The day I knew about "gay people"
I'm watching the most recent episode of Olay & Chill, and her producer, whose name I think is "Aaron," mentioned that he found out about gay people because of the "Fireworks" music video. It was his first time seeing people of the same sex kissing each other, and he was surprised, he didn't know that it could happen.
It got me thinking about my own experience.
Growing up, I see a lot of gay people. As my parents say, "they are everywhere." But not really. I usually see them in hair and nail salons.
I did find it weird because it's not hard to see flamboyant men around where I'm from, but the stereotype and homophobia is still rampant, thanks to religious sects.
I don't think there's a specific moment I thought "Oh, wo/men can be with wo/men, too!" It was always there, around me, in the radio, in the TV.
I've always thought they were widely-accepted until I had gay friends.
They act and speak freely when they're at school, but then I hear their stories of how they're hiding from their family, and it appears that well, gays are accepted by people if it's not in the people in their family.
For example, they acknowledge gays out on the street, in places where they know they'd see gays in, but the moment they figure out that one of their kids or siblings is gay, best believe it's going to be a huge drama.
Our culture (specially the one that I grew up in) is extremely allergic to homosexuals. That even a slight bend in their son's arm they'd be up holding their wooden sticks accusing "Bakla ka ba?!" (Are you gay?)
If a kid, imagine a 4-year-old kid, chooses a pink jacket over a blue one, the parent would go ahead a pull the pink stuff away and force them the "colour" of masculinity. They'd then grow up forcing the same homophobia they grew up in.
I have witnessed this from my parents, uncles/aunts, even cousins who are raising their own child now. Some things never changed, and it is heartbreaking.
I did see some improvements though. I saw a photo of my cousin on her 18th birthday (the Filipinos' version of a quinceneara) that she had her girlfriend be her muse (it was traditionally an escort).
My conservative parents was surprised, but I'm happy my aunt and uncle are happy with the relationship which my cousin have had for a few years now, high school sweetheart.
To conclude, I don't the specific scenario that I've come to know gay people exists. This may sound weird, but I think it's a great way to start life. Loving someone in whatever gender should be normal, it shouldn't be a defining moment for people. I never had a "wow" moment when I found out that women and men can be together, I also never had a wow moment when I found out that people of the same gender can be together. I guess this is how I'd raise my future kids in this world. Choose love.