Text: Paul Hofman
Photo: Remon van den Kommer
Video: Paradox Productions
Ambassador Paul Morris was born and raised in Caracas. He is the child of a Dutch mother and Venezuelan father and therefore holds dual nationality — something that later proves useful. Latin and pop singer Paul on his homosexuality: ‘Gender is a choice you can define yourself.’
Paul sits relaxed. A noticeable three-day beard, a shy glance and a sing-song lilt—his South American roots are clear. He has just returned from a gig in the Bahamas, he says. ‘I sang Latin-pop songs, jazz, funk and classical.’ He doesn’t suffer from ajetlag not at all.
Paul enjoys a wonderful childhood in the Venezuelan capital. As a child he is captivated by singing and dancing. It’s no surprise he dreams of becoming a singer and dancer. His dual nationality makes it easier to pursue that dream in the Netherlands. At eighteen he decides to move there. ‘It was a completely foreign country to me. I loved it. So different from Venezuela.’ Four years later his mother joins him.
DanceSing
They stay with his grandfather who lives in a town in theBible Belt — not exactly Paul’s scene. Especially not when he comes out at eighteen. Not long after their arrival he decides to pursue his dream and enrolls in Performing Arts in Amsterdam. He throws all his energy into it. His talents are noticed and soon after graduation he gets the chance to take part in the TV showDanceSing. — a talent contest looking for a pop star who can sing and dance. It’s tailor-made for Paul. He makes a strong impression with his voice, tough looks and irresistible smile. ‘It turned my life upside down.’ His clips onYouTube prove a huge success. Hundreds of thousands of viewers watch the performances.
Genes
Music runs in Paul’s genes. His cousin Rolf Sanchez has several hits to his name. On stage Paul is dynamite. In 2019 he performs at Pride’s Closing Party. ‘That was the highlight of my career. Ten thousand people partying to my songs. Overwhelming. The Pride crowd is the best there is. They give you so much back.’ He beams from ear to ear. He is totally surprised when asked to be Pride ambassador 2022. ‘It was a wow moment. Of course I said yes straight away.’
His message as ambassador: ‘I hope to inspire people inside and outside thecommunity to embrace all sides of their personality. Accepting and learning to love your light and dark sides is often difficult for us, but incredibly important. One does not have to cancel out the other. Reason and emotion, enthusiasm and sorrow, feminine and masculine energy — we should know that everything can coexist.’
Macho
He still remembers his first Pride well. ‘It was a huge party that made a big impression on me. I loved that so many people were there. This was the country I had come to. It was moving.’ He still gets chills from that Pride. Especially the police boat that sailed along made a strong impression. ‘This would have been impossible in my birth country. To to this day a macho culture prevails. Did you know Venezuela is one of the few South American countries where same-sex marriage is still illegal?’ He falls silent. ‘Eighty percent of the population rejects it. That kind of pigeonholing really bothers me.’
Does he miss his homeland? ‘Absolutely. I miss everyday life with my friends. It’s bittersweet to see them again, but also painful that it’s now only occasionally possible.’ He sighs: ‘I actually feel like I belong nowhere.’
Little angel
The end of the corona measures could not have come soon enough for him. Those were tough years. Not only were his performances reduced to zero, it also meant he couldn’t see his friends. ‘It hit me deeply.’ Still, in 2021 he manages to release a single with the fitting titleCuánto Mas (which in Spanish means how much longer). It’s a translation of the Dutch song ‘Duurt te lang’. Between twolockdowns something happens that turns his life upside down. ‘I had signed a contract to perform for an extended period during aDinner Show in Mykonos.
It was a success that abruptly ended. ‘It seemed like the summer of my life. On the night before my birthday a terrible accident happened. After a show I rode my scooter back to my hotel. I was in too much of a hurry. I suddenly had to brake hard and fell forward.’ The consequences were severe. ‘I had a fractured jaw, a battered face, broken teeth and various bruises all over my body.’ He looks like a rag doll but back in the Netherlands he recovers quickly from his injuries. He must have had an angel on his shoulder, he says. ‘Right now I’m full of plans. Later this year a new song will come out and I’ll be singing in the cover bandThis is Beethoven.
Figurehead
He eagerly anticipates his ambassadorship. ‘After two years without Pride nothing seems able to stop a vibrant summer now. I can be a strong figurehead for the Latino community.’ How will he convey his message? ‘Through my music I want to warm hearts, get people dancing and help them enjoy life. I think it’s important to keep the conversation about sexuality and freedom of being alive. I do this and will continue to do so. I would also be honoured if I could inspire my fellow Latinos to shed shame and break free from the prevailing macho culture.’ Then: ‘I won’t hide my love.’ Undoubtedly Paul Morris will be the star of Pride 2022.
Pride ambassador since 2022
