Same Sex Marriage
- Submitted by: engrmhean17
- Views: 148
- Category: Other
- Date Submitted: 07/22/2015 06:32 PM
- Pages: 8
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If social attitudes are gradually shifting, why is it hard to push for LGBT rights and same-sex marriage here? Many would automatically blame the Catholic taliban, but that's a wrong framing of the problem.
This is not to say that the social attitudes and behavior of Filipinos toward homosexuality and same-sex marriage are not changing. They are, and social media has triggered a shift in how we digest controversial topics that in the past have been filtered and controlled by traditional institutions, such as the Church and our schools. I’m not saying that Filipinos are now more pro-LGBT, but the overall mood is changing, and there’s more openness to engage in an issue that is still otherwise considered taboo.
Social media has democratized access to a wider range of narratives and stories on LGBTs and made them part of our common experiences, creating a climate that could help dismantle oppressive stereotypes about homosexuality. The bullying of LGBT kids in American schools, for instance, a Canadian transgender joining the Miss Universe, the coming out of Hollywood celebrities - these have all catalyzed conversations here. And while we know that these happened elsewhere, we have embraced the universal elements of these stories.
More importantly, social media has given us access to participate in these conversations. To respond to a homophobic slur in the past meant writing press releases or letters to the editors, the fate of which would depend on the mood of the editors.
Today, Facebook and Twitter could help anyone - the in-your-face LGBT activist, the closeted bakla, and their fag hags - push alternative perspectives on LGBTs, and influence how opinion gatekeepers and icons see the issue.
Why the difficulty?
If social attitudes are gradually shifting, why then is it hard to push for LGBT rights and same-sex marriage here in the Philippines?
Many would automatically blame the Catholic taliban, and how it has been trying to control our political...
This is not to say that the social attitudes and behavior of Filipinos toward homosexuality and same-sex marriage are not changing. They are, and social media has triggered a shift in how we digest controversial topics that in the past have been filtered and controlled by traditional institutions, such as the Church and our schools. I’m not saying that Filipinos are now more pro-LGBT, but the overall mood is changing, and there’s more openness to engage in an issue that is still otherwise considered taboo.
Social media has democratized access to a wider range of narratives and stories on LGBTs and made them part of our common experiences, creating a climate that could help dismantle oppressive stereotypes about homosexuality. The bullying of LGBT kids in American schools, for instance, a Canadian transgender joining the Miss Universe, the coming out of Hollywood celebrities - these have all catalyzed conversations here. And while we know that these happened elsewhere, we have embraced the universal elements of these stories.
More importantly, social media has given us access to participate in these conversations. To respond to a homophobic slur in the past meant writing press releases or letters to the editors, the fate of which would depend on the mood of the editors.
Today, Facebook and Twitter could help anyone - the in-your-face LGBT activist, the closeted bakla, and their fag hags - push alternative perspectives on LGBTs, and influence how opinion gatekeepers and icons see the issue.
Why the difficulty?
If social attitudes are gradually shifting, why then is it hard to push for LGBT rights and same-sex marriage here in the Philippines?
Many would automatically blame the Catholic taliban, and how it has been trying to control our political...