CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF “GEYLUV” BY HONORIO BARTOLOME DE DIOS
Homosexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender.
As an orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectionate, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same sex; " it also refers to an individual's sense of personal and social identity based on those attractions, behaviors expressing them, and membership in a community of others who share them.
The most common terms for homosexual people are lesbian for females and gay for males, though gay is also used to refer generally to both homosexual males and females.
Homosexuality is one of the three main categories of sexual orientation, along with bisexuality and heterosexuality. Scientific and medical understanding is that sexual orientation is not a choice, but rather a complex interplay of biological and environmental factors, especially with regard to early uterine environment. While there are those who still hold the view that homosexual activity is "unnatural" or "dysfunctional", research has shown that homosexuality is an example of normal variation in human sexuality and is not in and of itself a source of negative psychological effects. Prejudice and discrimination against homosexual and bisexual people, however, have been shown to cause psychological harm.
Homosexuality is one of the most sensitive social issues nowadays.
Many gay and lesbian people are in committed same-sex relationships. These relationships are equivalent to heterosexual relationships in essential psychological respects. Homosexual relationships
and acts have been admired, as well as condemned, throughout recorded history, depending on the form they took and the culture in which they occurred.
In a conservative country like the Philippines, need not to say a Catholic-dominated one, liberal ideas including sex education, artificial contraceptives, divorce, and gay and lesbian rights remain foreign, and worse, same sex relationships are tags as immoral and unacceptable.
Honorio Bartolome de Dios’ “Geyluv” states a love story of two individuals in the persons of Benjie and Mike who belong to the same sex. It talks about how Benjie fell in love with Mike and how their relationship started to get more and more intimate. It also talks about how friendship and closeness can sometimes lead to something more.
The main characters in the story were Benjie, a homosexual, and Mike, a handsome bachelor. They first met in a media party of the company of the latter and were brought for a same project at Zambales. For being compatible in a lot of things and interests, they consequently became good friends. Mike and Benjie hung out together most of the time. They drink together, watch movie together, or simply even eat together for meals. One time, while in a bar, Benjie told Mike that he loves him and after that, they did not talk with each other for the whole night. After some realization, they decided to live together in the same apartment in order for them to fully realize what they would want to happen in their relationship.
The theme of the story revolves around friendship – because Mike and Benjie always in each others side in times of trouble, equality – because the gender of Benjie serves no limitation for Mike, and the right to love – because everyone is entitled to love and to be loved inspite of the indifferences.
It showed the character of gay people as very energetic, fun, and loving but sometimes they feel underappreciated and discriminated because of their gayness.
It also proves that some homosexuals are afraid to come out because they feel that people have not accepted them. Anybody can relate to the gay which is Benjie who is looking for true love and meaningful relationship as anybody else. The good thing about him is he believes in the line “Naniniwala yata akong pinagpala din ng Diyos ang mga bakla!” He says so because he optimistically believes that someday, a guy will come, who will love him truthfully and who would treat theirs meaningfully. And he hopes that one day, God will help him to find such a guy. Benjie is a gay who had been hurt many times because of love and because of that, he turned to be a “bitchy gay”. He doesn’t care whether you respect him for being a gay. He’s a gay and “eat your own ears,” he would say. However, his bitchiness is actually a defense mechanism against the entire discriminating society. When everything has been said and done, he is a caring, harmless, and lovable partner. On the other hand, Mike is an attractive, intelligent, and full of masculinity bachelor who just broke up with his girlfriend named Carmi for the reason of imbalanced between work and the woman. When he realized he was already falling for Benjie he found it weird and hard to accept. He also doubted it, but why should he, he told himself. For in times he was down, and he needed somebody to be with him, Benjie was always there. He has never been taken advantage of by Benjie though he had tempted him several times. The ending of these two is eventually Mike fell for Benjie but was not able to admit it because during this time, he would notice that Benjie is evading him for some reasons. First, because he is afraid to love. Second, because he is unsure if what Mike’s feeling is really true, and lastly, he thinks that he is just illusioning.
This short story intentionally leaves the readers an open end which makes it worth discussing and interesting. Preferred ending varies according to the opinion of individuals reading it about same sex relationships. The author had vividly illustrated the strict view of the society on the third sex. One of the implications of the short story is that people who belong to the third sex should not be discriminated and treated indifferently. They should be treated equally as any other else because just like any other people, they also have their rights particularly the basic rights such as, the right to live in accordance to their will and the right not to be treated indifferently. Homosexual individuals may have different perspectives in life but that does not give an excuse to anybody to discriminate them. To love and to be loved is a privilege intended for all humans not excluding individuals who belong to the third sex. It is a beautiful thing for all. The author Honorio Bartolome de Dios is a brilliant writer who successfully delivered a wonderful message through his composition. He has written it very realistically and effectively that one may think he’s just voicing his own err. Personally, the story serves as an eye opener for me because honestly before, I already have these questions in mind, “why do men have to be gays? They were born men but why do they have to act like women? ” I even thought before it is a kind of abnormality. But now, having been read and understood the feelings of gay people, I now understand how they feel. I can say my view has even changed. As a straight man, my sexuality is not a choice. I don't have the option of being attracted to other men. I simply don't feel it. If someone told me the attraction I felt for women was wrong and I had
to resist, I don't think I could do it. You simply don't choose who you are attracted to. I think anyone who can truly believe it is a choice probably has issues with their own orientation they need to resolve. We are all people. I don't see why some people should be discriminated either by race or gender. Homosexual behavior is entirely natural and should therefore be recognized as good and a legitimate part of the human experience.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality http://www.studymode.com/essays/Geyluv-599361.html?topic
