Dear Straight People,

Am I that different?

I am the boy with an attraction deemed unnatural, sinful and destructive. I am the boy who was told that nothing good would come out of those same-sex attractions.

I am the boy who lost his mother at a young age. Inspired and touched by the love and compassion from the Church, I accepted the saving grace of Jesus.

I am the boy who found himself increasingly living a double life. I thought I had found my family at church and at my christian all-boys school. We were the boys who were cool and good and fun, and who were there for each other.

However, we were the boys who would shame and demean those perceived to be gay, as if they were lesser and less deserving. Why wouldn’t I join in? It was culturally and religiously normal to do so. The dissonance between my extended family and my same-sex attraction was only just beginning.

How could I act one way publicly and feel otherwise privately? I am the boy who prayed to God many a time for guidance, but was still never able to pray it away.

Where was the compassion and understanding of Jesus when it came to this topic?

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ – Matthew 25:40

I am the boy who went abroad for my studies, and glimpsed upon a realm of possibility and acceptance.

I am the boy who met another boy, and fell in love. We have been together for over 8 years now. He is the love of my life. He has brought me peace and contentment, and has taught me how to be kind, generous and patient. We are better people now, together.

Together, we are the boys who have surprised many people with our love, commitment and normalcy – The neighborhood Aunty who had never personally known any gay people, we now play Pokemon Go with on the regular; The international students from the deeply conservative Middle East, they performed a skit at our wedding; The best friend who saw the genuine love and completion that we brought each other, he switched to the Episcopalian Church to reconcile his faith with the words of the Bible; The devoutly Christian boss with a heart full of compassion, who rescued me from discrimination and gave me my current job.

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these’ – Mark 12:30-31

Do we focus on the Great Commandments? Or do we focus on Genesis, Leviticus and Romans?

I am the boy that suffers from societally and religiously enforced persecution whenever those other verses are the subject of focus.

I am the boy who’s scared, trapped and constantly fighting. For recognition, for normalcy, for equal rights, for the ability to love without fear of persecution. For the ability to work and contribute to society without the fear that it would one day turn against us.

I am the boy that ostracized himself from his best friends, his extended family, his church, for fear of judgment and condemnation.

Yet, I am the boy who still prays to God to thank him for my life, my love, my well-being and the food in front of me. I am the boy who says a prayer to Jesus to ask that His Children be as unconditionally loving and accepting as He, and to keep that love and compassion burning brightly within me.

To those out there that support Section 377A, I hope that you can look beyond the politics, drama and war-mongering from both sides, and realise that this is something that affects boys like me and People Like Us in such a profoundly detrimental way.

I urge you to open your hearts to our plight, and analyse your perspectives through not just Scripture and Tradition, but also Reason and Compassion.

Written by Dwayne Wang: https://www.instagram.com/dwayne.yawned

If you believe in a better, more inclusive Singapore, then please sign this petition supporting the repeal of Section 377A: http://bit.ly/Repeal377APetition

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An Open Letter To Everyone Who Thinks Section 377A Doesn’t Affect Them