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Debate: Homosexuality

(China Daily) Updated: 2011-07-25 07:52

Wang Ping

Understanding is important

Lu Liping, a mainland actress who was the "queen" of Taiwan Golden Horse Film Festival in 2010 for her performance in City Monkey, has sparked a fiery debate by posting a "priest's remarks" against homosexuals in her micro blog.

In response, Kevin Tsai, a popular TV host in Taiwan, who has been open about his homosexuality and was the host who awarded the "movie queen" prize to Lu in 2010, wrote in his micro blog: "Some of your fans are homosexuals. No matter what your beliefs are, how can you urge others to discriminate against them?" His micro blog has drawn more celebrities into the debate.

The key factors that have intensified the debate are the influence of celebrities and the growing sense among homosexuals that they have to protect their rights. The involvement of celebrities can bring instant media attention, but such attention can easily fade way.

Homosexuals should realize that relying on celebrities to fight for their rights is not a good thing. Instead, they have to make continuous efforts to make people understand their sexual orientation. But in reality, the voices of homosexuals, irrespective of how moving their stories are, create much less impact on society than a simple remark by a celebrity.

The hostility against homosexuals that exists in society cannot be changed until ordinary people have a chance to know one personally. Furthermore, celebrities' support should not lessen the importance of the problems homosexuals face.

Celebrities can only help highlight an issue, not resolve it. Perhaps they can help people understand homosexual behavior, but nothing more. Though many homosexuals get the support of their own ilk, many live isolated lives.

Some conservatives and believers can cause indignation among homosexuals with their remarks, but they are not the majority social group who discriminate against the gay and lesbian community. Homosexuals should try to find out why the public is prejudiced against them, and grasp every opportunity to explain their sexual orientation.

The debate sparked by Lu's micro blog shows that even obscure figures on the Internet can play an equal important role in social transformation. Homosexuals should break their silence and respond to let their part of the story be heard.

As an issue for society as a whole, this event may be a starting point to promote understanding about homosexuals' rights in China. Homosexuals may be a social minority and their voices may not carry much weight but they, too, are part of society.

The author is secretary-general of Gender/Sexuality Rights Association, Taiwan.

(China Daily 07/25/2011 page9)