I'm actually happy that Marina Mahathir had made a stand and cleared the stinkin' confusion that was dumb in nature regarding the whole subject of "Seksualiti Merdeka" (Sexuality Independence). People shouldn't be so narrow-minded about these things.

The event was first launched in 2008, with an attendance of about 400-500 people. But this year, some groups were so hung up over the idea that it was a doorway to free wild sex type of behavior, which was utter nonsense, because that doorway had long been opened since the dawn of men and women who roamed this Earth after being thrown down from Heaven.

The fact that the event was aimed to recognize the human rights of individuals regardless of their sexual orientation seem to go completely over their heads. Oh wait, they don't even care about the human rights of homosexuals and transgendered individuals because these people need to be brought back to the 'right way of living' that is stamped with the approval of the holiest of the only deity. It's understandable that conservatives have a way of living that abides to a set of ancient law they hold sacred, but to think that they could control and demean the sexuality of others is of the highest arrogance. It's hopeless to even try with people who are content with their fixed beliefs.

Do you know that individuals belonging to LBGT *(lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender) community face discrimination daily which in turn reduce their quality of living? Everyone's too busy judging and be all up in their sexual orientation business that they forget that these are human beings they're dealing with. The great thing about non-straight folks is that, they're actually not whiny unlike those who always have to cast the first stone at about anything.

We Malaysians, also realize that the issue is just too sensitive to yak about because people just don't want to admit that there are gay people in a god-fearing country such as ours. We're too perfect and holy so how can there be gays! If there are gays, then we must teach them that they can change! I know that some folks feel that this 'budaya' is just 'songsang' and can't be entertained for a microsecond. However most oppose of positions that you are inclined to take in the case of homosexuality and bisexuality, these are the lives of others that you're putting your stinkin' feet into.

I've watched a story on our national TV of a daughter who had to run away from home because she couldn't pretend to have feelings for a guy that her parents have chosen for her to marry. Can't find the source, but I'm just taking this as an example. When your own daughter finally comes out of the closet, it is understandably an excruciating experience for conservative parents to go through. But it cuts both ways and often the individual is the one feeling condemned as she is thought about negatively, because of her sexual orientation.

Her crime is: How dare she has the hots for a same sex person instead of a real hot-blooded man. If the parents attempts to have an open mind, then it is a small step that will be a tremendous move for both parents and daughter to get along with acceptance and understanding. But acceptance usually comes within the individual themselves and in a country like Malaysia, sadly, it'd be a long time before we get to see an acceptance from a national level.

The last time, someone declared he was gay here, he had to go undercover because of death threats being thrown at him by lunatics. So now, if your son/daughter is not the straightest tool in the shed, you're going to annihilate them too after seeing that they've seem to lost all senses? That's harsh you say because, well.. you'd take the proper measures such as brainwashing them first by giving lectures on natural sexual lives of human beings versus 'adat songsang orang Barat', right?

Anyway, for those who truly care, Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual sexuality rights festival that aims to:

1. To affirm sexuality rights as a human right
2. To empower individuals and communities of all sexualities
3. To create platforms for advocacy of sexuality rights

The first time I heard about this event, I had a curious thought about the irony of existing during times where we homo sapiens are so bothered by the private sexual lives of others that we have to learn to affirm people's sexuality as a human right. All this while, it is clear that human beings are sexual - hetero, homo, bi or trans, whatever.

But since we're too freakin' civilized now to recognize that people may not necessarily be straight like lucky you and me, we're now shouting for laws and regulations to make sure that sexuality is expressed only when specific genitals are present on the bodies of participating married persons who must be married to each other. What next? Teach people how to peel the banana skin before eating the banana fruit? Goodness, life is simple, but we're just too bloody complex.

In the words of Paul Newman, I shall end this post: I'm a supporter of gay rights. And not a closet supporter either. From the time I was a kid, I have never been able to understand attacks upon the gay community. There are so many qualities that make up a human being... by the time I get through with all the things that I really admire about people, what they do with their private parts is probably so low on the list that it is irrelevant.

Image Credit:
The Companions by Miyakawa Choshun
Jim's Watercolor Gallery

Malay Words And Their English Definitions:
Seksualiti = Sexuality
Merdeka = Independence
Budaya = Culture
Songsang = literally means 'inverted' but in this context, it means 'unnatural'
Adat = Customary behaviour and law
Orang = Human being or people
Barat = West
Adat songsang orang Barat = Unnatural (sexual behaviour) of Western people