I cannot ignore what is happening in the Philippines or the Philippine media, especially when they touch on the subject of homosexuality. So when this local television show attempts to discuss the topic, “What should a parent do if the child shows early signs of being gay?” without the slightest hint of impartiality, it becomes a disaster.
The show aired and even went as so far to print the interview on a column in a local publication. What did the “noted psychologist” Dr. Camille Garcia advice parents to do? In two words, practice bigotry.
Yes, you read that right. She’s a psychologist advising parents to “arrest the situation” when a child shows signs of being gay, because that is the right thing to do. She states that being gay can be corrected, thereby presuming that being gay is not right or normal and that it is a choice.
There are so many wrongs with this interview, with this doctor that a single blog post would not suffice. And now, this doctor claims she is merely offering her personal opinion and not a professional one. Really? You took an oath and wear the coat. When a television crew or a journalists asks you for an interview, don’t you think that they are soliciting you for an expert and professional advice?
The thing is you chose to be a bigot. It’s mighty shameful that you are a psychologist, and in this day and age, for you to freely give out this kind of advice is mighty alarming.
And to add insult to injury, the host and columnist, Tintin Bersola Babao, who had interviewed this doctor went as so far as to “share” and “expound” on the doctor’s views. She goes on to narrate how her own brand of parenting lives up to these “truths” expressed by the doctor.
I am enraged, to say the very least. It is highly irresponsible for the host, the doctor, the network TV5, and even the Philippine Star to air and print this homophobic and highly discriminatory interview. What were you people thinking!? Were you even thinking at all?!?
You have done a great disservice to the LGBT community.
There is no excuse for this.
This is the kind of thinking that promotes parents to mistreat and disown their lesbian or gay children. This is the kind of thinking that breeds fear. This is the kind of thinking that promotes discrimination. And this is the kind of thinking that disadvantages the LGBT community from having the same rights as everyone else.
Shame on you.
And by the way, you may want to rethink the title of your column. I think it’s more accurate to say “Being Homophobic” or “Being Bigots”.
For the full article, you may read it here.
On a lighter note, here is a column written by Laurel Fantauzzo in response to this ill and misconceived article on raising a gay child.
LezGoMelbourne 