And finally, we’ve got ourselves a contribution! Was actually going to write a pretty deep topic about safe sex (seeing as how I haven’t written anything since the last time) – but since I got my computer reformatted (bummer!), I kinda lost the STD manual that was in it (you read that right!). Oh well, will look for it online again (yes, I found it online) – it caught my eye, and since it was pretty interesting – I wanted to write about it.

But I digress. Anyway, our first contribution comes from choirboy13 – just a short introduction to one man’s thoughts on gay life in Malaysia, or gay life in general. About what it takes to be a part of the community, and away from the usual stereotypes of the effeminate gay men – choirboy13’s contribution is all about society, life, and naturally – being very, very gay. Read on, and may this inspiring post inspire you like it did me.

I am choirboy13 – and I am gay. Ever since I could remember, I was always inclined towards the attraction of people who shared the same gender as I. It made me happy seeing other boys shirtless or running around in the nude. I developed excitement over the thought of having boys as my close friends, and maybe sometimes getting more intimate with some compared to the rest. Looking from hindsight at my growing up years, I can see very clearly now how homosexuality has been a deep part of my inner being. I was always gay, and I like to believe that I was born gay, contrary to many scientific journals and reports.

The challenge, however, was to grow up being a nice boy. I was always very innocent, not just in my appearance and my mannerisms, but also in the way I publicly portrayed my thoughts and my actions. I was always a cute boy who was active in church and was known for being mummy’s little boy. I was a choir boy. I was pure, holy, and gay.

Stereotypes ruined a big part of my growing up days as a gay kid. People around me laughed at words like “homo” and “gay”. People would laugh at boys who were sissies, and call them all sorts of insensitive names. Eventually, these boys would be laughed at because they acted gay, whether or not they really were gay. Coming from a part of Malaysia that is probably treading behind by 10 years in terms of rural development compared to Kuala Lumpur, the community I grew up with was never exposed to the facts of what a real homosexual lifestyle is like. From where I come from, being a homosexual was, back then, never really something possible. It was something you would only see in the movies and read in stories. It was also always merely a way to describe people who were weird, and for boys who liked to sing and dance. I liked to sing. I was a choir boy, remember?

I was afraid of the truth. Me? Gay? Can it really be?

I wanted to be normal. Yet, you cannot be someone who you are not. It wouldn’t make sense. I knew I was born gay. I liked boys. It felt normal, and fun, and I didn’t want it to be any other way. Still don’t.

Stereotypes became my worse enemy. I hated it that people would link bright coloured shirts with gay men, and simply conclude that men who cry are typically gay. People just don’t realize (yet) that gay men are as varied as straight men. We come in all shapes and sizes. Some of us like sports, some of us don’t. Some of us like to cry at sad movies, some of us laugh. Yet, the bottom line is, we’re not what most people think we are. Of course there are some gays who fit the perfect gay-man stereotype. But would you see an obese heterosexual man and say that all straight men are like him?

Life can get complicated when you’re gay. You face all sorts of predicaments. But straight men do too. Which proves it yet again, we’re all the same. We just have different sexual tastes.

Human beings are as colourful as the rainbow. And that is what celebrating humanity really means, homosexual or not.

- choirboy13