Do we really believe in social justice?
COMMENT Heterosexism and homophobia are inconsistent with the noble values of social justice, and therefore are an injustice. The major problem of heterosexism is that it deprives the rights of non-heterosexuals to lead free and dignified lives simply because they are emotionally and sexually attracted to others of the same gender.
COMMENT Heterosexism and homophobia are inconsistent with the noble values of social justice, and therefore are an injustice. The major problem of heterosexism is that it deprives the rights of non-heterosexuals to lead free and dignified lives simply because they are emotionally and sexually attracted to others of the same gender.
Heterosexism sees non-heterosexuality, be it homosexuality or bisexuality, as depraved, abnormal, dangerous, and thus sinful. Due to heterosexism, many gays and lesbians have to deny to others, or even to themselves, their true identity and sexuality, because to do otherwise is to be exposed to grave and unacceptable personal risk.
It is also the reason that even though gay people are everywhere, many are not aware of the fact that their good friends, neighbours, and even their family members, are gay.
Just like racism and sexism, heterosexism is unjust because it excludes citizens from countless social goods. Many gay people in the past were forced to hide themselves in heterosexual marriages; they did not have the luxury that most gay people today in big cities have to remain single and yet not be discriminated against by their society or community.
Gay politicians who are out or being outed, could not survive their political career in most developing countries like Malaysia, regardless of how intelligent of capable they were.
Many people today claim that they have no problem with homosexuals, as long as the latter do not come out and tell others that they are gay. To encourage others to lie about who they are, or not to be truthful to themselves and to their friends and colleagues, is to deny their freedom and rights to be autonomous beings in society. Being forced to lie is oppressive and is heterosexism in disguise, and thus is unjust.
As Pang Khee Teik (left), the organising chairperson of the Seksualiti Merdeka, poignantly remarks, “The fact that you are a human being entitles you to human rights and therefore, the fact that you are a sexual being entitles you to sexual rights. Whether someone else or society or the state recognises this is a different matter.
“The first thing is, you have to know you have them (rights) before you can claim them… And the key principle of sexual rights is being responsible for their own bodies - having autonomy. This is the true form of democracy. By giving them the right, you also teach them to be responsible. If they make a mistake, there are consequences.”
Autonomy is paramount
The issue of autonomy is of paramount importance in a society that truly believes in democracy, human rights, and social justice. It is an injustice to deny the rights and freedom of anyone to be who he or she is. It is not right to oppress anyone in such a way that one is not able to act upon one’s nature that harms no one else in society.
An autonomous subject should not be restricted and oppressed, explicitly or implicitly, to the extent that one is not able to be who one is. Autonomous beings should have the rights and freedom as individuals who can make important choices about their lives, provided that those choices harm no one.
Slavery is evil simply because it deprives its victims of their right to be autonomous subjects, and makes them objects that merely serve the interests of their owners. Therefore, slavery is evil and unjust.
Gay people, in many ways, have been enslaved by the prejudice and biases of society. While heterosexuals can freely talk about their lovers, gay people in a heterosexist society are not supposed to do so. Gay people are condemned simply because of their innate sexuality.
Sexual needs and desires are features of human life, one cannot be free and fully human, if one’s sexual needs and desires, which harm no one, are oppressed and denied by a society that criminalises them.
Heterosexism does not do justice to gay people because the love between gay people has to fight against public denial and opprobrium even though no evidence demonstrates or indicates how gay love could harm the individuals who are in love or those non-gay people around them, or the society at large.
Many Malaysians, Muslims and Christians alike, are ignorant about the fact that Malaysia is a secular state. They confuse their religious taboos with social morality.
Some Christians complain that I have not commented on what the Bible says about homosexuality. The reason I have been relatively quiet on what the Bible has said or not said about homosexuality is simply because, in a public forum where most readers are not Christians, I find no reason to bombard them with my Christian theology.
If one insists that homosexuality is a moral issue, one should appeal to reason and common sense, as well as to scientific facts to argue one’s case, instead of imposing one’s religious beliefs on others. It is unjust nor right to call all homosexuals, regardless of being Christians or non-Christians, immoral, even if the Bible really says so.
Do you really believe in social justice? Or do you only believe in it when it is convenient and when you are the victim of an injustice?
REV O YOUNG is an ordained Christian minister at MCC New York. He holds two masters degrees in both sociology and theology. Currently he lives in New York city and teaches sociology at St Peter’s College. He has published 20 books on sociology, theology and sexuality. He is also a columnist for Sin Chew Daily. He is currently finishing his doctoral degrees in sociology and theology.
