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This episode of the current affairs programme Detik (meaning a second in time) was broadcast on Suria on 30 July 2003.
Translation:
Host: Peaceful greetings be upon you. The gay or homosexual issue has gotten wide exposure recently following the Prime Minister's revelation during an interview that the government is now more open to employing this community even in important posts. His message is that the current really forces the government to value each and every talent regardless of their lifestyle. But, many are protesting on the basis of faith and social importance. Many also reject genetics as having a role in determining whether a person is gay. So what is the determining factor?
For this, Mazlina Mazlan has met with 2 homosexuals.
Zac (Chubby female with face partly hidden by a cap and out of focus. Relatively low, male-like,, mumbling voice) : The truth is,) I am a lesbian. In my heart, I know I am one. My feelings are that of a lesbian's. I want to live with my partner. I also hope to have a child, whether by adoption (fade out...)
(Fade in.....)
Helmi (medium built, hairy legs, effeminate lisp) : He was a homosexual. He came at a time when I needed someone who believed in me, that I was telling the truth about my feelings and I did not lie to anyone about my feelings.
These honest admissions were made by 2 young Malays. Zac, 30 years of age, born a woman, admits to being attracted to her own kind since she was schooling. At age 13 while studying in a girls' school, Zac fell in love with her first lover. 4 years ago, Zac got married and took on the title of husband. It was organised to cheers all around by the gay community here.
Zac : The urge to be one with her, I feel, was because I was getting older. She also said, rightly, we have been together for 6 years, we have our own home, right? So I thought about it, might as well, lah, continue. So we got a group together, got witnesses that Zac and Ira will become one forever, not (Translator's comment: something's not quite right here) as husband and wife or as a couple who's in love with each other, want to love with each other. That's all. No Hadi [1], no priests, nothing, lah. After that, we exchanged rings. The ring is still with me.
However, the match did not last long. They split up. The emptiness in her heart has recently been filled with the presence of Sharon, a Chinese woman whom she loves dearly because she understands the contents of her heart. They now live together.
For Helmi, the teasing and ridicule from friends who made fun of his soft behaviour pressurized him tremendously. He turned to the Internet to find the support he yearned for. In the cyber chat rooms, Helmi met people of the same fate. Because he was comfortable being with them, Helmi decided to become a gay man.
Helmi - I shared everything, my feelings from my life. We went out together. He helped me in my studies. From there, I got my confidence back and I got excellent results in school. From then on, I felt I was -- what's the word? -- potential for living, I. . . I've been able to live.
Although it has existed for a long time here, the homosexual or gay group got wide exposure following the announcement that the government was prepared to employ them in the public sector. During an interview in the latest issue of Time magazine recently, PM Goh Chok Tong said, among other things, "We are born this way and they are born that way. But they are like you and me". This statement has raised hot debates. Pro-gay groups characterised it as a progressive acknowledgement.
However, many are stridently opposing it because they believe that step will only destroy Singapore through the collapse of people's morals. We get the views of the public on this question.
Hassan Bek (Indian, balding, middle-aged man with glasses) : Should be open to all these lifestyles, lah. We should give everybody a chance. Let's everyone live and let us live, lah.
Latifah Abdullah (bespectacled, fair young adult Muslim in a tudung [2]) : All religions, be it Christians, don't agree about "gayism" because we have seen in history, Sodom and Gomorrah, what has happened, right?
Sylvia Chang (chubby, middle-aged bespectacled housewife-type) : Just feel it's uncomfortable, if I know my neighbour, my colleague is a gay, then I don't know how to react.
Ruby Yusof (clone of Latifah Abdullah above) : Ya-lah, I would be very worried if the government accepted such people, hmmm, as if encouraging it, I feel, ya?
What is "homosexual"? Is it an illness which needs treatment? Or a natural desire which is contained in a gay person's genes. Or is it a lifestyle choice and hence, may be changed at any time. We raised these questions with the President of the Singapore Psychiatric Association of Singapore, Dr Francis Ngui.
For complete translation, see:
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