"What secret could be so terrible that you would rather kill yourself than tell?"
This semester, I'm taking a psych elective. Psych 195: Special Topics in Psychology. This semester's topic is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Psychology. I didn't know what to expect. It was a topic that intrigued me a lot; I could definitely see myself doing research in this area. I genuinely wanted to learn more about this topic. And I wasn't disappointed.
We have our first assignment. Four readings, and outlines for three of them. No biggy. I guess I'm more surprised at myself after all the reading. These are things I know, things I've heard and sometimes read about. So I'm not sure why this time it affected me this much. (Enough to write a blog about it on a busy weeknight, at least.)
"What secret could be so terrible that you would rather kill yourself than tell?" Mallon (1997) said in one conference about suicide among adolescents. Indeed, why is it that so many feel that it would be better to die than reveal a secret? I guess by now, you know what I'm talking about. Why is it that so many LGBT adolescent (and not only them!) attempt suicide? Why is it that these people suffer? I guess at this point, all I can say is that for some of them, it's because this secret is too heavy. The prospects of what's to come after revealing such a secret is too scary. And how is it that these things are so scary that even death is a better option..?
I guess it is at this point that I will declare this dangerous (but probably familiar) idea. Society pushes these people to kill themselves. Society is to blame. How is it that we have developed a society that aids and perpetuates a culture of fear for our fellow human being? How is it okay to still have a societal view point where it is okay to discriminate? How is it that we are pushing them into boxes and closets that might push them into death?
It doesn't make sense to me.
Don't get me wrong. I know these people have free will, they have choices. But when they feel trapped by society? They feel like they run out of choices. It still doesn't make sense.
Lately, I have been more conscious about the religion issue. I haven't been truly honest with some of my peers. Coming from a Catholic school, it's hard to declare what I believe especially to those who take religion to heart. In college, I guess I've turned more agnostic. I believe in a higher being but not necessarily in the Catholic depiction of a God. I guess you could say, I've lost faith in the institution that is supposed to shepherd me and be my guide. What does this have to do with the rest of the entry?
I guess I'm disappointed in the Catholic Church. Here in the Philippines, they are very influential. And they can be very closed minded. It would be incorrect of me to say that they are the cause of all the hate perpetuated against the LGBT community, but I think I'm not incorrect in saying that they contribute. I can not, and will not be part of a Church that propagates hate. I will not be a part of a Church that even in the light of research, insists that people in LGBT communities are sick and are immoral. So much so that they are pushing these people to suicide. Same Sex Attraction Disorder? Bullshit. How can you preach of kindness and goodness and all of these great "Catholic" qualities but still be so.. hypocritical?
What secret could be so terrible? I guess a secret against the status quo.
We have our first assignment. Four readings, and outlines for three of them. No biggy. I guess I'm more surprised at myself after all the reading. These are things I know, things I've heard and sometimes read about. So I'm not sure why this time it affected me this much. (Enough to write a blog about it on a busy weeknight, at least.)
"What secret could be so terrible that you would rather kill yourself than tell?" Mallon (1997) said in one conference about suicide among adolescents. Indeed, why is it that so many feel that it would be better to die than reveal a secret? I guess by now, you know what I'm talking about. Why is it that so many LGBT adolescent (and not only them!) attempt suicide? Why is it that these people suffer? I guess at this point, all I can say is that for some of them, it's because this secret is too heavy. The prospects of what's to come after revealing such a secret is too scary. And how is it that these things are so scary that even death is a better option..?
I guess it is at this point that I will declare this dangerous (but probably familiar) idea. Society pushes these people to kill themselves. Society is to blame. How is it that we have developed a society that aids and perpetuates a culture of fear for our fellow human being? How is it okay to still have a societal view point where it is okay to discriminate? How is it that we are pushing them into boxes and closets that might push them into death?
It doesn't make sense to me.
Don't get me wrong. I know these people have free will, they have choices. But when they feel trapped by society? They feel like they run out of choices. It still doesn't make sense.
Lately, I have been more conscious about the religion issue. I haven't been truly honest with some of my peers. Coming from a Catholic school, it's hard to declare what I believe especially to those who take religion to heart. In college, I guess I've turned more agnostic. I believe in a higher being but not necessarily in the Catholic depiction of a God. I guess you could say, I've lost faith in the institution that is supposed to shepherd me and be my guide. What does this have to do with the rest of the entry?
I guess I'm disappointed in the Catholic Church. Here in the Philippines, they are very influential. And they can be very closed minded. It would be incorrect of me to say that they are the cause of all the hate perpetuated against the LGBT community, but I think I'm not incorrect in saying that they contribute. I can not, and will not be part of a Church that propagates hate. I will not be a part of a Church that even in the light of research, insists that people in LGBT communities are sick and are immoral. So much so that they are pushing these people to suicide. Same Sex Attraction Disorder? Bullshit. How can you preach of kindness and goodness and all of these great "Catholic" qualities but still be so.. hypocritical?
What secret could be so terrible? I guess a secret against the status quo.