Être homosexuel dans un monde hétéronormé n’est pas chose facile. Qu’en est-il lorsqu’on est une minorité ethnique au sein de cette minorité sexuelle ? La Peau hors du placard aborde de front la discrimination raciale qui opère dans la communauté gay et la manière dont elle touche particulièrement les hommes d’ascendance asiatique. Dans ce récit vibrant de sincérité, Jean-Baptiste Phou, artiste gay franco-cambodgien, chasse la peur et la honte pour mettre en lumière le rôle que son ethnicité a pu jouer dans la formation de son identité sexuelle et dans sa vie sentimentale, en France et à l’étranger. Rejeté et réduit à ses origines, c’est en se réappropriant son regard et en sortant sa peau hors du placard qu’il parviendra à l’habiter.

A gay man of Asian descent in France explores ‘double oppression’ within the White queer world. In this searing memoir, Jean-Baptiste Phou faces his fears and shame to examine the role his ethnic origin has played in the construction of his sexual identity and his romantic relationships in a predominantly white environment. An astute observer of the various ways in which his body has been perceived, Phou explores how these perceptions have shaped his relationship with himself and others. How does a marginalized person build, reclaim, express their sexuality, and develop emotionally? Drawing on various works of history, sociology, gender studies, literature and popular culture, Phou sensitively examines various strategies developed in response to this question. Being gay in a largely straight world is difficult, but being Asian within this sexual minority can be a doubly oppressive experience. Coming Out of My Skin deftly tackles this challenge and aspires for a reconciliation that can empower people of sexual and racial minorities to joyfully inhabit their bodies and shine on their side of the rainbow.