Embrace Difference - Celebrate Diversity
"If only gay people could stop feeling guilty for being different" is my tag line for Pink Dot 2011 in Singapore on the theme “Support Freedom to Love.” Credit must go to Boo Junfeng who directed the promotional video. As I repeated the line a number of times in its filming and further reflected upon it, I was made more aware of its meaning and significance.
The situation on homosexuality will most certainly be more favourable if more from the LGBTQ (lesbian,gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer} community could with courage come out of their closets and take pride and carry no guilt about their sexual orientation. If only more straight people could comprehend the wide spectrum of human sexuality and regard homosexuality as normal and natural and step forward to lend their support.
Pink Dot in its brief history has obtained credibility and gained favour. We are on the way to reach the tipping point just as the political rallies of the Opposition have demonstrated in the massive crowds that participated in the recent election. I recall how in the earlier political campaigns, I went sheepishly to join the small crowds who were fearful of standing in solidarity with the opposition. Changes have occurred dramatically and people proudly gave their votes to the opposition candidates. The same is going to happen on the issue of homosexuality. It is really getting better and it is merely a matter of time.
In voluntary service to the LGBTQ community through Free Community Church since its inception over seven years ago, I have observed the people who were assisted in eradicating guilt and achieving self-acceptance . With fear and trepidation they appeared and discovered courage and liberation. I remember a lesbian teacher who pulled her baseball cap down to try to hide her face and now able to stand before the congregation to witness to Christian truth. Likewise, the gay university student who came by himself and sat quietly afraid to engage with others now sings in the musical team to encourage other worshipers.
It is striking that FCC singularly “ affirms that same-sex and transgendered relationships, when lived out in accord with the love commandments of Jesus, are consistent with Christian faith and teachings. Indeed, we find discrimination based on negative judgment of others, fear of difference, and homophobia inconsistent with Christian teachings.” It is a strong statement on freedom to love.
LGBTQ need a secure place to help them to stop feeling guilty and build self-acceptance. Many others in society need a safe place where they no longer need to face discrimination and condemnation. The celebration of Pink Dot is a stage towards a society which is on the road to gay-affirming.
Self-acceptance is essentially what is needed for LGBTQ people. Why do we have to succumb to the dictates of cultural conditioning enforced by anachronistic religious teaching. Much has been attributed to what is taught about same-sex relations particularly in the traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Historical-critical studies of these religions and their sacred writings have shown how they themselves are culturally bound and historically related and each claim universal and timeless relevancy. History records that contrary to sacred texts, religions have rejected patriarchy, racism, slavery, and violence. Prejudice based on sex, race, sexual orientation and economic status are no longer just and valid. This came about through the fresh interpretation of the sacred texts from the perspectives of the feminists, racial minorities, poor, and queer people.
We do not have to bear the heavy burden of guilt that the conservative community has placed upon the shoulders of LGBTQ because of its minority and marginalized position. We all must accept ourselves by embracing difference and celebrating diversity.
Due to the inter-connected and globalized community we know now how a growing majority of people are gay-affirming even though LGBTQ remain always a significant minority of the population. That the numbers of LGBTQ people are not increasing proportionately itself is a mystery. We have escalating numbers of those who understand sexual orientation and acknowledge same-sex relationships as natural and normal.
We are making progress in embracing differences. Each one of us is unique and different. A gay professor gave me a gift of a tee-shirt with the line: "Gay fine by me." I took a picture and published it in my memoir to declare my positive view on gays. Just last month I attended a retreat of Methodist pastors from Malaysia and Singapore. I took along a tee-shirt with the words "Same-same" in front and "but different" at the back. A number of the pastors recognized the statement that I was making and quietly agreed with it.
I did not realise that over forty years ago when I was the Bishop, I was appointing gay and lesbian Methodist pastors and missionaries to serve faithfully in the churches and schools throughout Malaysia and Singapore. It was then an unwritten policy of "Don't ask, don’t tell." But it was known then and even now that they were violating the teaching of the Church which still regards homosexuality as a sin. That too is in the process of changing and rather rapidly. I am certain that there are a number of gay and lesbian clergy and laypersons who are serving in different religious institutions today.
This is an exciting time and we are being caught in the tide of diversity in the affairs of men and women, straight or gay. Each one of us is differently gifted and has a contribution to make in the human community both local and global. The appeal is to get rid of guilt. The call is for self-acceptance about who we are and what we can become. It is to maximize our potential and become that kind person who live and work in community which is mutually accepting, caring and supporting one another in the creating of a better future for all.
Those of you in the LGBTQ community who love and accept yourself and relish the freedom that it brings have a special responsibility to help others who are still struggling to resolve their gay identity. You are able to save them from their loneliness, suffering and misery.
Those of us who are straight should regard all people are of sacred worth who deserve respect and ought to have freedom to love and to become who they have been created to be - unique, different and distinctive.
Together we share the awesome task to shape a community which is more caring and compassionate, more free and just that strives for the well-being of all.
Participate in Pink Dot 2011 Support the Freedom to Love on June 18 and make Singapore more open-minded and inclusive.
YAP KIM HAO
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Singapore General Election 2011
ARE YOU LISTENING?
Throughout the General Election campaign and its aftermath the word that kept popping up is LISTEN.
Everyone claims they want to listen. Candidates from the opposition initiated this approach by stating that they have been listening to the voters and responding to their cries. They then listed the litany of woes of those who especially find their present living situation difficult and the future bleak. Government candidates had to defend and even apologise that they have not listened enough to the grievances of the citizens and promise to do better the next time. The opposition pledged further to continue to listen carefully and help them to speak for them. Most of the citizens who have arrived with their different degrees of comfort are indifferent and felt they do not need to listen and support the status quo and voted as they have voted decades ago.
It is necessary for us to listen to all the classes of people in the community. We are pleased to listen to those who succeed and able to manage their lives. We need to listen and empathise with those who are struggling for the basic necessities of life in the midst of our relative affluence. The suffering of others in our human community is also mine as a fellow human being. When one suffers all share in the suffering.
Some issues have surfaced in a stark manner that need to be addressed for the total well-being of the nation. Are we really listening to what the people are saying. All will have to work together in the solving of the issues that we hear about.
1. High Salaries. We have reached beyond the embarrassing stage that those who hold political office are paid the highest salaries in the world and beyond comparison with the more developed and larger countries. It is on the scale which is truly “out of this world.” Others even regard it as obscene and a form of corruption. It can no longer be justifiable by any means or measure. The opposition has shown convincingly that they were able to recruit equally outstanding and talented people who were not tempted with astronomical remunerations.
2. Casinos. While it is true that the government revenues have increased significantly and that a large number of new jobs were created, the question remains whether the gambling industry is the one that we need to engage in and the kind of jobs that we need to train workers for. The social costs are alarming and unbearable. The human/family lives are too precious to be squandered. The “house” is calibrated to win always and millions of dollar are being siphoned out daily to the owners of our casinos. Lives are being sacrificed at the casino altars
3. Minimum Wage. Wages need to consider the living wage for our workers and their families. Foreign workers who compare their own living conditions in their own countries are willing reluctantly to accept lower than living wages while there are here by themselves. Corporations in our borderless economic world will seek out countries that pay the lowest wage for workers in order to maximise their profits. Without a minimum age policy we are exploiting poor foreign workers and enriching the companies especially in the manufacturing sector. Human resource is the one that we can provide for we lack natural resources.
4. Gerrymandering. It is obvious enough that there is gerrymandering to ensure the continued control of those in power. Whatever name we use it is a deliberate attempt through the electioneering process to benefit the party in power. The degree and the manner which we have done in the GRC’s have made its continuance highly problematic. We do not train people for political office by getting them to hang on to the coat-tails of successful office holders and bypass the proper election process of having the candidate to contest in his or her own single constituency.
5. Widening Gap. The ever widening gap between the rich and poor has no other option but to narrow. When the poor cannot afford to retire and continue to work in order to survive we see that could be one’s fate when one retires. When we depend upon our children’s medisave to pay our hospital bills we are spending not only our children’s inheritance but their present savings. The need for more equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth is crying out from the more deprived segments of our community.
6. Social capital. When I watch the tremendous crowds attending the political rallies, I look at other massive crowds gathered in many parts of our world today demonstrating for change and succumbing even to the violent overthrow of authoritarian regimes that have been in power for decades. There is an urgency to build up the social capital of people who are committed to peaceful change. We need people to show fairness and to commit to compassion and to engage in caring for one another.
These are the pressing issues that come to mind when we listen to the voices from all directions when we go through a general election. They are the voices for change. If changes do not occur fast enough violence becomes the only option and we all suffer. We listen to the pleas and the cries of the people who suffer from the pressures of these problems. We can eavesdrop and listen to the voices from afar and they are reaching our shores. The listening process must necessarily lead to action to solve these issues in our society. Are you listening?
Throughout the General Election campaign and its aftermath the word that kept popping up is LISTEN.
Everyone claims they want to listen. Candidates from the opposition initiated this approach by stating that they have been listening to the voters and responding to their cries. They then listed the litany of woes of those who especially find their present living situation difficult and the future bleak. Government candidates had to defend and even apologise that they have not listened enough to the grievances of the citizens and promise to do better the next time. The opposition pledged further to continue to listen carefully and help them to speak for them. Most of the citizens who have arrived with their different degrees of comfort are indifferent and felt they do not need to listen and support the status quo and voted as they have voted decades ago.
It is necessary for us to listen to all the classes of people in the community. We are pleased to listen to those who succeed and able to manage their lives. We need to listen and empathise with those who are struggling for the basic necessities of life in the midst of our relative affluence. The suffering of others in our human community is also mine as a fellow human being. When one suffers all share in the suffering.
Some issues have surfaced in a stark manner that need to be addressed for the total well-being of the nation. Are we really listening to what the people are saying. All will have to work together in the solving of the issues that we hear about.
1. High Salaries. We have reached beyond the embarrassing stage that those who hold political office are paid the highest salaries in the world and beyond comparison with the more developed and larger countries. It is on the scale which is truly “out of this world.” Others even regard it as obscene and a form of corruption. It can no longer be justifiable by any means or measure. The opposition has shown convincingly that they were able to recruit equally outstanding and talented people who were not tempted with astronomical remunerations.
2. Casinos. While it is true that the government revenues have increased significantly and that a large number of new jobs were created, the question remains whether the gambling industry is the one that we need to engage in and the kind of jobs that we need to train workers for. The social costs are alarming and unbearable. The human/family lives are too precious to be squandered. The “house” is calibrated to win always and millions of dollar are being siphoned out daily to the owners of our casinos. Lives are being sacrificed at the casino altars
3. Minimum Wage. Wages need to consider the living wage for our workers and their families. Foreign workers who compare their own living conditions in their own countries are willing reluctantly to accept lower than living wages while there are here by themselves. Corporations in our borderless economic world will seek out countries that pay the lowest wage for workers in order to maximise their profits. Without a minimum age policy we are exploiting poor foreign workers and enriching the companies especially in the manufacturing sector. Human resource is the one that we can provide for we lack natural resources.
4. Gerrymandering. It is obvious enough that there is gerrymandering to ensure the continued control of those in power. Whatever name we use it is a deliberate attempt through the electioneering process to benefit the party in power. The degree and the manner which we have done in the GRC’s have made its continuance highly problematic. We do not train people for political office by getting them to hang on to the coat-tails of successful office holders and bypass the proper election process of having the candidate to contest in his or her own single constituency.
5. Widening Gap. The ever widening gap between the rich and poor has no other option but to narrow. When the poor cannot afford to retire and continue to work in order to survive we see that could be one’s fate when one retires. When we depend upon our children’s medisave to pay our hospital bills we are spending not only our children’s inheritance but their present savings. The need for more equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth is crying out from the more deprived segments of our community.
6. Social capital. When I watch the tremendous crowds attending the political rallies, I look at other massive crowds gathered in many parts of our world today demonstrating for change and succumbing even to the violent overthrow of authoritarian regimes that have been in power for decades. There is an urgency to build up the social capital of people who are committed to peaceful change. We need people to show fairness and to commit to compassion and to engage in caring for one another.
These are the pressing issues that come to mind when we listen to the voices from all directions when we go through a general election. They are the voices for change. If changes do not occur fast enough violence becomes the only option and we all suffer. We listen to the pleas and the cries of the people who suffer from the pressures of these problems. We can eavesdrop and listen to the voices from afar and they are reaching our shores. The listening process must necessarily lead to action to solve these issues in our society. Are you listening?
Friday, May 6, 2011
BORN FREE
Right to be Free
The Cooling Off Day after a hectic period of political campaigning is a time to pause and reflect. The whole nation became a classroom when issues were vigorously debated in order to capture the hearts and minds of the electorate. Analysis in the new media which naturally embodies more freedom brings about the important and essential role of freedom of expression in the body politic. But the academic community where one would expect should play a more objective role is clouded by the political climate they had to work under.
It is heartening to read the articles especially in The Online Citizen and The Temasek Review and responsible bloggers on salient issues like honour and chivalry, power and responsibility. In the flush of freedom they have shared their candid insights without fear or favour.
In my reading today I chanced to read the Asian classic published back in 1999, “Development as Freedom” by Amartya Sen. It made pointed reference then to what is being reflected at this time.
Amartya Sen in the chapter “The Importance of Democracy” in his book reminded me of the significance between political freedom and economic needs.
They are often contrasted and one is called to trade-off freedom for the sake of wealth. So we hear the cries in the election rallies that life is more than just increasing GDP.
The author argues against the approach to “undermine the relevance of political freedom because the economic needs are so urgent.” He calls this the "Lee Thesis" after Lee Kuan Yew which claims that civil and political freedom hamper economic growth and development. On the contrary, the writer contends there is not only a relevance but an interconnection and that freedom is more urgent and basic and fundamental.
He further refutes the observation that authoritarian governments have a faster rate of economic growth. He believes that there are other factors that we have to take into consideration for growth. Development is not to be measured only in terms of dollars and cents. Hence the shouts for consideration of other factors than the drive for wealth accumulation.
The call is to understand the impact of political freedom in the lives of the citizens. The large crowd participating in the political rallies and coffee-shops indicate its importance when given the opportunity to exercise their right to express themselves. We have to acknowledge especially the new media for making this possible.
The positive value of freedom is in the formation of values and goals. The openness to discuss issues by the people has to be sustained. Those in authority and who serve are to listen to what people say and face their criticisms and ready to apologise always when they are wrong in order to merit their electoral support. It is only beginning to happen. It is heartening that at the beginning of the election campaign the attempts to smear were snuffed out, incivility in personal attacks were crushed and threats were muted. We are moving in the direction of the more gracious level of discourse. The tears shed are signs of care and compassion for the suffering of those who are being discriminated upon and show we have a heart.
Open discussion leads to the formation of values and priorities of economic needs themselves. No one assuming power can claim a personal right to rule and through self-authentication. Credible people have to earn their right to rule. Leaders rule upon the consent of the citizens. People need to be free to choose the kind of government they want and the economic needs they seek.
Essentially political freedom and civil rights are important on their own and need no justification. People must be given the freedom to lead their own lives and to have the opportunity to participate freely in deciding their political destiny.
May the values, priorities and goals that emerge through an election continue to be reviewed, evaluated and decided upon by the free citizens in a free nation.
The Cooling Off Day after a hectic period of political campaigning is a time to pause and reflect. The whole nation became a classroom when issues were vigorously debated in order to capture the hearts and minds of the electorate. Analysis in the new media which naturally embodies more freedom brings about the important and essential role of freedom of expression in the body politic. But the academic community where one would expect should play a more objective role is clouded by the political climate they had to work under.
It is heartening to read the articles especially in The Online Citizen and The Temasek Review and responsible bloggers on salient issues like honour and chivalry, power and responsibility. In the flush of freedom they have shared their candid insights without fear or favour.
In my reading today I chanced to read the Asian classic published back in 1999, “Development as Freedom” by Amartya Sen. It made pointed reference then to what is being reflected at this time.
Amartya Sen in the chapter “The Importance of Democracy” in his book reminded me of the significance between political freedom and economic needs.
They are often contrasted and one is called to trade-off freedom for the sake of wealth. So we hear the cries in the election rallies that life is more than just increasing GDP.
The author argues against the approach to “undermine the relevance of political freedom because the economic needs are so urgent.” He calls this the "Lee Thesis" after Lee Kuan Yew which claims that civil and political freedom hamper economic growth and development. On the contrary, the writer contends there is not only a relevance but an interconnection and that freedom is more urgent and basic and fundamental.
He further refutes the observation that authoritarian governments have a faster rate of economic growth. He believes that there are other factors that we have to take into consideration for growth. Development is not to be measured only in terms of dollars and cents. Hence the shouts for consideration of other factors than the drive for wealth accumulation.
The call is to understand the impact of political freedom in the lives of the citizens. The large crowd participating in the political rallies and coffee-shops indicate its importance when given the opportunity to exercise their right to express themselves. We have to acknowledge especially the new media for making this possible.
The positive value of freedom is in the formation of values and goals. The openness to discuss issues by the people has to be sustained. Those in authority and who serve are to listen to what people say and face their criticisms and ready to apologise always when they are wrong in order to merit their electoral support. It is only beginning to happen. It is heartening that at the beginning of the election campaign the attempts to smear were snuffed out, incivility in personal attacks were crushed and threats were muted. We are moving in the direction of the more gracious level of discourse. The tears shed are signs of care and compassion for the suffering of those who are being discriminated upon and show we have a heart.
Open discussion leads to the formation of values and priorities of economic needs themselves. No one assuming power can claim a personal right to rule and through self-authentication. Credible people have to earn their right to rule. Leaders rule upon the consent of the citizens. People need to be free to choose the kind of government they want and the economic needs they seek.
Essentially political freedom and civil rights are important on their own and need no justification. People must be given the freedom to lead their own lives and to have the opportunity to participate freely in deciding their political destiny.
May the values, priorities and goals that emerge through an election continue to be reviewed, evaluated and decided upon by the free citizens in a free nation.
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