Last night I was supposed to meet a friend in a coffee shop. Half an our passed and I received a message from him saying that he would not be able to come. Wanting to finish transcribing my data, I just shrugged off being stood up and continued with my business.
Minutes later, I found myself transferring from the couch area to the long table because the girl beside me just decided to air-dry her feet. The stench of her sweaty feet was giving me a headache. I really felt sorry for my nose for having to endure that disgusting odor.
At the long table, I immediately noticed a good-looking guy across me. He seemed to work in a corporate setting judging from his attire of a combination of long sleeves and black slacks. As he was intently reading his book, I kept on stealing glances and just appreciating the pleasant face that he has. Even at first glance I already knew he was gay. I have a knack of being right ninety percent of the time thanks to my valid gaydar.
With my earphones placed, I started to continue my transcription. In the duration of typing, I would occasionally pause and play the audio recording. During a time when the recording was paused, I heard guy across the table (GA) inviting a good friend (GF) to come over and accompany him. When GF arrived, I confirmed they're both gays through eavesdropping in their conversation whenever I was typing. They were talking about Bed and Obar, and of their friends' partners.
A part of their conversation stuck in my head..
GF: Nagkakagusto ka ba doon sa ganoon? sa girlie-girlie.
I was eager to hear their conversation because I wanted to know if the statement that straight-acting gay guys are strictly looking for the same is true.
GA: Hindi.
GF: ah. ako rin. isang beses kasi na kela.... ako, nakaupo ako sa sofa, narinig ko si... kumakanta ng regine velasquez song. nakaka-turn-off. hehehe
Incredible. I've long accepted that gays do have preferences. We are composed of different colors and shades that we choose who we would want to be with. But to look down on other gay men just because they sing Regine, Beyonce, or Mariah songs is, in my opinion, unnecessary. What's wrong with singing along with these divas? Though we gay guys are different, aren't we all still the same? We all like dicks, don't we?
Not really wanting to ruin my night and get angry, I just concentrated listening at the recording and typing what I hear. But during an interval, I caught another part of their conversation.
GA: dahil dun sa friend kong iyon kaya ako nakapasok jan sa Bed at OBar.
GF: ah baka ganoon ka na rin ah [doing the mapilantik hand gesture] haha Di ko alam, di naman kasi kita madalas makasama e.
GA: hehe hindi naman.
Who's he to say that? I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. It seems like there's discrimination even in a diverse community which fights for equality. Such a douche-bag. What surprised me more was they seem to be affluent educated individuals, yet they show narrow-mindedness with people in the same community.
I immediately turned back my attention to my laptop before I get really infuriated with those two. As I gazed through the glass window, I saw my friend, the one I was supposed to meet, walk towards the door. I greeted him as he approached the table before having a seat. He sat across me and beside GA. He greeted me, and then turned to GA and greeted him as well. And to my surprise, they're also friends. Talk about having an awkward small world.
Sadly, that is something not uncommon in our community, Mamon. Straight-acting pamintas look down on effeminate ones. I admit I was like that before. Maybe that's why more and more effeminates force themselves to look like discreet, even though it's not natural for them. *sigh*
ReplyDeletesee. that's already judging. who's to say that wanting to look discreet is unnatural for some?
DeleteI guess the world is too small for you guys :)
ReplyDeleteyeah, i guess so. gay guys in the metro usually have mutual friends or acquintances they don't know about.
Deletehahaha i wonder kung sino yan!!!
ReplyDeleteand sana lumapit ka at binuhasan siya ng drinks mo sabay flip ng hair! chos
naku! feeling ko magugustuhan mo siya! tried to stalk him in FB kaso di ko siya makita.
Deletegusto ko nga sumabat, with matching high-pitched voice na "excuse me?!" haha
We are advocates of anti-discrimination but we actually promote discrimination.
ReplyDeleteWe are advocates of no-labels yet we label ourselves.
We are advocates of protection yet we do it without protection.
We are gay men, ironically advocating.
mukhang ganoon na nga.
DeleteAko respect na lang sa preferences ng iba if they wish to be loud and out or be discreet. Its my option naman kung sinu gusto ko maging partner o ikama but I have no whims about the others as long as they don't make unwanted advances din.
ReplyDeletedapat nag-whistle ka ng walang kaabog-abog. chariz!
ReplyDelete@Seth: whatcha mean unwanted advances?
ReplyDelete@Nyora: oo nga, with matching Z snaps pa. hehe Welcome to my blog.
never did i refer to myself as "one of them", or to anyone as "one of us". dun kasi nagsisimula yun, when people start looking at themselves as "apart" from the rest. discrimination starts when one associate himself with a particular/specific class/group/ stereotype.
ReplyDeleteBading ako. dahil ako ay may gusto sa lalaki.
sa akin lang yun. ewan ko na sa iba. that's simple.
Very well said, V!
Deleteyou've hit a chord there. it's indeed a sad reality. at one point i began to ask myself why, we, of all people, who know what it feels to be discriminated, do it to our same kind. human nature i guess. pero just the same it's depressing.
ReplyDelete