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A few weeks ago, a conversation with a few group of friends led to their sentiments about gays and lesbians. I can’t exactly recall how the topic emerged. The most I can remember, a friend uttered her reluctance of dealing with lesbians. She admits preferring gays than tomboys. She has this natural disinclination against lesbians. She swore never getting involved with them. I wanted to challenge her selfish conviction. I wanted to tell her how inconsiderate and discriminating she was. My intensifying desire to argue was taken aback because I remember the real intention of that night. We were gathered to unwind after an exhausting work week.

At some point, I regret my decision to keep quiet. Part of me feels guilty for my other friends. Yes, I have a handful of great friends, who are lesbians and tomboys. I don’t have gay friends of my age. The most I have are gay students who provide me that much needed comic relief in class. Some of them turned out to become a few of my good friends. (NOTE) I don’t mean discriminate but I had more negative experiences with gays than lesbians. Despite of everything, I don’t really consider gender as a requisite for friendship or even work.

The experience made me recall a great lesson life taught me. RESPECT and NEVER DISCRIMINATE. This particularly goes to the members of the gay and lesbian community. I’m a devoted Catholic and even though Bible interpreters keep on claiming that God despises them, my respect remains untainted. Even in my family, I’m proud to say that gender is not really a major issue. I grew up with parents, aunties, uncles and grandparents who whole-heartedly embraced and accepted every kid, regardless of who they are and what they chose to become. I guess this started my firm belief of respecting everyone.

So whether you are girl, boy, bakla or tomboy, you are welcome to my life. As long as you can bear my hopeless romantic hormones, cheesiness, foodie indulgences, and occasional mood swings then welcome to my life :)