The LGBTQIA+ community (I’d say lalo na ang gay and bisexual communities in particular) can be cruel.
Check our lookism – e.g. yung focus sa itsura, as if we have the right to ridicule those whose faces, whose looks didn’t pass our “standards” (and as if naman ang guguwapo nating lahat, no!). Check, too, our ageism – e.g. yung diring-diri sa mga Thundercats, sa senior gay and bi men na pumupunta pa sa mga clubs or those dilapidated cinemas para humada, as if naman these venues are only for the under-30s.
But now and then, there are surprises of unification.
And I saw one that surprised me while checking a Facebook group. May pag-asa pa pala tayo.
Particularly, while chatting about picking up in Monumento, some group members tipped the others to be careful when being propositioned by particular people. Apparently, some have been victimized already, and these guys were warning others by sharing their bad experiences.
It didn’t seem much; just a “tip”, if you will.
Of course there’s that risk of people badmouthing people who may NOT have ill intentions at all (e.g. perhaps the sexual advances of the one who posted in Facebook was rejected, and he’s out for blood). This, too, is a real possibility (particularly since people posting retain their anonymity).
But no names have been named here. Instead, situations were just presented. Situations that others will, hopefully, avoid.
Besides, considering the hate crimes committed against LGBTQIA+ people (e.g. think Jennifer Laude, or about those fabled “serial killers of gays”), such tips could be lifesaving.
Or – okay, if you think I’m overreaching – at least save men who have sex with men from inconvenience in case the guy they’re trying to book will end up robbing them, or blackmail them for money or whatever (by publicly shaming them), et cetera.
More of this sana, instead of fighting with one another. After all, if we can lend support to each other when dealing with picking up, we should – in theory – be able to support din sa other endeavors.
Mas beneficial even ang small acts of kindness in advancing our community.
Now… if only we can elevate this in our other struggles (like in pushing for the passage of the anti-discrimination bill), sure na sure na we’d be better off talaga. So padayon unta…
