Asking for some kindness

Here is an update on some of the things faced by sexual minority communities over the past few weeks.

Sajat was arrested and faces trial because apparently dressing as she should at a kenduri held in her own private space for people whom she privately invited offends religion.

A young trans woman was cyberbullied and outed to her mother after her post on social media asking for support during this time of pandemic went viral. It seems Malaysians do not enjoy seeing an online crowdfunding effort for transwomen.

PAS’ Ahmad Marzuk Shaary urged for a heavier sentence on sexual minorities because the punishments already available for the community are just a walk in the park for them.

Meanwhile, a medical doctor condemned the transgender community after being unable to sleep at night as the condition of a transpatient defied his logic and adjusting his understanding of biology to fit the need of his patient was a no go.

Have I mentioned that politicians want the community to be punished even harder?

It is safe to say that sexual minorities will not have a lot of kindness in which to put their hopes any time soon.

Pleas for the community to be left alone and not treated as a reserve for unkind oral discharge have been as effective as telling the government to do better – it will never materialise, not in anyone’s lifetime.

I am not sure when we stopped doing good for the sake of others. I always tell people to do good, to berbakti, because that is the simplest act we can all do. It’s so simple that it is open to interpretation as to how to show it.

My interpretation has always been to defend the underprivileged, to extend our reach to them when they are in need, and to let everyone be if they are not disruptive.

I wonder if these “righteous” people subscribe to the same interpretation, though I am sure they strive to do good as well. It’s just that from my perspective, it’s striving for strife.

What is the worst that could happen if we left the sexual minorities be? Why is there so much fear of them that then turns into pure hatred?

There was a statement in support of Shaary’s stance on tightening legislation implicating sexual minorities, mentioning concern of future generations turning into younglings asking for gender reassignment therapy before they become aware of mathematical symbols.

Where did this concern even come from?

In a country where the major religion has never been threatened and the people of the status quo live in prosperity, why is so much of their time spent suppressing a source of fear that never had any chance whatsoever of taking their place and dominating their position?

Adni, a kampung boy from one of my previous articles, told me once: “Buat apa aku jadi baik kalau semua orang jahat dengan aku?”

If you ever think your life is hard, chances are you have never met him. He went through so many harsh moments that cannot be detailed in this article, but he now feels like he has been given a chance to become a better person than he was before.

But even so, his struggles appear neverending as people continue to be unkind to him.

It breaks my heart to know that I have nothing to offer in consolation. And it makes me realise that his frustration is universal within his community.

Where is the virtue in deliberately being short of kindness? Why do we spend so much of our freedom doing good and being kind and then do the exact opposite when it comes to this community?

It is still a long way from the bleak greyscale of our discriminatory reality towards the promising technicolour utopia of kindness for all. But I am not giving up on hope.