Breaking the conspiracy of silence
COMMENT Many people have asked me, “Aren’t you afraid of Christian fundamentalists who attack you vehemently? Aren’t you afraid of the unjust laws in Malaysia, like codes 377(A) (B) and ISA, when you come out publicly and hold public talks on homosexuality in Malaysia?” I always tell them that I am not afraid of injustice or outdated laws or religious fanatics who are against homosexuality, what I fear most is the silence of many good and reasonable people.
COMMENT Many people have asked me, “Aren’t you afraid of Christian fundamentalists who attack you vehemently? Aren’t you afraid of the unjust laws in Malaysia, like codes 377(A) (B) and ISA, when you come out publicly and hold public talks on homosexuality in Malaysia?” I always tell them that I am not afraid of injustice or outdated laws or religious fanatics who are against homosexuality, what I fear most is the silence of many good and reasonable people.
Homophobia is the ungrounded and exaggerated prejudice, fear, aversion, and irrational hatred toward feelings of same-sex attraction.
Its most blatant and brutal attack on homosexuals is not the diatribe articulated by homophobes, but the silence it perpetuates; it forbids society to speak as if there were no such thing as homosexuality, it convinces many homosexuals that hiding is our only destiny, and that it is impossible for us to live an honest and authentic life like heterosexuals.
To put it bluntly, the power of heterosexism is to make us silent and invisible, because silence legitimises cultural oppression, condones social violence, and perpetuates inequality.
Silence is a social effect of oppression. It condones and endorses oppression. It has left injustice and inequality unchecked. I know that there are many good and reasonable people in our society who do not believe that homosexuality is morally wrong or an abomination.
I have received thousands of emails from my readers and fellow citizens commending me privately for what I have done. However, since homophobia and heterosexism are overwhelmingly powerful in our society, they not only force homosexuals to live in closets, they also force many good and reasonable people to choose to be silent when homosexuals are attacked and mocked.
Their silence has contributed to the ignorance of homosexuality, and has encouraged unreasonable and homophobic attacks on homosexuals.
Formulate a compassionate culture
Many good and reasonable heterosexuals, even though they understand that homosexuality is not morally wrong and does not harm society, also fear coming out and speaking on behalf of homosexuals.
If we really believe in social justice and equality, we need to educate the public and advocate for the formulation of a compassionate culture that supports homosexuals to come out safely and live their lives authentically.
Good and reasonable straight people need to come out and speak up in order to break the conspiracy of silence, because silence kills. By keeping quiet, many good people have inevitably and unfortunately given their tacit consent to the oppressive culture that promotes homophobia.
When straight people who have known better about homosexuality refuse to speak up for gay people, they are guilty of the injustice done to gay people. It is therefore critical for everyone, especially heterosexuals, to come out and speak up in favor of homosexuals in order to challenge homophobic religious or social discourse and practice.
Gay people cannot and will not be free, if many good and reasonable straight people in our society even though they know that there is nothing wrong with homosexuals, refuse to come out and speak against the oppression.
As an example, African-Americans constitute no more than 15 percent of the population of the United States; Barack Obama could not have become the president if he only won the votes of African-Americans.
African-Americans have achieved significantly in terms of civil rights because many good and reasonable white people came out to condemn racism and work hand in hand with them.
'Challenge the stereotypes'
In any human rights movement, in order to fight against injustice and oppression, the first step is always to break the conspiracy of silence. Unless people come out to challenge the stereotypes and the silence that has condoned the injustice, we can hardly achieve anything significant. 
This is why when people make racist remarks like asking Chinese Malaysians to “balik Cina,” or calling non-Malay Malaysians “penumpang,” or imposing their religious beliefs on others by punishing non-Muslims for eating pork, good and reasonable people, especially those who are Malays and those who are in leadership positions, need to speak up!
Many heterosexuals have asked me, “What can I do for you and homosexuals?” I always tell them to stand up and come out to support us.
Many of my talks in Malaysia are organised by heterosexuals. Good and reasonable people need to educate people who are ignorant of homosexuality and show them that homosexuality is a sexual orientation that is as good as, and on par with, heterosexuality.
Silence can perpetuate injustice. We have to speak up, we must break the conspiracy of silence!
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.
