Sexuality and equality

COMMENT It has been reported that Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew ( below ) recently made his most comprehensive statements about homosexuality in an interview. When he was asked about the possibility of having gay members of parliament, Lee answered, “As far as I’m concerned, if she does her work as an MP, she looks after her constituents, she makes sensible speeches, she’s making a contribution, her private life is her life, that’s that.”

People in the 21st century have a better understanding about human rights and equality than in the past, but not most Malaysians. When Azwan Ismail came out publicly as a gay man, he was attacked by his fellow Muslim brothers and sisters. His coming out and his honesty about who he is not only has invited official censure but also death threats.

I hope this unfortunate incident has opened the eyes of many indifferent citizens who naively and wrongly believe that no one discriminates against gay people in Malaysia, or there is no such thing as homophobia in Malaysia.

To pursue equality among human beings indicates the recognition of the fact that not all people are the same. The idea of equality recognises the diversity and pluralistic nature of human society. It is simply because equality becomes an issue only among people who are different. If everyone is identical, there is no need to talk about equality because identical entities are equal by definition. When we promote the idea of equality, it means we recognise differences and embrace pluralism.

Rights and choices

In Malaysia, just like many developing countries, many gay people are afraid to come out to proclaim their sexual orientations because they fear becoming subjects of unjust treatment due to their sexual orientation.

Anyone who claims to espouse human rights, as well as any government who proclaims to protect the liberty of its citizens, assume that people have the rights to their personal choices to live their lives as long as they harm no one.

Our sexual orientations are essential to our beings, and they are not a matter of choice. But for the sake of argument, even if we assume that people choose their sexual orientation, as long as they harm no one, no one should be discriminated due to his or her sexual orientation; let alone no scientific research has demonstrated that one's sexual orientation has any bearing on one's competence as an employee, parent, politician, or citizen.

People who live in this modern world need to recognise that in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association voted to no longer term homosexuality as a mental disorder and it has been used as a key reference work across the globe.

And while gay marriage is recognised in many countries in Europe and anti-discrimination laws continue to be bolstered in many other countries, many Malaysians remain ignorant. Gay people are still objects of fear, ridicule and contempt and hence it is no surprise that gay people as a minority group are hiding in the closet, and it is no accident that we hardly know any gay public figures in Malaysia.

M'sia long way to go

Malaysia is backward in many aspects. Racism is thriving, religious bigotry is prevalent, freedom and equality is still a dream. Many people complain we have no press freedom and our right to know is denied by the government, and yet, some of these people can easily turn around to discriminate gay people and deny gay peoples' right to express their gay identity without suffering the harms inflicted on them.

There can be no true civilisation until everyone is treated with respect and dignity. If we embrace the ideal of freedom and justice, we need to cherish equality as the grand principle. One of the ways of advancing from barbarity to civilisation is to recognise that human beings are not homogeneous and we do not need to be the same, but dignity of individuals needs to be upheld within the context of equal treatment and equal worth.

To say homosexuality is wrong, is to demean the lives of gay people - who never choose their sexual orientations - and is ignorant of the complexities of human sexuality.