Gay tutorial on Malay TV

With thanks to Roy for transcribing the voice-over and dialogue, and thanks to Thomas and Ken Lee for translating into English. 

Peaceful greetings be upon you. The gay or homosexual issue has gotten wide exposure recently following the Prime Minister's revelation during an interview that the government is now more open to employing this community even in important posts. His message is that the current really forces the government to value each and every talent regardless of their lifestyle. But, many are protesting on the basis of faith and social importance. Many also reject genetics as having a role in determining whether a person is gay. So what is the determining factor?

For this, Mazlina Mazlan has met with 2 homosexuals.

Zac (Chubby female with face partly hidden by a cap and out of focus. Relatively low, male-like,, mumbling voice) : The truth is,) I am a lesbian. In my heart, I know I am one. My feelings are that of a lesbian's. I want to live with my partner. I also hope to have a child, whether by adoption (fade out...)

(Fade in.....)

Helmi (medium built, hairy legs, effeminate lisp) : He was a homosexual. He came at a time when I needed someone who believed in me, that I was telling the truth about my feelings and I did not lie to anyone about my feelings.

These honest admissions were made by 2 young Malays. Zac, 30 years of age, born a woman, admits to being attracted to her own kind since she was schooling. At age 13 while studying in a girls' school, Zac fell in love with her first lover. 4 years ago, Zac got married and took on the title of husband. It was organised to cheers all around by the gay community here.

Zac : The urge to be one with her, I feel, was because I was getting older. She also said, rightly, we have been together for 6 years, we have our own home, right? So I thought about it, might as well, lah, continue. So we got a group together, got witnesses that Zac and Ira will become one forever, not (Translator's comment: something's not quite right here) as husband and wife or as a couple who's in love with each other, want to love with each other. That's all. No Hadi [1], no priests, nothing, lah. After that, we exchanged rings. The ring is still with me.

However, the match did not last long. They split up. The emptiness in her heart has recently been filled with the presence of Sharon, a Chinese woman whom she loves dearly because she understands the contents of her heart. They now live together.

For Helmi, the teasing and ridicule from friends who made fun of his soft behaviour pressurized him tremendously. He turned to the Internet to find the support he yearned for. In the cyber chat rooms, Helmi met people of the same fate. Because he was comfortable being with them, Helmi decided to become a gay man.

Helmi - I shared everything, my feelings from my life. We went out together. He helped me in my studies. From there, I got my confidence back and I got excellent results in school. From then on, I felt I was -- what's the word? -- potential for living, I. . . I've been able to live.

Although it has existed for a long time here, the homosexual or gay group got wide exposure following the announcement that the government was prepared to employ them in the public sector. During an interview in the latest issue of Time magazine recently, PM Goh Chok Tong said, among other things, "We are born this way and they are born that way. But they are like you and me". This statement has raised hot debates. Pro-gay groups characterised it as a progressive acknowledgement.

However, many are stridently opposing it because they believe that step will only destroy Singapore through the collapse of people's morals. We get the views of the public on this question.

Hassan Bek (Indian, balding, middle-aged man with glasses) : Should be open to all these lifestyles, lah. We should give everybody a chance. Let's everyone live and let us live, lah.

Latifah Abdullah (bespectacled, fair young adult Muslim in a tudung [2]) : All religions, be it Christians, don't agree about “gayism” because we have seen in history, Sodom and Gomorrah, what has happened, right?

Sylvia Chang (chubby, middle-aged bespectacled housewife-type) : Just feel it's uncomfortable, if I know my neighbour, my colleague is a gay, then I don't know how to react.

Ruby Yusof (clone of Latifah Abdullah above) : Ya-lah, I would be very worried if the government accepted such people, hmmm, as if encouraging it, I feel, ya?

What is "homosexual"? Is it an illness which needs treatment? Or a natural desire which is contained in a gay person's genes. Or is it a lifestyle choice and hence, may be changed at any time. We raised these questions with the President of the Singapore Psychiatric Association of Singapore, Dr Francis Ngui.

Ngui : There is a growing support and scientific studies that show that homosexuality is a condition that occurs naturally. There are others who feel that it can be a choice, to decide to choose your sexual orientation. The environment can perhaps play a part on the orientation, it be (sic) on the critical age for some of them, maybe going through crisis or stress of some sort. They may be uncertain which line to follow. They're not sure whether they're attracted to guys or girls. So for them, they could be influenced to basically jump on one side or the other, depending on what the environment is like for them.

Several studies in the US found that about 10% of the community in various world population groups are homosexuals.

Our quick search on the Internet found hundreds of web pages specially for the gay and lesbian community filled with the latest developments in the homosexual world. For example, special places of entertainment for them, personal ads, as well as advice about health matters such as HIV AIDS. We found that most of the ones who participate on these pages are authors including those who are active in the arts.

However, in an economy based on knowledge today, the talent of every individual is needed, including that of the gay community. This is also the stand of the government. But this is not surprising, according to the director of an international bank, Mr Bahren Shaari.

Bahren Shaari : From way back perhaps, the religious comprehension, skin colour, lifestyle and the way a person thought was not so important in the private sector. What was more important was the talent of that person. If we find that a person is gay or homosexual, it doesn't jeopardise his work in the industry.

However, what about the collapse of morals and character of the Singapore people? Isn't it just as important in building a progressive Singapore? What about the views of Islam in this question? The answer, in a while...

- ADVERTISEMENT BREAK -

Did you know that there are more than 300 web pages specially for homosexual Muslims? Their aim is to give support and space for communicating. Furthermore, most of these pages assure that the homosexual lifestyle is not necessarily in conflict with Islam. Yesterday, the National Council of Churches Singapore has stated their stand in forbidding homosexual conduct. What about Islam?

Follow the second report of Mazlina Mazlan.

* * * * *

Even though they are sure about their choice to live a homosexual lifestyle, both Zac and Helmi admit that they are frequently hit by conflicts about their own identities. Firstly, about family. They do not want to disappoint their family members who are unable to accept their lifestyle. Secondly, about Islam, both of them admit that they are still fervant in following their religious obligations.

Helmi : I feel like I'm living in 2 worlds, ya? Umm, according to my family and according to my capabilities. Two different worlds. But in the two different worlds, I can achieve one common goal. Family harmony. That is most important. If they are not around, if they do not give me support to accept this reality, I don't think I can feel so calm now.

Zac : I too do not want to show that I am a lesbian, because I know that it would confirm it ... hearts would break. But as a Muslim, the principles of Islam have 5 precepts, 4 precepts I have completed. Only one more for holy [???] Not that my heart is not open to it. Just that it's not time yet.

But Islam forbids any homosexual contact. According to the Assistant Mufti and Head of the Mufti Office, MUIS, Ustaz Patris Bakaram,

Ustaz PB : There are no theologians who differ or give a different view about the unlawfulness of the matter. There is no second choice, there is no third choice. The heavenly duty of a man is towards a woman. Conversely, a woman's is towards a man. Moreover, every person is blessed with the potential as well as certain physical attributes, ya? Where the sexual contact is by way of heavenly duty is to produce offspring, ya? To expand reproduction and continue the line of mankind in a legitimate way in a situation of purity. But when the sexual contact, or same-sex contact occurs in an environment which cannot produce offspring, then in the face of Islam, it is considered as something which breaches the heavenly duty, something which cannot be accepted. Because Allah All-Mighty has clarified that the natural occurrence which has been determined by Him cannot be changed or altered.

Nevertheless, he added that the people cannot ridicule this community.

Ustaz PB : The Prophet did not teach us that when a friend, a relative is perhaps confused, perhaps mistaken when making decisions in his life, who committed minor mistakes, the Prophet never taught us to ridicule. So I see the same thing with a community which has homosexual tendencies like this. Ehrr, in Islam, seeing their heavenly duty has been contaminated. And in Islam, seeing it as an illness which must be cured, medicated, ya? So our role is together. The first extreme in cursing them cannot be. The 2nd extreme is that we have to continue to let go. Meaning, what will be, let it be. That is his choice, his own desire. [But] that cannot be a form of support which is endorsed by our religion.

Dr Francis Ngui said, the sensitive approach is to help those who are lost about their sexuality.

Ngui : For many of them, they feel quite lost. Where to turn to? Ehrr, most of the time, the focus on helping these individuals would be to gradually, ehrr, get the support of the family. Go through with them what are the advantages and disadvantages. Whether it's advantageous from the society level, from the family point of view, from their religious point of view. And then the...help them to prioritise what they really want, and, ehrr, make the decision, and after make the decision to take responsibility for that decision.

More immediately, more Malay organisations need to come forward to play an active role in helping the gay community. This is because at this time, only 3 organisations - that is the Al-Hijrah Division AMP, Family Assistance Centre, PPIS Mendaki and Club Mewadah are running counselling services and giving motivation to the said community.

However, what is certain is the current trend which has been brought in [to Singapore] together with globalisation which happened to all advanced nations. According to the research done by Carnegie Mellon University in the US a few years ago, the economically advanced countries give priority to 3 factors: technology, talent and tolerance. On the question of tolerance, the study said that if a country is [tolerant] about the existence of gay people, then it is tolerant of whatever sort of persons. They also acknowledge that this open attitude to diversity could be the key to [. . . ?] in a country as small as Singapore.

Unnamed, late middle-aged moustachioed bespectacled Malay man : The open attitude is up to the industry sector to accept them. If they can control themselves, even if they gay, if get close to those people, be accepted? I feel it’s not a problem.

Latifah Abdullah : If want democracy or benefits, people who wear the tudung, people who want to study, people who want, what is that, who have to be given, what could it be, relaxation.

Greg Chang Abdullah (Bald, goateed, bespectacled American Chinese Muslim convert) : You're bringin' up your kids, you have to instil in them a good sense of decision makin', and let them experience it for themselves, and if they have that good foundation, they'll make the right decisions. You can't shelter them forever, because it is a global world.

Bahren Shaari : We see from the globalisation trend, where each individual is given, has rights to choose their lifestyle and activities which they like, as long as it doesn’t breach other peoples rights, other people’s respect and the community’s interest. So if in those issues, or changes do not jeopardise the community’s interest, maybe its time for us to be more open.

So how is the Malay community going to face all other challenges that are brought in with globalisation? But at the same time, keeping the pure values of Islam and the Malay race?

Ustaz PB : [Even though] we as humans live in an age with such quick changes, we have options. Whether to isolate ourselves. We have a choice also whether to fight the current. Or thirdly to find space to develop our lives even further.

To isolate oneself isn’t a smart choice. We will be seen as a community which is not brave, ya? to give contributions like what I have said just now. The 2nd option also isn’t a smart choice. For us to continue to hang on with tenacity, with, or more accurately, with brute force, to attempt to block all, chances are, because at the end of it, we will lose. At the end, we will become tired in our own efforts, ya?

But the option that we should take is that we should find space and we should try to change whatever changes there are in a more positive direction.

© Yawning Bread 

Footnotes

1. A Hadi is a Muslim religious elder
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2. A tudung is a headscarf that many Muslim women feel required to wear
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