Aftermath
This has certaintly been an interesting debate.
It is not easy to avoid any extreme responses on the manner the repeal 377a debate was handled in Parliament this week. This issue is obviously something that a lot of people in Singapore feel strongly about. And most importantly, it appears that there is nothing much any one other than the 93 people sitting in 1 Parliament Lane can do anything about at this time.
The gays can't change who they are. The so-called "moral majority" won't care. Instead of a informative debate where both sides will listen to the rational arguments presented and form their considered opinions, we end up with monologues where no one really cares what you are saying. The conservatives revert to their religious dogma and cry foul at the very idea of a gay agenda. And the gay activists make futile appeals on "Western" notions of social moderation and equality for all Singaporeans before the eyes of the law.
And no one listens.
After the dust have settled, we shall all continue to pretending to uphold most laws while closing a blind eye for gay singaporeans to remain criminals for loving the men they do. We will still go on with our lives, sad and disappointed that nothing is allowed to change with the times in this petty moralistic island of ours.
On the bright side, it is now harder for me to obey a leash law when some laws are not enforced and no one is harmed by my dog running free. And if the law is all about making moral statements, then is Singapore then endorsing adultery, enticing a married man, gambling, raping my wife and outraging the modesty of my golf buddy?
It is not easy to avoid any extreme responses on the manner the repeal 377a debate was handled in Parliament this week. This issue is obviously something that a lot of people in Singapore feel strongly about. And most importantly, it appears that there is nothing much any one other than the 93 people sitting in 1 Parliament Lane can do anything about at this time.
The gays can't change who they are. The so-called "moral majority" won't care. Instead of a informative debate where both sides will listen to the rational arguments presented and form their considered opinions, we end up with monologues where no one really cares what you are saying. The conservatives revert to their religious dogma and cry foul at the very idea of a gay agenda. And the gay activists make futile appeals on "Western" notions of social moderation and equality for all Singaporeans before the eyes of the law.
And no one listens.
After the dust have settled, we shall all continue to pretending to uphold most laws while closing a blind eye for gay singaporeans to remain criminals for loving the men they do. We will still go on with our lives, sad and disappointed that nothing is allowed to change with the times in this petty moralistic island of ours.
On the bright side, it is now harder for me to obey a leash law when some laws are not enforced and no one is harmed by my dog running free. And if the law is all about making moral statements, then is Singapore then endorsing adultery, enticing a married man, gambling, raping my wife and outraging the modesty of my golf buddy?
posted by Colin at 3:04 PM
3 Comments:
You know what would help to further acceptance of gays? If ALL gay Singaporeans (and we know how many there are!) would come out to family, friends, work mates, ex school mates, basically to everybody they know. Suddenly all these conservative heartlanders would find that they know a dozen gays......
I wish it was that simple. My mother who I love deeply, has seen my porn and met the man I loved. Despite her strict upbringing, she continues to care for me and love me. However she would still prefer if I will settle down with some woman and have lots of babies. I can't change her mind about it. Even with time. And she still thinks what I do is/should be wrong.
How do you deal with such innane resistance? Coming out to the rest of the family will cause great distress and disgrace to my mother.
And your mother would be surprised how much support she would get from her family and friends, and how much closer she would get to them, if you/she told everybody. It is easy to hate an anonymous gay person, but it is very difficult to hate a gay person that you know. The only way forward is to come out. I know it takes courage, but you have the example of countries like mine where in all my life I had one (one only) person react negatively to my coming out. And of course this person was a closeted gay himself.
By the way, showing your porn to your mom is not the best way to come out....
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