Every time I watch TV shows, I couldn’t help but notice that a lot of entertainers are gay people. Whether they are discreet or not, people enjoy watching them onstage. They make the entire show more interesting to watch and worth finishing till the end. There are also times when I see gay people being with their “straight” boyfriends, looking happy together. They go out on dates, go shopping, and do what “heterosexual” couples do. Having such, many people say homosexuality is already accepted in the country. Does this mean the end of discrimination against the LGBT people? Or it is not what it really seems? Do people think homosexuals are merely a subject of fun and entertainment, an object to be laughed at? Do they they see us as a people whom they can extort money and have us as financial institutions? Worst yet, do they think our lives are worthless - bring misfortune to the community so we deserve to be maltreated and killed?
The Philippines have long been closed to homosexuals. Being a “Christian” country, the mainstream religions abhor homosexuality. The moment one gay guy comes out of the closet, he is then subjected to criticisms, rumors, and judgment. The words “hell”, “sin”, “immoral”, and “perverted nature” are his breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. So what does the gay guy do? Cloak himself in jokes, makes fun of himself, and does things which people can enjoy so that he would feel accepted. Is he really accepted? No. For people, he is just an entertainer – accepted for the things he does but not for who he is.
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| Image from : http://upbabaylan.blogspot.com/2011/06/proud-to-be-lgbt.html |
Every time I watch TV shows, I couldn’t help but notice that a lot of entertainers are gay people. Whether they are discreet or not, people enjoy watching them onstage. They make the entire show more interesting to watch and worth finishing till the end. There are also times when I see gay people being with their “straight” boyfriends, looking happy together. They go out on dates, go shopping, and do what “heterosexual” couples do. Having such, many people say homosexuality is already accepted in the country. Does this mean the end of discrimination against the LGBT people? Or it is not what it really seems? Do people think homosexuals are merely a subject of fun and entertainment, an object to be laughed at? Do they they see us as a people whom they can extort money and have us as financial institutions? Worst yet, do they think our lives are worthless - bring misfortune to the community so we deserve to be maltreated and killed?
The Philippines have long been closed to homosexuals. Being a “Christian” country, the mainstream religions abhor homosexuality. The moment one gay guy comes out of the closet, he is then subjected to criticisms, rumors, and judgment. The words “hell”, “sin”, “immoral”, and “perverted nature” are his breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. So what does the gay guy do? Cloak himself in jokes, makes fun of himself, and does things which people can enjoy so that he would feel accepted. Is he really accepted? No. For people, he is just an entertainer – accepted for the things he does but not for who he is.
There are on the other hand, gay people who just don’t care what people say. They live their lives on how they want to live it. They go out on streets at night wearing their short shorts and heavy make-up looking for hook-ups, roam the community in bunches making loud noises. When people see them, they are mocked and in return, they fight back – shout obscene words at the mocker and do gestures which are quite unacceptable in the society. Others still, fight with each other. One gay guy accused of stealing another gay guy’s boyfriend, one gay beauty contestant destroying another gay contestant’s gown – worst part: they argue, hurt each other and exchange swear words on national television. So much for the word called “respect”. So to people, gay guys are nothing but people to be laughed upon – dressing up like clowns, fighting for petty issues, and living their lives with apathy.
Sometimes still, in order to fulfill the need to belong, gay guys tend to be blinded by people. There are those opportunists who ask them for money or for things in return of having them kept as companies. The gay guys in return, heed to all the demands of those parasites blinding themselves of the truth that they are just being used. They not only spend a lot of money for their so called “buddies” but they have become instant ATM’s and shopping malls as well.
News of Filipino LGBT's killed is also widespread. Police say that most cases were ordinary cases of robbery or theft. Why then, did those people get multiple stab wounds more than enough to kill them? Why was it that in some cases, nothing was stolen - only the life of the victims? Each day, LGBT people are reported dead or hurt or bullied. As a democratic country, where freedom of expression is valued, we have repressed people from coming out of the closet and expressing who they really are. We have stolen their right to freely express themselves and stepped on them when they had the courage to do so.
Now that the TV is turned off, I am now in a deep state of pondering. Are gay people REALLY accepted in the Philippines and are treated with respect and dignity? Has the Filipino society really changed its attitude towards the LGBT? Has it really changed or has it remained the same: Gay people are nothing but jokes?
Indeed, it is sad that in order for us to be accepted by the society, we have to do things to please them. May the Filipino society realize that we, the LGBT community are not less humans, and we are like them. We love, we get hurt, we cry, we go hungry. We may have a different sexual orientation and gender identity, nonetheless, we are still human.
On the other hand, may we, members of the LGBT community also show that we are people with rights and dignity and should be treated with respect. May we show the society that in spite of our gender orientation and identity, we are esteemed human beings and are not jokes. We are who were are. Let’s live our lives maintaining our dignity and being proud of who or what we are.
