A close friend of mine, Josh dropped me an email earlier this evening about a video compilation of various people from all around Singapore talking about homosexuality and the wonderful people they know who have embraced it as part of their identity. Suffice to say it caught my eye; it was the promotional piece for the upcoming Pink Dot event to be held in Singapore this coming May 16th – but despite my interest in the event (which I applaud Singaporeans for taking an active stand), I am perhaps more impressed by the spirit of the interviewees who speak of their friends and family with the utmost pride.
Not shame, not fear, nor of anger – but of pride; full distinguished accepting pride. Because pride is after all what we should all feel when it comes to our sexuality, no matter who we are. Sexuality cannot be defined by race, or color, or status, nor nationality even; it is something I feel everyone should understand and learn more about, rather than hide from.
Watching the video, it reminds me of the earlier days I spent trying to open my parents up to life knowing they have a gay son living under their roof. The earlier days my family pretends that my sexuality is something shameful to the family; to speak of it openly, even amongst ourselves is taboo. The video in its own way, now reminds me of the family I have today – who openly acknowledges that I am who I am, and what my dad playfully likes to refer to as the bengkok (literally “bent”) son, whom no matter what – is still family and for that, will always be loved. It is the same spirit I see in them that I see in the video; on the faces of the people who speak of homosexuality and the people they love.
Pride.
In that way, I feel Malaysia has yet a long way to go in these matters – but that doesn’t mean I ever give up hoping for the day we could all stand as one beneath the flag that unites us all as a nation, the same way all Singaporeans stand united in the foreignness that is sexuality. The East, majorly – has a long way to go yet regarding the full acceptance of different sexualities as part of our identities, but as the Western world progresses, so will we.
To that, before I sign off - I salute and applaud once again to our neighbors in Singapore for this stand for the unity of differences in sexuality. May the 16th of May mark a great victory in your calendar for change, which in some way – I hope will pave the road for the many other nations in the East to someday follow in your footsteps; a statement to the world that sexuality is not a crime nor a defect. It is our identity. Godspeed.
United we stand; in pride we hold.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
I burst into tears the second time I watch this video…Touched.
May 8th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Thanks for the video!
May 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I thought it was a good video and timely for Singapore. However, I feel that it is too gay-focused, with two/three mentions of lesbian-identified people, and a very incorrect mention of a transsexual female using the wrong pronouns. Hope that improves as we move along.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I actually shed a tear watching the video, and I wish I could hug those people in the video. Well done, Singapore.
Just a point of contention with you, Sammie.
“The East, majorly – has a long way to go yet regarding the full acceptance of different sexualities as part of our identities, but as the Western world progresses, so will we.”
I wouldn’t describe equality, respect and appreciation of diversity as values advanced by the West. Historically, oriental civilizations (think ancient China and Japan) have been more tolerant of gender minorities than say, Europe in the middle ages.
During last year’s Seksualiti Merdeka carnival (which I didn’t attend, much to my regret, due to exams around the corner), Dr Farish Noor did a presentation on homosexuality in Indonesian-Malay literature in the last 2000 years, which showed that at some point in our past, our civilization was more tolerant of gender minorities than it is today. On the other hand, the archaic anti-homosexual laws (Penal Code 377) that we have today are vestiges of our colonization by the Brits.
May 20th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Oooh, good one Gabs – didn’t note that out, but it’s a wonderful add to the piece. I did forget also that homosexuality has been embraced in some parts of the East – as we can see with Japanese artwork of intimate relationships between men, though in some way – homosexuality still remains unsaid.