There has been great controversy surrounding Seksualiti Merdeka , a planned event to highlight sexual freedom and gender identity.

Being a Catholic Malaysian and based on my spiritual conviction and natural laws, I do not agree with homosexual behaviour or gay marriages. However, I have no right to subjectively belittle homosexuals or ridicule them in the name of culture or religion.

Giving a listening ear to them without being self-righteous, and at the same time sharing objective truths on why homosexuality is wrong, will do great service to their human dignity.

I believe the better option is to understand that we are dealing with human beings, not aliens from outer space.

Homosexual acts are disorderly behaviour, but how one deals with such behaviour is important.

Would creating an environment of hostility towards homosexuals, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transvestites change their behaviour? A Muslim scholar was quoted as saying that this group needs psychological therapy.

My question is, when was the last time this scholar had an empathic and reasoned conversation with a homosexual or lesbian before coming up with this solution?

Some argue that the culture of homosexuality originated from the West, but have these so-called critics wondered why, after all the religious lessons, there still are people who turn out to be different?

Has there been too much lecturing than listening? Is it not fair to say that being unfaithful to one's wife by taking another wife is also disorderly behaviour? Why is there deafening silence on

this issue?

Malaysians who are marginalised, who feel their rights have been curtailed, have every right to voice their different opinions on a given issue. It is sad that the police have stopped Seksualiti Merdeka without being respectful to the constitutional principle on the right to be heard.

Its quite heartening, though, that the IGP is willing to meet the organisers. However, is this to dictate to them or to hear their side of the story?

Basically these groups are expressing their rights, about the situation they are in and the suffering they are going through, not promoting homosexual behaviour as some ethno-religious politicians are claiming it to be.

As long it is an expression of their rights as citizens, without significantly eroding the rights of others, there is no need for coercive or hateful actions against them.

Besides, the majority of Malaysians are conservative and it is unlikely that an event such as Seksualiti Merdeka can suddenly erode the social norms of the majority. It will, no doubt, create awareness about the sufferings of minority groups.

As Malaysians living in a democratic and religious country, we should learn how to reason with people we might not agree with, without being dictatorial and self-righteous.

The religious landscape in Malaysia has taken a self-righteous political and cultural dimension, losing the essence of spirituality such as love and compassion, especially for the marginalised.

Unless the religious and political elites have a change of mindset, religious extremism is going to rear its ugly head in the years to come and this will be the greater threat to the security of Malaysia than Seksualiti Merdeka.