pride posted by imani , Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 3:36 PM, in Labels: freefall

Yesterday’s misty afternoon prodded me to finish reading Danton Remoto’s book aptly called ‘Gaydar’ – a collection of his essays that were published in the late 1990’s. Danton Remoto is a renowned columnist, poet and activist – educated both here and abroad.

What initially drew me to the book was a name that’s familiar to all of who us who came from La Consolacion College Manila. He made mention of the name Dr. Jimmy T. Rico – who happened to be our professor (Mumai and myself) in World and Philippine Literature and in Business Research.

Reading his book was a wonderful experience – it was a freakin’ eye opener. I have followed the Showtime series, The L Word, for six years and with the things they have showcased, I know that they are fighting for a good cause – to make sure that the GLBTs are decently represented in the media. And Danton has successfully done that.

So going back – yesterday, I had coffee by myself at Gloria Jeans in Glorietta, while listening to the radio playing Paula Cole’s ‘Feelin’ love’ and getting smothered by second hand smoke. I endured the whole thing because I just cannot put Danton’s book down.

He spoke about the plight of our GLBT brothers and sisters in the Philippines – how the various groups all over the country are fighting to have laws established that would promote equality amongst all citizens – gay or straight. The book has undertones of happiness and color, it also has an air of sadness in it. As I have said, reading it was an eye-opener – it’s a fact that every so often a story or two about gays and lesbians will be shown on TV but they talk mostly about the ‘indecency’ of those who belong in this group. Somehow, our local media has done a skillful job of omitting the more important issues concerning people like them – people like me.

A lot of times we’ve seen disrespectful cameras prying at what happens inside dark, sullen theatres found in Cubao and in Manila, there have also been cases when we’d see a tabloid bearing the words: ‘Lesbian kills girlfriend in motel,’ and the media feasts on this, whether we want to admit it or not. Why this happening? Why does this happen? First off, unfortunately, crowds upon crowds of Filipinos have driven gays and lesbians alike to places where the sun doesn’t shine. Secondly, many of those who are in the media use their ‘power’ to dehumanize others. When a congressman rapes a minor, we never see headlines that say: ‘Straight congressman rapes 15-year old.’

What is it with brands and labels? I know I have said this on one of my posts that brands and labels are for clothes and for filing – certainly not for humans. Funny how people of ‘position and power’ condescend just because they feel they have the license to…not realizing that gays/lesbians/bisexuals/transgenders also are citizens of this country – and honest taxpayers at that. I read that a particular congressman (I forgot his name – I suppose he isn’t really that ‘memorable’), years back, was even lobbying to suppress laws that might be enacted that would allow GLBTs to have equal rights – with the last phrase (equal rights) I meant the same rights that other heterosexual men and women are entitled to – which includes, but not limited to: marriage and adoption, for example.

This particular politician mentioned that it is his intention to preserve the basic element of the society – which is the family. And I think this argument is pathetic. Hmmm…preserving the Filipino family. How the hell can he do that when he’s shaming gays and lesbians, whom, I might add, also have families of their own? Why the hell can’t people just let other people be? If there are gay crabs and gay papayas, why can’t there be gay people? And the hell – to not allow and question gay couples (or single gay people, for that matter) in the subject of adoption – why, why, why? Because the child will not have a ‘mother’ and/or ‘father’ figure growing up? Does this congressman have a hard, scientific proof that heterosexuals are intrinsically better parents?

These were just two of the many issues that Danton tackled in his book. But despite the heartrending atmosphere of some of the serious topics discussed – one thing is clear – that unlike Dylan Thomas’ immortal line, ‘Rage, rage against the dying of the light,’ the fight of our GLBT brothers and sisters (within and without the country) for equality and against discrimination is unwavering and is not dying any minute soon. We are raging, we are pushing and moving forward, embracing who we are – men and women of different colors, shades, tints, hues, tones – all gay and proud!