Gay Rights Speech

Speech delivered at the Malaysian Bar Council, Bar Council Human Rights Public Speaking Competition 2008 finals (1st prize), 12 Dec 2008.

Good evening everyone.

In this country, I’m the minority of minorities.

Firstly, I’m a female. Secondly, I’m a Chinese and thirdly, I’m an agnostic.I’m glad to let you know that, throughout the 19 years of my life thus far that I have spent in Malaysia, I’ve never encountered serious oppression because of my sex, race of religious belief, because thank God, in Malaysia, we acknowledge and have satisfactory protection of women’s rights, as well as the rights of racial and religious minorities.But I also belong to another minority that has been discriminated and persecuted until this very day.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I stand before you today as a gay Malaysian to appeal for the protection of gay rights in Malaysia.

What does it mean to be gay person?

A gay person is someone who is attracted to persons of the same sex.But that’s it. The definition ends there.

Far beyond our differences, I share many similarities with all of you in this hall.For example, I’m here today because like you, I’m concerned about human rights and I enjoy debates.

Like you, I’ve a family that I love and cherish.

Like you, I too, long for the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.And most of all, like you, I am capable of love.

What does it mean to be a gay person in Malaysia?
For one, I know that I probably will never be able to marry the person that I love in this lifetime.

Until today, there’s no formal organization that I can rely on to speak up and stand up for my rights.

Sometimes, I’m even subjected to state-sanctioned homophobia such as that propagated by the National Fatwa Council’s recent decision to outlaw tomboys and lesbianism.

In the last three days of this tournament, I’ve made quite a number of friends, who are in this

hall right now.

And I’m thankful for your priceless friendship.

But there’re many occasions in life when, in the course of making friends, I wonder…I wonder if their friendship is subjected to the assumption that I’m a heterosexual.

I hate to doubt anybody’s sincerity and capacity for acceptance and friendship, but as a homosexual Malaysian living in a homophobic Malaysian society, I’ve no choice but to grapple with such fears and suspicions on a daily basis.

And what about gay rights? What are gay rights?

Gay rights are simply the rights of gay persons to live in peace and dignity, and to be accorded the same recognition and opportunities as other human beings.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We have gathered here today at this human rights debate tournament because we share a common ideal: that all men and women are created free and equal, but I would also like to introduce another concept to you today: that not only do we deserve equal human rights, but that all human rights are equal.

That means, gay rights are no less important and impacting to the preservation of human dignity than women’s rights, the rights of racial and religious rights as well as other rights.

For far too long in Malaysia, the issue of gay rights has been at best occasionally brought up by human rights organizations and at worst, totally swept under the carpet.

And this has to stop, because discrimination towards gays is no less demeaning and dehumanizing as discrimination towards women, blacks, Jews, Tutsis and other minorities.

At the same time, I realize that some of you here will hold views contrary to mine, and I realize that I probably won’t be able to change those views with a single speech, but I would still like to encourage you to reconsider some of the common arguments against gay rights.

If you fear that the granting of gay rights will bring about the end of procreation and the human race, let me assure you that the granting of gay rights will eliminate heterosexuals no more than the granting of heterosexuals rights will eliminate gays.

If you believe that homosexuals are perverted and abnormal, then remember that there’re many things which we approve of today, such as hand phones and cars, and the concepts of democracy and gender equality, which are unnatural outside the realm of civilization, but are still worthy of preservation anyway.

At the same time, there’re many things which come naturally to us, such as hatred, fear and bigotry, which I believe aren’t worthy of preservation.

If you’re one of those who object to gay rights on religious grounds, and believe that we’re the untouchables, then remember that the untouchables too, are the children of God.

I stand before you today as a gay Malaysian to appeal for the protection of gay rights in Malaysia, but I do not speak for myself.

I do not speak for the person I love.

Neither do I speak on behalf of the estimated 350,000 gays and lesbians in Malaysia.

Rather, I speak on behalf of humanity as a whole, because our fate is intertwined.

When one man is not free, all are bound.

And when the gay community triumphs, we triumph too, shall be your triumph.

Martin Luther King had his dreams, on which my fellow speaker Marcus Wee will elaborate after me.

I too, have my own dreams.

I hope to pursue a life of happiness and companionship with the person I love, freely and without fear or fervor.

I hope that someday, if I ever win a public competition with a speech on gay rights, I can go home and proudly tell my parents of my achievement without fear of repercussions.

I also hope that you will join me in the cause to uphold gay rights. But if that is too much to ask of you, then I appeal for tolerance.

But most of all, I dream that someday, speeches like this one will no longer be necessary.
Lastly, I end my speech with a quote by Boethius: “Who can put a law unto love? Love is unto itself the highest law.”

Thank you.

By A 19 Year Old Gabrielle Chong Yong Wei.

Goddess In Canvas

Chinese Artist Paints Daughter In The Nude As An Oriental Goddess

A 61 year old artist by the name of Mr. Li Zhuang Ping in China and his 23 year old daughter Ms. Li Qin are making news over nude art work. The father and daughter duo from the Szechuan area have stunned the Chinese art community with their realistic oil paintings.

Mr. Li Zhuang Ping said to reporters:

"It was only after getting her approval that I allowed her to be my model."
"I set up a personal blog last year and posted my daughter's and my artworks online. Not one comment posted was of an obscene or sexual nature."

He added: "I created the 'Oriental goddess' series with her. She is both the model in the painting and the artist who creates (the artwork) with me."
"And yes, my wife approved," said Mr Li.

His daughter said she began modeling for him five or six years ago and also worked with him to create the 'Oriental Goddess' series of oil paintings on canvas.

It Is A Downright Conspiracy

ELIZABETH WONG'S STATEMENT IN FULL

I was informed on Friday, Feb 13, 2009 by journalists from The Malay Mail that they have in their possession intimate photos of myself and that the newspaper will be publishing a story about these photographs.

I was told that some people are trying to distribute photos/ videos showing me asleep in partial nudity and also in intimate positions.

The distribution and publication of these photos/ video is a malicious attack on my personality. This constitutes a gross outrage on my modesty, a gross invasion of my privacy, and in particular the sanctity of my personal life. It is being done by unscrupulous persons to embarrass and discredit me?

I am a victim in this incident.

I have yesterday lodged a police report in relation to this matter and I will fully cooperate with the police in their investigation. I will therefore not speculate publicly about those responsible for this gross invasion of my privacy.

I have received a lot of support from my supporters, friends, colleagues and members of my constituency. I wish to thank them for their concern, support and encouragement.

My family members are standing behind me. I would like to appeal to the media to give me and my family members some breathing space in this trying time so that I can weather this huge challenge.

I will in the meantime continue to carry out my task of serving the people of Selangor faithfully.

Elizabeth Wong

Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson

Exco for Tourism, Environment and Consumer Affairs

What has become of Malaysian politics? It seems like surprises are queuing up in line waiting to explode in our faces whether we like it or not! From one episode to another, it looks like the opposition party is made to take the brunt of whatever comes its way.

Time and again we learn about conspiracy in which Malaysia has the capability to churn out at will. The contemporary civil society is very different from the past because what comes to our knowledge, our common sense will prevail to evaluate the contents to determine the truth from false.

The distribution of Selangor executive councilor Elizabeth Wong's controversial nude photographs does not happen without a reason. The conspirators must be working in their sleazy corner plotting with moronic attempt to “kill” an innocent adun politically and can only be done by capable imbeciles.

The police asked Elizabeth’s male friend, Hilmi Hazimin to come forward to give evidence but so far he has not turned up to give his cooperation. Hypothetically, if he turns up, will he be charged for outraging Elizabeth’s modesty? Court cases that proceed will blow apart the individuals private affairs for public consumption. Honestly, I don’t like it if I am one.

This is the whole idea of their dirty game that they have the time to spend on and plot for another person’s downfall.

But lurking at the sleazy corner, the conspirators want Hilmi to emerge from hiding to give more tart and tantalizing details about his modus operandi. So, even the petition signed by the sympathetic Malaysians calling to retain Elizabeth as a Selangor Executive Councillor and Bukit Lanjan State Assembly person will mean nothing to the conspirators. This is because they have made Elizabeth to hold on a double-edged sword!

Not only my heart goes out for Elizabeth Wong but also countless Malaysians who are mature in their thinking to differentiate between what is right or wrong; moral or immoral; and privacy or gregariousness.

All clear thinking Malaysians will stand by you Elizabeth, and we pray that you have the strength to overcome the storm and your decision to continue serving the people will not be a pyrrhic one.