I chanced upon this article on Negros Chronicle written by a priest named Father Gammy Tulabing (JCD, VG) titled Homosexuality is Curable. Before I go on and react to his article, may I just say that coming from a Filipino priest, the article is actually quite offensive for me. I find it deeply insulting. Here’s why:
Father Tulabing begins his article with a definition of homosexuality:
"Homosexuality is sexual orientation to the same sex. It is sexual attraction towards the person of the same sex. It is either attraction of man to another man or attraction of woman to another woman called lesbianism. So homosexuality is synonymous to gay, a word which may be applied to a man homosexual or to a woman lesbian."
He then says that he agrees with the idea of homosexuality being caused by genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences. He mentions that homosexuality may be caused by one or a combination of these factors.With this statement as part of his opener, one would think that this is an open-minded article about homosexuality. However, the title of his article pretty much sums up his confused view on it.
When one says something is curable, it means that that something is a disease, an ailment or an illness. Let me remind the good priest that homosexuality is not an illness. In fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) has already removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses in 1975. So saying that homosexuality is curable is saying that it is an illness.
What I find confusing is when Father Tulabing goes on and explains in his article that homosexuality is not a sin, but homosexual acts are. So if you know you are attracted to people of the same gender, you wil not (under Catholic rules) commit sin? But if you act on your sexual attraction to the same sex, then you commit one? Forgive my analogy, but isn’t it similar to a hungry person wanting food? You can be hungry all you want, but if you act on your hunger and eat, you will commit sin. That’s just great!
I understand that Father Tulabing wrote this article based on his opinions as a Catholic priest. However, he tries (but miserably fails) to provide a solution to a problem which is actually NOT considered a problem by ALL of humanity. In fact, him merely saying "Homosexuals can change" in his third paragraph is downright insulting, not to mention contradictory to the rest of his article’s contents. Why should homosexuals change? I thought being a homosexual was not a sin? Isn’t this a little bit too judgmental and a case of hasty generalization? I thought he said that ONLY the acts of homosexuality are sinful? So why then is he generalizing ALL homosexuals to have already acted on their sexual desires? We don’t know that do we? Unless we have the ultimate power of Greg Grundberg’s character in Heroes – Matt Parkman – to read people’s minds, we really cannot say for sure.
Also, what makes the good priest think that ALL homosexuals WANT to change their sexual orientation? For your information, father, many of us are happy sliding over rainbows.
Furthermore, Father Tulabing uses the following terms like, "converted", "normal sexual" (as far as sexual orientation is concerned), "wrong sexual orientation" and "sexual preference". These terms actually make homosexuals seem SINFUL and ABNORMAL. Homosexual behavior is actually considered as a normal aspect of human sexuality, just like heterosexuality. The APA says:
Is homosexuality a mental disorder?
No, lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientations are not disorders. Research has found no inherent association between any of these sexual orientations and psychopathology. Both heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Both have been documented in many different cultures and historical eras. Despite the persistence of stereotypes that portray lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as disturbed, several decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country to conclude that these orientations represent normal forms of human experience. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual relationships are normal forms of human bonding. Therefore, these mainstream organizations long ago abandoned classifications of homosexuality as a mental disorder.
Moreover, may I add that homosexuality is not a preference but an orientation. Saying it is a preference means that homosexuals can actually choose between eating bibingka or eating saging. Homosexuals are intrinsically most inclined to be sexually attracted to the same sex. It’s not like homosexuals have a light switch (on and off) to choose between the same sex or the opposite sex. Hello, that’s why they’re called homosexuals. HOMO meaning attracted to the SAME. Duh. It’s not a choice, because there are no choices. There are no options. There is only one – and that is the same sex.
The "solutions" he presents are quite absurd too. He says:
Indeed, a wrong sexual orientation can be cured and restored back to normal sexual orientation and preference by means of therapy. I agree that with a firm determination to change coupled with patience, a homosexual person can empty himself or herself of sexual desires, tendencies, and interests. Homosexuality can even be cured through self-therapy if the homosexual is highly self-motivated and follows the recommendations of his spiritual director, psychiatrist, or his therapist.
Firstly, how can you restore or revert back to the "normal" orientation when for many homosexuals, the normal sexual orientation is towards the same sex? How can you restore something which was not there in the first place? Ano to, magic? Make something out of nothing?
Secondly, why the hell (pun not intended) would homosexuals empty themselves of their sexual desires, tendencies, and interests? Why would they unwillingly take a vow of celibacy?
Thirdly, why would homosexuals need a PSYCHIATRIST or a THERAPIST? Are they sick? I will stop and refer you back to the American Psychological Association:
What about therapy intended to change sexual orientation from gay to straight?
All major national mental health organizations have officially expressed concerns about therapies promoted to modify sexual orientation. To date, there has been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation (sometimes called reparative or conversion therapy) is safe or effective. Furthermore, it seems likely that the promotion of change therapies reinforces stereotypes and contributes to a negative climate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons. This appears to be especially likely for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals who grow up in more conservative religious settings.
Helpful responses of a therapist treating an individual who is troubled about her or his samesex attractions include helping that person actively cope with social prejudices against homosexuality, successfully resolve issues associated with and resulting from internal conflicts, and actively lead a happy and satisfying life. Mental health professional organizations call on their members to respect a person’s (client’s) right to self-determination; be sensitive to the client’s race, culture, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, language, and disability status when working with that client; and eliminate biases based on these factors.
Fourthly, may I remind the good priest that NOT everyone subscribes to the same religion. Heck, NOT everyone subscribes to religion in general. Not everyone are Catholics and not everyone are spiritual. There is what we call Moral Relativism which means that the position that moral or ethical propositions do not reflect objective and/or universal moral truths. One cannot simply impose their own moral standards on others.
Father Tulabing closes his article by saying that homosexual acts, and not homosexuality itself, are intrinsically disordered. And preaches (as he is supposed to) using passages from the bible. I respect that, but I also hope he respects the fact that not everyone in this world believe in the bible, or in religion for that matter. And if they do, they do not necessarily have to believe in the same religion. I believe in a higher being and at the end of the day, I believe that ONLY my faith will save my soul. Not the Catholic church, not the Buddhist temples, not the bible, not the Torah, not even anyone else in this world.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to us being humans. We are all human and we should never allow anyone to take control of our humanity.
BAKLA AKO, MAY REKLAMO? Kung meron, let me quote Ate Vi: "It’s not my problem anymore, it’s your problem anymore!"
(I’M GAY, GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT? If you do, let me quote Ate Vi:"It’s not my problem anymore, it’s your problem anymore!")
Sources:
American Psychological Association. (2008). Answers to your questions: For a better understanding of sexual orientation and homosexuality. Washington, DC: Author. [Retrieved from www.apa.org/topics/sorientation.pdf.]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_relativism [Accessed 07/28/2009]
http://www.negroschronicle.com/?p=5672 [Accessed 07/28/2009]
http://www.moralrelativism.info [Accessed 07/28/2009]
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