Out in the World

by

Dean Durber

Is there such a thing as a global gay and lesbian community? Sure, we can travel anywhere in the world with our Spartacus guide in hand and find brothers and sisters who share our sexual tastes, but does it go further than that? It's a debate that is finally making headway on the shores of Oz. With food for thought on offer from Malu Marin (Philippines), Dede Oetomo (Indonesia) and Julian Jayaseelan (Malaysia).

For those who are still clinging to an outdated notion of Australia being some floating European island, the word of the day is "respect". We have as much to learn today from our closest neighbours as we have learnt in the past from our far-away masters. And some of it a damn sight more useful. "If you are an Asian travelling abroad, you are constantly being told how to do things right," says Julian. What is right? Does every gay and lesbian of Asia aspire to the wonders of Castro Street or Oxford Street? Not so, according to Malu. "I think we have a lot of similar goals. But it's the context we have to keep in mind. In terms of what we want, the goal is still a society where there will be no discrimination on grounds of race or class or sexuality."

As we battle with our boxes of definitions that seek to constrain us within comprehensible groups, the gay and lesbian communities of these three countries have already stepped beyond the need to exclude. In the Philippines, for example, their annual Pride march has already expanded its name beyond mere G&L. According to Julian, it is not unusual for gay male groups in Kuala Lumpur to see men come along with their girlfriends or for parents to join in the fun. How can we on the one hand claim to be seeking freedom of sexuality and then restrict ourselves to accepting only one version of that? As Dede explains, in Indonesia things are never so black and white. "There are people living together in their communities in what we would call a homosexual relationship, but they don't even know the words gay and lesbian."

There are, in my opinion, two dangers in promulgating the idea that there is indeed a uniform global gay and lesbian community. Because of the current structure of our world, where white culture is still the predominant colonising force, there is a risk of events like the Sydney Mardi Gras becoming the pinnacle of that community; and that all gays and lesbians, all those who stand outside of the strict heterosexual norm, will feel pressure to aspire to that. The outside world might also be led down the path of thinking that this is what we are all about. And so another stereotype forms.

The second problem is one of language. If we allow the progression of gays and lesbians in America, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom to become model examples of the way all homosexual societies should go, we run the risk of encroaching on the languages of other countries and bombarding them with common words used in the English vernacular. How can these people even begin to define themselves as "gay" and "lesbian" and feel pride in that when these very words come from the language of the oppressor? The languages and dialogues of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines have a richness of history that contain words to combine sexualities. "We are much more fluid than gay, lesbian and transsexual," says Julian. The words "gay" and "lesbian" provide a link with people throughout the world, but they can sometimes prove to be restrictive and destroy concepts of sexuality that we in the Western world know nothing about.

The Asian continent is undergoing some incredible upheavals. From our own narrow point of view, we see only the threat of political instability and financial ruin; things that could affect our lives and so become important. But there are also the positives. As Julian explained, Malaysian communities have come together in a way that has never been seen before; with total inclusion of all. The Anwar trial has brought issues of sexuality to the dining table. "Many people thought sodomy was okay. Talking about sodomy was not okay." Pre-Anwar, homosexuals went about their business, but this trial has raised to the surface a fear of being charged under the country's existing sodomy laws. Will activism follow? If so, what form will it take?

In the Philippines, a country that is roughly 80% Catholic, the gay movement started in the early 90's. Homosexuality and lesbianism is not a crime there. Its only mention in the legal books is as grounds for separation from marriage. The legacy of the anti-Marcos dictatorship benefited the freedoms of gay and lesbians to some extent. They have democratic space. And have opted for consultation over confrontation, with the possibility of establishing a political party that under the Constitution will receive representation in Congress. "We have reached that point where we have been able to get in touch with all the government agencies."

These countries have the confidence to try something unique. Gay and lesbian freedoms do not have to be the same the world over. "It's about taking the best and adopting that to suit the environment," says Malu. If there really is a global gay and lesbian community, it is important for us in Australia to take an interest in what they are doing, on their terms, and learn from the experiences they have.