the Heterosexual Problem

For my preliminary exam in Specialized Writing 1: Historical and Cultural Writing, our professor asked us to do a paper about anything under the sun. It was a great opportunity, I’ve always wanted to write about Malate, Manila but the problem was I don’t have a clue on how to write it exactly.

Inspiration struck me, remembering the black book in Filipino hidden in my make-shift bookshelf, a book called Orosa-Nakpil, Malate (2006) by Louie Mar Gangcuangco. A topic appeared out of nowhere and I knew it was a winner, I’m going to write about the Philippine Gay Situation: Male Homosexuals in Malate.

I quickly run to the library and hit the Filipiniana bookshelves as soon as I opened the heavy metal and glass doors. Upon reading I came upon the name Danton Remoto.

I got in touch with Danton Remoto, the founder of Ang Ladlad, professor in Ateneo, and a columnist for Philippine Star and ABS-CBN online news, and scheduled an interview.

He advised me to read his book X-Factor: Tales Outside the Closet (1997) because he has essays about Malate in it.

I went through the book earlier today and I found this interesting article called Questions for the Heterosexual (1996) published in the Manila Times. And within this article is another article about pride and prejudice regarding Homosexuality which is very interesting.

Do You Need Treatment?

New Internationalist issue 201 – November 1989

Gay people get asked some pretty strange questions. Often this is because their interrogators have a narrow, strictly heterosexual view of what is 'normal'. NI turns the tables and asks heterosexual people some strange questions too.

1. What do you think is the cause of your heterosexuality?
2. When did you first realize you might be heterosexual?
3. Have you told your parents? What do they think about it?
4. Are there others like you in your family?
5. Would you say that you had an inadequate mother or father figure?
6. Don’t you think your heterosexuality might be a phase you are going through?
7. Are you afraid of members of your own sex?
8. Isn’t it possible that what you need is a good gay lover?
9. What do you actually do in bed?
10. You put what where?
11. But how can people of the opposite sex really please each other when there are such vast emotional and biological differences between them?
12. Although society gives considerable support to the institution of marriage, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?
13. Is it because heterosexuals are promiscuous?
14. There seem to be very few happy heterosexuals. Have you considered aversion therapy?
15. Why do you feel compelled to seduce others into your sexual activities?
16. Why do you insist on making such a public spectacle of your heterosexuality? Can’t you just keep quiet about it?
17. More than 90 percent of child molesters are heterosexuals. Would you feel comfortable about entrusting your children’s education to heterosexual teachers?
18. Why do people like you emphasize the heterosexual qualities of famous people such as film stars? Is it because you need to validate your own condition?
19. Penetrative sex is most common among heterosexual couples. Aren’t you worried about the risk of getting AIDS?
20. If everybody were heterosexual like you, what would you think would happen to the world’s population? Don’t you think it is unreasonable and irresponsible of you to insist on sleeping with people of the opposite sex?

What if normal is associated with the term homosexuality? What if heterosexuals are put in the spot and are bombarded with questions about their sexuality, just like what the article suggested? What if heterosexuality is the third sex?

That’s how it would feel to be in our shoes. Homophobia is the defense mechanism of the old fashioned, people who don’t allow new ideas to penetrate their minds even if it’s staring them at the face.

So next time, before you ask me why am I like this, go ask yourself: why are you like that?