Changing the way I see the LGBT community

I grew up in a family where  no one is gay and even if we did have a gay person in the family they might be a very long distant relations and we do not have to see them every day.
I grew up in a family  gays are considered to be a source of entertainment, something to be laughed at. People who are simply funny on television or comedy bars.

And while I did not realize that I was trained to think in a manner that degrades another- things became clearer to me when I was given the opportunity to take part in an LGBT community named MCC-Baguio who is committed to protecting the right and freedom of fellow LGBTQ.

I always claim that I am a strong defender of LGBT rights, but I have to admit that there are a lot of things that I still need to know about the community I have sworn to respect and protect.

In the Philippines, while some say that they tolerate gays and have them as friends--when asked if they would like to have a gay or lesbian child--they will still hesitate- almost to the point of praying not to have a child...if they are going to become a homosexual or lesbian..

Some have even gone to the extent of describing that homosexuals are like people who are deaf, blind or mute- and while parents would profess that they could accept their child if they are gay--they could not get past the idea that if given a choice they would rather not have them for the fear that their child will suffer and be ridiculed by the people around them.

I feel sadness in my heart when I hear these kinds of statements, statements where in some will claim they will tolerate gays just as long as they will not wear a female attire- there are so many conditions presented to gays and lesbians...even up to the present time the Sultan of Brunei in 2014 has announced that any gay couple could be stoned to death.

While we interact with friends who are gays, lesbians, transgenders, queers, bisexuals...how far are we willing to support them and protect them when an oppressor like a big and strong religious denomination will attack them...how far and how long are we willing to speak up for them if we hear that they have certain rights that will be violated just because of their sexual orientation.

I ask myself that, because as I get deeper into understanding who my friends are, I am faced with opposition  with my own family and friends.

Some freely mock gays online, calling them names, providing Meme or stating ideas that are really offensive to the LGBT community- some will even profess that they do no want to mingle with homosexuals because they will go to hell according to their pastor...

And while I freely call-out anyone who tries to disrespect my LGBT friends...how many of us have the guts to do that?

My eyes are now open to the segregation that is happening--and while we interact with the LGBT community everyday--and while we claim to be their friends--how strong are we when it comes to defending them--how strong is our conviction to fight a society that continues to discriminate and provide  limiting labels...

The exposure to the LGBT community is helping me learn, there are so many things that I have misunderstood about who they are, what they are--and I feel so much ashamed because I was one of them--

We cannot claim to be an intelligent society if we are still segregating people based on  who they choose to love...

I was one of those people who laughed at them--in the past I was one of those who just believe that gays are just entertainment--and that what they go through is something that I could just ignore just because it is not affecting me.

But as I become friends with them- when I began listening to them- their fears, their worries, their beliefs- what they do, -who  they are with their families, with their lovers- their pain and the societies expectations from them I began to feel the pain and while I will never be able to understand fully what they are going through it became important to me to want to learn more.

There are so many wrong conceptions taught to us over the years by the media and by the books that we read and the current pervading norms especially in the Philippines who claim to have a Christian way of love for one another.

I have learned that we cannot stereotype or label the LGBT community, there is no one character, attribution or idea that we must give them because each have their own identity. 

We cannot say someone is simply gay because of this or that, and we must not at all cost judge someone based on what their sexual preferences or orientation is.

It was a revelation to me, at times we are quick to call someone  a 'whore" or immoral just because they do not follow certain conducts and rules  created to us by a certain group...we easily forget the humanity- the core to which these principles work...

I know now that I still have so much work to do--we have so much work to do in advancing the rights of the LGBT community and while they are now everywhere and a lot of people are coming out--there are those who are still in hiding--ridiculing themselves for being who they are--hating themselves for what has been given to them--denying themselves the happiness they so rightly deserve...

Just because the current society that we have--does not want to understand-- despite all of this I still firmly believe that the willingness to learn will go a long long way...

I open my mind to new information I receive every day--new thoughts, new impressions, new ideas each day--an open mind and a willingness to increase what we know- the willingness to accommodate the fact that we do not know everything and that the truth changes every day...

One day at a time for the LGBT community--until we get there--until the world will finally UNDERSTAND.