Elevate(or) Your Mind / Greetings

Scene in the elevator this morning: There were four other people inside besides me. Two guys, two girls, obviously all officemates.

Guy 1(to the other guy): Pare, kung may anak kang lalake, ano’ng mas gugustuhin mo sa kanya: maging adik o maging bakla?

Guy 2 (laughs): Anong klaseng tanong naman yan?

Girl 1: Ay, mas gugustuhin kong maging bakla.

Girl 2: Ako rin, mas mabuti kung bakla na lang siya.

Guy 2: At least ang adik, nare-reform.

And as they laugh at his statement, the door opened and they stepped off. Saved by the elevator.

Thinking about it afterwards, I had a couple of conflicting thoughts. On the one hand, it’s good that he believes homosexuality cannot be reformed. But on the other hand, his statement sounds like he’d rather that his gay child be reformed.

Interestingly, the girls found it easier to wrap their minds around the idea that their son is gay. It’s the guys who had problems with it.

* * * * *

Today is the anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center towers in New York. Today also happens to be the birthday of Migs, the Manila Gay Guy. Those of us who are privileged to know the real Migs are fortunate to experience firsthand the generosity and open-mindedness of Migs. You really believe that he genuinely seeks the best for everyone.

So in the spirit of 9-11 and Migs’ birthday, I say: Happy birthday Migs, and world peace!