Not that there is anything wrong with that.

So, although I lean right politically, on social issues, including homosexuality, I’ve always been more of a libertarian. I don’t care about anyone’s sexual orientation. Not my business or concern and it certainly should not be of any interest to the government. Be loud, be proud, fly your flag, be who you are or who you want to be. Just leave me the hell alone while I do my thing.

In all seriousness though, I do not condone discrimination or other forms of harassment of the gay community. I’m not sure how big a problem that truly is in the USA, my sense is that the media tends to hype issues to keep Americans divided, including gays versus straights. I’m proud of my gay daughter who, while outspoken, never plays the “victim” card.

Anyway, I no longer live in the states so maybe I’m out of touch with the realities there. I can speak to what I’ve observed here in the Philippines and quite frankly it is shocking. This is a majority Catholic country and in many ways very conservative. Abortion is illegal. Birth control is available but not widely used. There is no legal divorce, only a lengthy and expensive annulment process. So it may come as a surprise (it was to me) that when it comes to matters of homosexuality no one cares! At least there are no outward signs of stigma or discrimination. Well, actually I just discovered that gay marriage is not permitted here yet.

But I’m not talking about the government so much as I am the citizens. I can’t keep up with all the letters in the rainbow universe, so I’ll confine myself to the “traditional” LGBT community. Except here in the PI it is not so much a separate community at all. People are what they are and are accepted as they are by everyone else. It is just not a big deal and people don’t seem to notice or differentiate between a gay couple or a straight couple. Why should they, right? Well, I guess that’s what I’m kinda doing right now, but only to make the point that it’s really cool that no one else cares.

In my small circle of friends here I know two gay couples. They are both part of the Alley Cats/dart scene and great fun to be around.

Funny story in a way about Billy. I’ve always addressed her in the feminine manner but I’m pretty sure she identifies as male. This was brought home to me when I noticed the women calling her (see, there I go again!) “Kuya Billy” just like they call me Kuya John. Kuya is akin to older brother. Oh well, you can’t teach an old dog like me new tricks (especially when I’m drunk) but Billy never complains and jokes back with me, so it’s all good. And I guess that’s kind of my point, no one wastes time being offended when no offense is intended. That’s a great lesson for us all!

I can’t say that I know any gay males, but then I don’t know many Filipino men at all. I know there is a club called the Hunk Zone, but I’ve never been in there. And there is another bar in town called Count Nicolas that is a hangout for transgenders, or as they are known here bakla. I don’t frequent that bar either but I actually see quite a few baklas on the street as well. Again, no one pays them any attention and the locals seem to accept them as the gender to which they identify.

I emphasized locals above because some of the expats and a lot of the sex tourists do seem to have issues with baklas. One girly bar had the audacity to actually hire a bakla as a waitress and the mongers went nuts on the internet forums. Seems they were worried they might get drunk and not notice the difference before it was too late or some such crap. Well, honestly speaking, I’ve never been that drunk where I couldn’t tell, but whatever. It’s like the old joke–“I know my girl is a real girl. I can feel it inside of me”. *ahem*

My favorite non-dart bar, Cheap Charlies, flew a rainbow flag during pride month and some foreigners complained about that too. Bigotry like that seems to me to be perhaps more about projection. What is it about a gay that they really fear?

Ah well, there I go rambling again. The point being that people of all kinds and persuasions are accepted by the Filipino community. Their kind and loving nature are among the things I truly admire about them.

And now I feel empowered to admit that I’m a lesbian. Trapped in a man’s body. I love women. There. I came out.

I met her in a club down in old Soho
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-Cola
C O L A cola
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said Lola
L O L A Lola la-la-la-la Lola

Well I’m not the world’s most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Well I’m not dumb but I can’t understand
Why she walked like a woman and talked like a man
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola

Well we drank champagne and danced all night
Under electric candlelight
She picked me up and sat me on her knee
And said little boy won’t you come home with me
Well I’m not the world’s most passionate guy
But when I looked in her eyes well I almost fell for my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
I pushed her away
I walked to the door
I fell to the floor
I got down on my knees
Then I looked at her and she at me

Well that’s the way that I want it to stay
And I always want it to be that way for my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
It’s a mixed up muddled up shook up world except for Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Well I left home just a week before
And I’d never ever kissed a woman before
But Lola smiled and took me by the hand
And said dear boy I’m gonna make you a man

Well I’m not the world’s most masculine man
But I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man
And so is Lola
La-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola