*Please note that the author apologises for any errors made in this piece of writing. No form of insulting/inflammatory connotations, implications meant. This is a plain exercise on commentary by the author.
Commentary: Homosexuality in society.
The news article which was published in the forum section of the Straits Times, discusses moral ethics involved with the gay society in a Singaporean context.
Dr Peter Goh Kok Yong raises credible examples like Mr Otto Fong’s ‘coming out’, and especially of the existence of gay people in teaching positions in schools which may influence the sexual orientation of younger persons.
He then goes on to suggest how the Ministry of Education should react to the concerns of parents, or even students, of having gay people as teachers.
The purpose of this article is to raise the issue that gay people are passionately discriminated against in society, especially Singaporean society, the article also raises points from both sides of the fence on this issue.
I agree with certain points that Dr Goh has raised.
It is true that homosexuals are discriminated in society, and that is the reason for the bulk of them choosing to remain in the closet for fear of societal rejection and discrimination. Like what Dr Goh said, likewise I agree that gay people, in the Singaporean context especially, are invisible and choose to continue remaining invisible.
What is normal and unnormal is defined by what the majority chooses to define, and the majority are heterosexual ‘normal’ people, this issue is what is termed the tyranny of the majority.
Hence, it is inevitable that gay people will continue to be discriminated by a large proportion of the heterosexual population. There will be sympathisers as well, of course, people who are able to see the big picture, and learn to coexist with gay people.
People should learn not to discriminate people because they have a different sexual orientation, as they are, in the end, still people, humans, like you and I. They have feelings, they go to work, they eat, they sleep, they do everything we do, just that their sexual orientation is different from ours.
I do not agree with everything that Dr Peter Goh mentioned, however.
I am not gay. And in fact I wholly disapprove of the concept of homosexuality in society, if being gay were the normal sexual orientation, where then would procreation occur, and without procreation, how would there be continuation of the human race? Are we to simply go extinct by being all gay?
However, I cannot disapprove the homosexuals in society, as they are, humans. And every human, regardless of that individual's belief or orientation in anything should not be discriminated. They should not be discriminated anymore than black, yellow or white people shouldn’t be discriminated.
However, the fact remains that heterosexuality is the only ‘correct’ sexual orientation in this world, that’s how humans were created, and that’s how we should continue to be.
It may be true that there is some genetic nudge in the direction of gay, and I accept that argument completely, and agree that there will continue to be these special exceptions.
As a result, the presence of homosexuals is inevitable. With that, I believe it’s time, so-called, ‘normal’ heterosexuals should start learning to coexists with these homosexuals, and realise that they are still human people, with feelings, and we must treat them the way we would want ourselves to be treated, as a normal person.
In conclusion, I believe that what Dr Peter Goh said was very current and agreeable in that most homosexuals lack the courage to step out as who they are in society, and are, as a result, invisible to everyone, this may or may not be a good thing, but Mr Otto Fong, a homosexual and teacher, should be applauded for his courage in doing so.
However, though I believe gays should step out, I do not fully approve of the concept of being a homosexual, it is to me, alien. I do however, sympathise with homosexuals in that, environmental or genetics may play a large role in deciding their sexual orientation, and this is almost entirely not the gay person’s fault. Therefore, since we acknowledge that homosexuals will always be a part of society, the best solution to discrimination, is to learn to co-exist side by side.
Main Article:
Gay teacher's outing a milestone in debate
| Section: | Forum |
| Publication: | The Straits Times 18/09/2007 |
| Page: | H12 |
| No. of words: | 397 |
http://newslink.asiaone.com/user/OrderArticleRequest.action?order=&_sourcePage=%2FWEB-INF%2Fjsp%2Fuser%2Fsearch_type_result.jsp&month=09&year=2007&date=18&docLanguage=en&documentId=nica_ST_2007_7073155
Related:
Gay teacher's outing not appropriate
| Section: | Forum |
| Publication: | The Straits Times 22/09/2007 |
| Page: | H11 |
| No. of words: | 222 |
http://newslink.asiaone.com/user/OrderArticleRequest.action?order=&_sourcePage=%2FWEB-INF%2Fjsp%2Fuser%2Fsearch_type_result.jsp&month=09&year=2007&date=22&docLanguage=en&documentId=nica_ST_2007_7105036
