By Nicole Tan Lee Koon
Call me queer. Well, not queer in that strict definition of LBGTIQ. I am queer because I am a non-conformist. However, I checked the dictionary and found that LBGTIQ stood for lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgenders, intersex and queer. Today, I want to touch on the last character, queer.
I love queer people, especially effeminate males. They are very sensitive and kind. In fact, I have encountered many queer, wonderful and lovely individuals in my life.
Lokman and Joshua were my primary and secondary schoolmates, respectively. They always felt out of place. Lokman used to bring green syrup to school and was always willing to share his stuff. He loved to join the girls and chit-chat and kept away from the boys.
One day, Joshua came running back into our classroom from the soccer field. He complained that he was supposed to play football with the boys but ended-up being kicked around like a football instead.
Then I was buddies with Nasir when I started working as a lawyer. A huge group of young lawyers would always hang out to “Jom minum” during tea breaks or when bowling. Nasir would use “Naomi” for Naomi Campbell as his name when we bowled.
My own nephew came out in the open as gay. He’s one of the most talented people I have ever known. He can sing, dance and play many musical instruments.
The point I am trying to make is that we can always agree to disagree. We can always attack the views and opinions of a person. We can always attack the integrity and the political will of an individual. However, we cannot subject any individual to personal attacks especially in regard to their physical and/or psychological attributes. By persecuting someone’s so-called lack of conformity to societal norms, you are in fact subjecting the person to a form of bullying.
I have a confession to make. I was a victim of bullying in school due to my obesity. I was always teased and enduring name-calling was a daily chore for me. I can relate to victims of bullies. I never liked my primary schooldays because of that.
Therefore, let us emulate Pakatan Harapan leaders Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Tony Pua, Rafizi Ramli, Mat Sabu and Anthony Loke who attack the powers that be using empirical facts and figures.
Let us not go down to the level of Barisan Nasional leaders like Bung Mokhtar (Batu Gajah “leak every month too”), Mustapa Mohamed (“new office is like a virgin bride”), Roselan Johar Mohamed (“if you can’t fight rape, just enjoy it”) and many more.
It is a small consolation if an apology is forthcoming, but if one apologises for the same mistake over and over again then it shows that the apology was not genuine to begin with. Such a recalcitrant and unrepentant spirit reeks of cheapskate politics. We have to rise above cheapskate politics if we are serious in wanting to take over Putrajaya.
Nicole Tan Lee Koon is DAP Wanita National Executive Committee (NEC) member and DAP Negeri Sembilan State Committee.
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