Metanoia

Does it make you less of a human if you’re more of a woman than a man? From the glorious 1st world countries to the developing 3rd world countries, various individuals suffer and endure bigotry, discrimination, slander, cruel and sadistic assaults every day just because of their gender identity and sexual orientation. 

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transsexuals (LGBT) around the world combat discrimination and harassment 24/7. In fact, according to the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, homosexuality in more than 70 nations remains a criminal offence. Gay men and lesbians who expose themselves are at jeopardy to arrest, imprisonment, torture, and death penalty to the extent. With all these injustices, isn’t it difficult already for a woman to be trapped in a man’s body or for a man to be trapped in a woman’s body to live without acceptance from the world? A personal struggle added by societal discrimination, can normal person handle that? Thus, to all the LGBTs who fought hard and stood firm for their rights and what they believe in, I raise my glass to you. 

The Human Soul Exhibit which I attended last Wednesday, July 15, 2011, at the Alliance Francaise de Cebu in QC Pavillion featured the voices of the distinguished LGBT community; their life stories, transitions, struggles, experiences, their plea to fight against discrimination (and end its devious cycle eventually), and their cries to uplift their human rights. 

The said exhibit was really an eye-opening experience for me. All these time I have perceived that our country, the Philippines is a gay-friendly nation. However, upon listening to Jonas Bagas, the Vice Chairperson of TLF Share (a NGO providing safe sex education for gay men) who wholeheartedly opened up his life story and personal struggles, I came to the conclusion that the perception I had (and most of the people) was indeed just a myth. 

And yes, I agree with Sass Roganda, co-founder of the Society of Transsexual Women in the Philippines (STRAP), who believed that not only a change of law is needed to eradicate the abuses but a change of “mind” amongst the people as well. A lot of individuals do not know what LGBTs’ pleas are all about, what and who they are as a person, their struggles, and their human rights. They don’t understand them. As a result, persecution comes into play. 

This change of mind will only happen if the people are informed and educated. However, in our country, most of the teachers (not all) and the people are brought up in a way that they are accustomed to the conventional gender roles assigned to children by doctors at birth basing on the organ spotted between their legs in the first place. They grimace at children and people who go against the customs. So how can they be effective educators if they are prejudiced? A bountiful percentage of our country’s population are composed of Christians. And as we all know, most of the priests/pastors condemn people who stray away for the teachings of the Lord as reflected in the “Scripture”, e.g. “That He created man and woman.” (No lesbian and gay, neither bisexual nor transsexual.) Ironic isn’t it? They are supposed to be the people intended to lead peace, harmony and unity in the world, and to eradicate division and discrimination among the people. Since they teach us to love our neighbours and even our enemies, thus, they should also educate the people to love each other despite the “diversity”, and that we must accept and forgive each others‘“flaws”. 

Yes. Education will plays a great role in the chain action, as Humphrey Gorriceta (spokesperson for the National Federation of Filipinos living with HIV and AIDS) pointed out. With comprehension comes action, and this will open the door to the room of change – change of mind. However, a change of mind is not enough as well. Metanoia or a change of heart is also a requirement for the people who have “changed their minds” to “accept” their “new perspective” – because understanding doesn’t necessarily translate to acceptance. With acceptance, then we will realize that we are all created equal. All of us are human beings who need equal human rights. 

And if we really are all created equal… if it really doesn’t matter who we are or what we look like…or who we love… Should freedom have to wait any longer? Should equality be something we schedule? We are agents of change. We have the power to compel change. And so we must act now.