Hon's diary includes 146 handwritten pages and 7 pages typed via email between June 1994 and January 1996. Hon describes his life while living in California, recording experiences regarding platonic and romantic relationships, drug and alcohol use, international travel to Indonesia and Hong Kong, immigration, HIV/AIDS, and the process of self-discovery. Hon's entries are influenced by his intersectional identity as a gay male Asian immigrant living in the United States. Hon utilizes this diary to process and reflect upon his mental health, particularly when grappling with the impacts of interpersonal relationships upon his sense of well-being. Hon's writing includes his thoughts about love, identity, alcoholism, and drug use. Ephemera in this diary include a business card for "Party Boy Productions of Southern California" and an invitation to a house party in the front sleeve of the diary, as well as two photographs of a frontal view of a naked man in the middle of the diary. The full name of the writer is unknown. For privacy purposes, this item is not eligible for digitization, and photographs are not allowed. Content warnings: substance abuse (including drugs and alcohol), relationship abuse, mental health, nudity.
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Diary of a Gay Asian Male Immigrant, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.