Treat LGBT community with respect
THE LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community has once again captured the attention of the general public as being an aberration from behavioural norm.
They have been vilified by politicians, professionals, religious fundamentalists and some sections of the general public. In short, they have been condemned as misfits and (expected to) be rehabilitated to conform to accepted social and religious norms.
Before we proceed further, we need to examine the label LGBT, which has a negative sexual connotation. The term LGBT was recently imported from the West, designating people with sexual orientations and inclinations that run contrary to the norm. Some Western countries glorify these people in the name of sexual freedom that allows for same sex marriages and promiscuity.
In fact, these people, who are genetically conditioned to behave as such, have not just appeared from the blue but have existed since time immemorial and accepted by society then, perhaps only discriminated against by the Church. They served in the courts of yore and in various public services. Their behaviour was accepted as a norm and they were not castigated nor ostracised.
Before the existence of the LGBT connotation, there was no stigma against such people, who formed an integral part of Malaysian society. They have long been part of our traditional theatres such as makyong, mek mulung, boria and ghazal parti, which offer them an avenue to express their innate emotional psyche. Almost all of them keep within the etiquette and decorum of their physical gender and they abide by social norms. It could safely be said that all of them are law abiding citizens, and they do not antagonise nor pose any threat to society. Therefore, they have all the rights of any other citizen and enjoy equal protection under the laws of this country.
The transgender community is a talented lot and is very much an integral part of our society. They have contributed to the nation as professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, fashion designers, makeup artists, television personalities, in the culinary field and, in fact, in all walks of life.
We need to be humane to this community and not condemn them as nature’s aberrations. After all, they are God’s creatures and have the right to live their lives as they choose within accepted norms and values.
As long as they keep their public image and mannerisms within the bounds of accepted propriety and decorum, they should neither be harassed nor discriminated against. Society needs to be tolerant of their physiological and psychological differences rather than condemn them as social misfits.