I was flipping through the channels just now when I chanced upon Grey's Anatomy in Be TV (not so popular channel in Manila, only in the provinces). The episode was when Alex Karev and Izzie Stevens got married. Now, being lesbian, of course, I was excited to see Arizona and Callie's scenes. But to my disappointment, most of their intimate scenes were cut which makes most of their conversations and scenes senseless. In that episode, Arizona keeps on asking Callie about their date but Callie was too busy in her duty in the ER. I know they resolved it when Callie finally blurted to Arizona that she's broke. The cut scene there? The part the Arizona is supposed to say, "I like the girl with the sandwiches."
Then the episode goes, the next scene is Alex and Izzie's wedding. At the wedding, all OTHER couples were shown happy. The cut scene-- Callie kissing Arizona on the CHEEK. It's not even a kiss on the lips and still they murdered that scene! Damn it!
At the ending, there was only that Meredith and Derek scene by the fireplace, their shoulders showing (implying they're naked) beneath the covers. Then Meredith goes on top of Derek to kiss him. After that, the familiar Grey's Anatomy theme song played and credits began flashing.I know that there's supposed to be a scene with Callie and Arizona eating pizza, their naked bodies covered with blankets. But there was none! Yet they let the public watch bed scenes of Meredith and Derek!
If Philippine's MTRCB is really true to their advocacy of maintaining a "responsible" media well, guess what!? Delete that Meredith and Derek scene TOO! That one is a lot more lewd than a kiss on the cheek by Callie to Arizona! What MTRCB is implying by these rules is that BY SIMPLY BEING a homosexual, a person is already being unacceptable. That having sex, even outside marriage, is condoned as long as it's not with someone of the same sex, when strictly and supposedly, MTRCB should say that it's not okay to have sex unless it's in the context of marriage. And Meredith and Derek are not married so it must then be deleted too! And that harmless kiss by Callie and Arizona should be shown!
(I know I'm ranting but I know too that my argument makes sense.)
MTRCB is partly responsible for the existence and development of every ignorant, judgmental and discriminatory Filipino on gay people. The writers, producers and actresses/actors of the show Grey's Anatomy did their part to create awareness and understanding of gay relationships. And here comes MTRCB forcing these channels to cut scenes on gay relationships, withholding these storylines from the Filipino public. Every Filipino has the right to learn about healthy gay relationships, like the one shown by Grey's Anatomy. If there is one drama that shows that, then those scenes should not be censored. Censoring such storyline is the same as depriving the audience, the Filipino audience in this case, of what they are supposedly, ideally and wholly watching and getting from the show.
Monday 30 April 2012
Wednesday 18 April 2012
You Can't Pray Away the Gay
I visited a friend the other day and to my surprise, I saw a book on her desk that had the word homosexuality on the cover.
I have forgotten the exact title of the book (because books like that is what lesbians would want to forget because) it was a Christian book about helping gays "come out" of being gay. And by "come out", the book means changing and abandoning their gay sexuality. I browsed on some pages and there were was a word "ex-gay". There were testimonies on how prayers kept these people from committing into homosexual relationships.
I know change in love interest could happen because it largely depends on whom one will love. A person could love someone from the same sex or someone from the opposite sex. However, completely abandoning and suppressing one's sexuality is a whole other issue. One cannot simply ignore the fact that one is attracted to someone of the same sex if one is really attracted. We cannot also forget the fact that love and relationships start with attraction, that is triggered by a person's sexuality. The only thing, I believe, that can change is one's feelings for another person and commitment in a relationship, whatever its kind-- hetero or homo.
Now, what runs in my head is this: I'm thankful that I haven't told my friend about my sexuality. If I had, she'd probably try the book's talk on me and it may start a rift between us. Of course, you may be thinking that this could be a test of her loyalty to me but right now, I think, is just not the time. I have to admit though that I wanted to borrow the book from her but I stopped myself (because I might burn it in the middle of reading it).
It's very disheartening how some people would think that prayers can be used to control one's sexuality. Such way and belief implies that being gay is evil or a state of illness. But I believe that our sexuality is a gift from God/Divine (or whatever you call the Higher Being). My sexuality, my being a lesbian is what God gave me. I'd like to accept it as it is. Accepting my sexuality allows me to love another person while being honest also with myself.
Now, to ex-gays and ex-lesbians, I respect your decision. However, I will plead one thing: if you do decide to be in a straight relationship, love your partners completely and be genuinely happy and contented in the relationship. Your partners will love and care for you deeply and to make such relationship work, you have to requite it.
Think about it friends, how can you pray away the gay if it's intrinsically in you?
When you see the person you love, the one person who seem to walk with a halo on his/her head and inspires you to live another day,
When you see the person you love, the one person who makes you nervous and makes you want to be a better person,
When you see that person, the one person you love, do you stop and think about him/her as being of the same sex as you? Or do you stop yourself from smiling at that person or secretly in yourself just to plead God to make you stop feeling that way towards that person?
That's up for you to answer but for me, when I see the person I love, I just smile to myself and send a thank you note to God. That's happiness. That's freedom to love.
I have forgotten the exact title of the book (because books like that is what lesbians would want to forget because) it was a Christian book about helping gays "come out" of being gay. And by "come out", the book means changing and abandoning their gay sexuality. I browsed on some pages and there were was a word "ex-gay". There were testimonies on how prayers kept these people from committing into homosexual relationships.
I know change in love interest could happen because it largely depends on whom one will love. A person could love someone from the same sex or someone from the opposite sex. However, completely abandoning and suppressing one's sexuality is a whole other issue. One cannot simply ignore the fact that one is attracted to someone of the same sex if one is really attracted. We cannot also forget the fact that love and relationships start with attraction, that is triggered by a person's sexuality. The only thing, I believe, that can change is one's feelings for another person and commitment in a relationship, whatever its kind-- hetero or homo.
Now, what runs in my head is this: I'm thankful that I haven't told my friend about my sexuality. If I had, she'd probably try the book's talk on me and it may start a rift between us. Of course, you may be thinking that this could be a test of her loyalty to me but right now, I think, is just not the time. I have to admit though that I wanted to borrow the book from her but I stopped myself (because I might burn it in the middle of reading it).
It's very disheartening how some people would think that prayers can be used to control one's sexuality. Such way and belief implies that being gay is evil or a state of illness. But I believe that our sexuality is a gift from God/Divine (or whatever you call the Higher Being). My sexuality, my being a lesbian is what God gave me. I'd like to accept it as it is. Accepting my sexuality allows me to love another person while being honest also with myself.
 |
| Callie to her conservative father: You can't pray away the gay. Scene from Grey's Anatomy |
Think about it friends, how can you pray away the gay if it's intrinsically in you?
When you see the person you love, the one person who seem to walk with a halo on his/her head and inspires you to live another day,
When you see the person you love, the one person who makes you nervous and makes you want to be a better person,
When you see that person, the one person you love, do you stop and think about him/her as being of the same sex as you? Or do you stop yourself from smiling at that person or secretly in yourself just to plead God to make you stop feeling that way towards that person?
That's up for you to answer but for me, when I see the person I love, I just smile to myself and send a thank you note to God. That's happiness. That's freedom to love.
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