitting and, at times, even hard to hear… Drew is so intelligent and interesting that you can’t help but be enthralled by what he has to say.

    And, of course, the questions you are asking really bring out the meat of the story.

    This is just one more example of why this show is so great– it is the true definition of a “Variety” show: You can laugh your tail off one day, and be shocked and moved by someone’s stories the next.

    I’m looking forward to Part 2 with Drew!

  • Part two is lighter and more Gay Fun.

  • OH MY GOSH, he is HOT!
    WHY? WAS I NOT INVITED!
    GHurL, I would of stared at his eyes the whole time.
    Woof!
    Love ya
    -SAL-E

  • Good show fellas. Off to dreamland….

  • oh my god, he is sooo cool, now i am really bummed i couldn’t come to see you guys on monday! I agree with Sal, he is HOT!!! whenever he wants to come to the east coast, give him my number, haha.

    xoxo

    Zach

  • wow, what a life Drew has lived so far! Alrighty,,, GREAT SHOW!

  • Great Show ! As a once avid reader of his livejournal it was great to put a voice to his face…

    Talented, funny, and travelled… yeah he is gorgeous….

  • OK, wow, he’s incrediby beautiful… If he ever needs some one-on-one healing, I’m ready and waiting.

    Seriously.

  • Zachary, you are too young. He’s all mine.

    Send him to me Fausto! I’ll cure that virginity…

  • There was a lot about Drew’s world perspective that seemed a bit unanswered: (1) How does epilepsy positively impact your world view? (2) what did the tsunami feel like when you learned about it?, (3) What moved you the most about the film experience and how would you carry that sense of caring into nursing?

    Enjoyed looking at the website although the trailer needs to hit the emotional tone of the documentary quickly. I was bumbed by beach parties and learned very little about those to be interviewed. I did see a connection with other NGO’s and would hope that you would capture their you tube videos on your website: This one moved me to understand about children’s perspective on “selling their body”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Je4rdtClKg

    Personally, I think the film should strike a more powerful position. Is there a Myspace account for the movie so that we can meet you on tour?

  • His story was interesting.

  • Wadee JA nong Drew!

    That Thai accent was hilarious… I’m recommending you for a leading role Satree Lek 3 (”White Boys Can Wai”). It was like listening to the boys down Silom Soi 4 but on my iPod - nearly as scary as the real thing, which unfortunately I’ll be dragged down to again tonight.

    As for Thai Sex Slavery… there is a flip side you know. If you’re in the market for a handsome successful older Thai soap star kinda guy, they’ve all turned into sticky rice (or at least that’s what they tell me). My dog now knows “the other side of the bed” is hers, since it doesn’t get used by anyone else in Bangkok :P

  • DC, they do have a myspace account - http://myspace.com/thesoldproject.

    MoocherX You should hook up with Drew when your in Bangcock

  • This was a really good show. Best interview you did in a long time. I really don’t care so much about celebrities, this was a real person with a real interesting story.

  • I hope you’ll meet him soon enough. We told him you’d take him to Disney! I hope you don’t mind,

  • LOL Marc. Yes, I should hook up with Drew when we’re both in town at the same time.

    There’s nothing like hanging around with another white boy who’s half your age and 10 times hotter, for improving one’s self-esteem.

    Plus I bet he goes to all the really expensive trendy bars like The Met, don’t you Drew? :P

  • Great show guys. Really enjoyed listening to Drew, he is hot all right! Plus he is smart and articulate and that makes him even more attractive and a pleasure to listen to. Can’t wait to hear the next show.

  • It is good to know that there are more and more efforts to bring to light the whole terrible child sex slave industry. It is a complicated issue but I think one of the most shameful things that exist.

    Your conversation with Drew about his life and coming out was something I can relate to in my own life. I know it was hard for him to come out to his family early ( great admiration for that) as a very young man. Growing up in a very religious centered life where being gay was considered abhorrent and evil is something that I also faced in my life. Of the course the church taught that with God you can change with enough faith. It was not until later in my life and after a marriage with children, where I finally accepted that I was gay. By then, so many lives are affected and it was a n extremely painful process. That is why I am encouraged by how more and more gay young men in religious upbringings are coming out early.

    Even in my situation, after counseling and a lot of healing, coming out was the right thing to do. My children, my ex-wife and I are defintiely at a better place.

    Thanks Drew for sharing your story.

  • Oh my god I totally agree with Sal-E….

    *SIGH*

  • You’re all wonderful. lol. Thanks for the great comments.

  • I love The Opening….i freaked everyone on the Bus when i started laughing, then made it worse by trying to be cool with both my hands on my Face.

    Drew is an impressive person. A great combination of youth, eloquence and wisdon. Hard to find that and A VIRGIN to boot. You guys made a great choice by having him on the show. He’s the type of guy that i can relate to and would love to hear more of him.

    Keep it up guys, you never disappoint. Love You All!!!

  • I agree, the opening was hilarious. Topic is very interesting. Not only does it come from a knowledgeable individual but also one who is H O T..

    Thank you for making the shows everyday, it give me something to look forward to as my alarm goes off…!
    Next meet in greet in Thailand…?

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  • About The Author: Fausto Fernós

    Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Fausto Fernós created the Feast of Fools in 1998 as wacky artists variety show in Chicago, Illinois. Along with his partner Marc Felion, he hosts the world's most downloaded talk show for gay people on the internet, Feast of Fools. Fausto loves pomegranates, waterfalls and 70s retro funk music.
    View all entries by Fausto Fernós

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