Proud to Be

Going up an escalator from the MTR yesterday, I saw two ordinary-looking men in their 30's standing side-by-side three steps in front of me. They appeared to be having a decent conversation, as their eyes never left each other's. They might as well have been a gay couple. Okay, they were a gay couple. They were holding hands the whole time.

For those of us living in urban cities, a regular one-floor escalator ride in a subway station lasts, at most, 10 seconds. I admit... I spent the first three and a half of those seconds trying to find some trace of boobs on either one of the two of them. When I realized that not a dash of femininity could be found on either, I thought to myself, "wow". Actually I believed I mouthed it out too, at the same time that I raised my eyebrows, and nodded a reassuring nod. I couldn't, and still can't, think of any legitimate grounds for myself to claim any part of their pride. But at that moment, I really had an urge to go up and give them each a pat on the shoulder, and say "Good for you".

If I were still in Toronto, none of the above paragraph would have applied. Putting aside that Christmas would be here by the time anyone reaches the top of any escalator in that city; people are simply more outspoken with their sexuality. Gays/straights/whatever could be having an orgy on the roof of a bus and nobody would think much of it. Back to yesterday, the reason why I spent four and a half seconds doubting in my mind that what I saw was a genuine closet-free gay couple is because--I am in Hong Kong! For an ethnic group with over 5000 years' history and to whom having a daughter instead of a son is considered a punishment from their god, homosexuality is the ultimate taboo. Sure it's acceptable for gay couples to display affection in public--the behind-closed-doors-in-gay-bars kind of public.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against homosexuality. In fact, I might just have something against those who have something against homosexuality. I have known enough gays/lesbians to understand that their choice of lifestyle doesn't differ from, or affect for that matter, that of heterosexuals any more than Coke tastes different from Pepsi.

During that 10-second interval, I noticed another man in his 20's standing one step in front of me on the escalator. He simply could not have stared any harder at the couple, scanning from their hands to their faces and down their bodies and back to their faces again. It's quite sad to think that a population exposed to as much drugs, prostitution, teen pregnancies, organized crimes, homicides and suicides as we do can still manage to be so conservative when it comes to homosexuality. In my opinion, the gay population should play it loud. Perhaps people won't look twice as they get enough exposure to gays/lesbians, I know I wouldn't. I regret searching for boobs on the couple, after spending one and a half year in Hong Kong I have become one of those I condemn. I'd like to think that I wouldn't have to waste another three and a half seconds the next time I come across any couple.