Chapter 1
The Problem
Introduction
A Closet Queen (homosexual) is a person whose gender orientation and sexual desire is on a person of his same sex. For a person who is a homosexual, to come out in the open is not easy. There were lots of cases that homosexuals were cast out from a lot of aspects both in the macro and micro level. In a heterosexual society, homosexuality is considered as taboo or a deviant.
Pettis (2004), stated that in the Philippines, there are two-terms for homosexuals. The first one is bakla/sissy, bading, binabae, bayot, bantut (in local term) that have a sexual attraction with the same male sex. The second one is lesbian/tomboy, T-bird that has a sexual attraction with the same female sex. On the other hand homosexual men are also called ‘jun-jun’, ‘maya’, ‘shukla’ or ‘amegs’ that is the focus of the study.
As cited by Tan (2001), there is a local term for coming out of homosexual men and that was ‘magladlad ng kapa’. It has a literal translation of unfurling one’s cape and was clearly coined in the context of the ‘parlorista’ or the fashion designer. They were also known in the pageant industry and some personalities in showbiz.
As observed by the researchers, the coming out of a homosexual in Bukidnon State University, Malaybalay City it was slowly changing and in fact people were more likely to hang out with them because they are the happiest person to be with. Today, it is considered as normal to see an open homosexual people since most of the people accepted them in the society. However, because of the standards of the Filipino society, people still differentiate proper from improper and abnormal behaviors. Others still discriminate them for being gay. To note, other people would label them as deviants with regards to their attitudes, beliefs and dispositions.
But society does not know the struggles of a homosexual, on how he is supposed to behave and be accepted as a normal person. Thus, the purpose of this study is to find out how homosexuals at BukSu evolved and established their own identity as homosexuals and be accepted by the mainstream society.
Framework of the Study
This study was anchored on the Labeling theory of Becker (1950) as cited by Garcia (2013).
Garcia (2013) stated that labeling theory was generally an individual’s identity within a society, focusing on the labels society has on them usually because they do not fit into the typical norm. Labeling was a process of giving an individual a title they have not chosen for themselves. This title carries with it preconceived ideas, traits and characteristics about the individual. Labeling theory could have either negative or positive consequences, but usually it was associated with negative consequences that spin around deviance. Labels can start at birth and can last for a lifetime.
In application of this theory, people are defined on how society perceives them and on how a person accepts the labels that was attached by the society to him. People label them as deviant based on the homosexuals’ attitudes, beliefs and dispositions. This remains because people differentiate the proper and improper in the society.
According to Becker (1950) as cited by Garcia (2013) that in labeling theory, there are two distinctive deviances the primary and secondary deviance. Primary deviance is when most people do something deviant but do not expose themselves; secondary deviance is when a person takes on the identity of a deviant and can be pushed into a ‘deviant career.’ Someone becomes deviant when they get labeled by the people that surround them.
Meanwhile those people who make deviant behavior can be interpreted as a ‘law offender’. This was a powerfully negative label that generally changes a person’s self-concept and social identity. Offenders may also encounter social obstacles especially in finding a person who will accept them, for who they are, specifically those homosexuals who were labeled as deviants (Becker, 1950 as cited by Garcia 2013).
According to Blumer (1930) as mentioned by Tassinari (2011) symbolic interaction theory was the conceptualization of outlooks based on attitudes and later change of attitudes. These were the two phases of symbolic interaction theory: the first was symbolic phase, a tendency that was represented by a specific direction; and the individual’s attitudes and approach towards an object that become organized on the basis of the symbolic character of the object.
This symbolic character replicated how the object has been seen and acted upon by others. The second was an affective or ‘feeling’ phase that assures the attitude in its liveliness, movement, strength and courage. Blumer as cited by Tassinari (2011) argued that this concept of ‘feeling’ was important in attitudes because it was necessary to every social attitude and that emotion and feelings were involved in how human relate to objects; and in order for sincere change in an attitude, the feelings one has towards that object must change.
As stated by the theory of Weber (1920) as cited by Crossman (2017), the symbolic interaction theory analyzed society by addressing the particular meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviors. Particular meanings were given primacy because it was believed that people behaved based on what they believed and not just on what was objectively true. Thus, society was thought to be socially constructed through human interpretation. People interpret one another’s behavior and it was these interpretations that form the social bond.
In application of this theory people have different attitudes and behaviors in society specifically among homosexuals. In addition, the theory foresees that there are changes among homosexuals from past to present and also the changes of perception of the society towards them. Based from this theory, people give meaning to those actions based on how an individual reacts to the current situation.
Statement of the Problem
This study explored the coming out of a closet queen in Bukidnon State University, Malaybalay City for the School Year 2017-2018.
Specifically, this study aimed to answer the following:
1. What are the struggles/experiences of homosexuals in coming out of their true selves?
2. What are the factors that influenced them on becoming a homosexual?
3. How did the community accept them as homosexual?
Significance of the Study
The results of this study is hoped to be of benefit to the following:
To the Homosexuals. The findings of this study is hoped to enlighten them and strengthen them to have courage and trust in themselves for better acceptance within themselves and in the society.
To the Heterosexuals. This study will hopefully enlighten them on the nature of a homosexual that they may consider the homosexuals with respect and as equals in the society. It will also help them to realize that they are also human beings that need acceptance and love and should therefore be treated with respect and dignity.
To the Parents of a homosexual. This study will inform the parents towards the acceptance of their children as homosexuals and be treated as normal human beings.
To the Community. This study provides information to help understand various aspects of homosexuality and would therefore make the community to be open-minded and sensitive, and hopefully change their perspective of homosexuals as deviant persons.
To the Future Researchers. This study will also serve as reference and additional information on the different perspectives and views of homosexuality.
Delimitation of the Study
This study was delimited to the coming out of a homosexual of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) students of Bukidnon State University (BukSU) Malaybalay City, School Year 2017-2018. There were 1,654 total populations of the College from the registrar’s office. The researchers used purposive sampling for choosing the participants whom the researchers already identified. There were seven closet queen interviews as selected participants from the chosen location in order to get the result of the study. The in-depth interview was utilized in this study to acquire the needed data to answer the statements of the problem. The researcher-made questionnaire was used in the study.
Definition of Terms
The following terms defined theoretically and or operationally for better understanding of the study.
Closet Queen. A homosexual who has not identified himself as being homosexual, it can be known to a homosexual who denies his homosexuality to himself and keeps it hidden from others (Plummer, 2002).
In this study, it refers to a homosexual who is in denial stage or called as secret queen.
Homosexuals. Homosexuals refer to a man or a boy who is effeminate or who has the qualities or traits of a woman or a girl. This includes also a woman or a girl who has the qualities or traits of a man or a boy (Pettis, 2004).
In this study, it refers to a ‘gay’ homosexual who are attracted to their same sex or exhibiting opposite sexual behavior among the members of the same sex or gender.
Social Acceptance. Social Acceptance refers to the individual’s feelings about performing the action and how others nearby identify the users’ actions that need to be investigated as to determine social acceptance (Montero, 2010).
In this study, it refers to the ‘gay’ homosexual that want to be accepted by others especially in the society.
Struggles. Struggles refers to complications, problems, troubles encountered by the people on their individual problems (Baah, 2009).
In this study, it refers to a ‘gay’ homosexual who are experiencing/encountering being bullied or being not accepted by the mainstream society.
Self-Acceptance. Self-Acceptance is embracing who and what you are, your strengths as well as your imperfections. It is also an invitation to stop trying to change yourself into the person that you are wished for (Herald, 2015).
In this study, it refers to a person who already knows who he is; knows his strengths and weaknesses, and knows what he wants that will allow him to be more comfortable with his place in this world.
Experience. Experience refers to the bearing or enduring of something hard, bitter disappointment that happens to someone (Letsoalo, 2016).
In this study, it refers to the ‘gay’ homosexual who experience of being not accepted as a normal person in the mainstream society.
Chapter 2
Review of literature
This chapter presents an overview of some related researches, notions and works that are relevant to the overall framework of the study. The studies presented may differ in certain aspects but in some way have relevance to the present study.
General Overview of the Coming out of A Closet Queen
A homosexual has been here in this world since time immemorial. Many of us know someone or have heard of someone who has chosen that lifestyle. For you it could be a brother, cousin, father and some other family members or friend. We are bombarded with it in television, magazines, movies, the internet, politics, and even in the classrooms.
Romeijn (2015) further stated that heterosexuals and homosexuals live and grow in the same environment; changes in one area will impact both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Heterosexuality was the dominant culture but the movement of equality for homosexuals has challenged the dominant culture to take a closer look at their own beliefs and norms
Romeijn (2015) mentioned that social acceptance has been ignored in studies of the causes of discrimination; there were studies of the causes behind the social acceptance of homosexuals. These studies tend to draw a large number of somewhat comparable explanations. Generally, they find the process in which they were similar to modernization as described by the theory that people can possibly change their concept about homosexuals and the society towards the homosexuals who were existing in the society.
Experiences of homosexual
Most of the countries all over the world have accepted the homosexual like the Dutch country. The Dutch government is committed to equal rights and social acceptance of the homosexuals. But here in the Philippines the government is still in the process since it was prohibited by the law and it was the people’s choice why gay men were still on the progression of being accepted in the society. One of the problems that a homosexual encounters is on how individuals accepted the reality that homosexual is exist in the society and on how homosexual gay accept their selves. More often these homosexual are pushed to find those people who are willing to accept their identity, (Bruce, 2013).
Social acceptance of homosexuals in other countries especially in the Philippines, had slowly changed dramatically over the past decade and the homosexual adults were very aware of this. These changing attitudes have meant that homosexual adults feel more accepted by society now, than in the past. They have also given rise to a nearly universal sense of assurance about what lies ahead for this community or in the society (Gary ,2013).
At the same time Gary (2013) mentioned that in the Philippines, a number of variables have been consistently found to be related to attitudes and on how people accepted the gay men in the society compared to the heterosexuals with favorable attitudes and more accepted in the society than to those gay people. Individuals with heterosexist attitudes were more likely to be older, reside in geographic areas where heterosexism represented the norm, be more strongly religious and subscribe to a conservative religious belief, be less likely to have fewer friends who were openly gay.
In addition, many studies have shown that heterosexual men tend to be more negative in their attitudes than heterosexual women, especially towards the gay males. Since women were more likely to know how to interact openly with gay people that lead to more positive attitudes rather than those heterosexual men who were under considerable pressure to affirm their masculinity by rejecting what was perceived as anti-masculine, such as being gay. That’s why most homosexuals hide their identity since they were afraid of those people that could not accept them for being a gay man but it is now slowly being accepted since it was that homosexuals exist and in the society (Herek et. al, 2000).
However many of the gays still experienced bullying either physical or verbal abuse, being threatened, hit, kicked, made fun of them and, ignored. The homosexuals experienced these in school, work, or even in the street. No person deserved to be victims of being bullied. This was being never acceptable.
Colleen, (2015) mentioned that sexual identity whether heterosexual or homosexual was an essential part of any human’s development and experiencing difficulty in developing a positive sexual identity was normal. It was expected however, that there was a barrier in understanding the uniqueness of the homosexual. Coming out for the first time was not only an important developmental task for the homosexual adolescent, but it was an event that can have lasting effects into adulthood. It was an interpersonal acknowledgement of a developmental struggle and requires a certain amount of inner and outer resources.
Bond (2009) claimed that the adolescence stage is a dangerous time in the individual’s identity development. As a young man he should understand what he is and who he is, of what personality he fits in. Once the young man doesn’t understand his personality he will have role confusions or role mix’up. In this stage he needed to be guided on choosing his identity.
Ere”o (2014) mentioned that there were six stages that described the identity development of a gay. These are the following: 1.)Identity confusion could I be a gay in this stage he is aware of gay’s thoughts, feelings and attraction to the same sex, 2.) Identity comparison ‘perhaps this does apply to me’, in this stage the person’s acceptance probability of being a gay, 3.) Identity tolerance, I’m not the only one who is coming out as a gay man but there are other homosexuals in the society who also come out, 4.) Identity acceptance. I will be okay the person attaches a positive meaning, 5.) Identity Pride ‘I've got to let people know that they are not the only one who is existing in the society perhaps it divides the world into heterosexuals and homosexuals, and is immersed in gay or lesbian culture while minimizing contact with heterosexuals, and 6.) Identity Synthesis, This is who I am.
According to Coleman (1982) as cited by Bond et. al, (2009) there were five steps in the coming out of a gay. The pre coming out step the young gay man feels different but was not aware that he was attracted to the same sex. Second was the coming out step when gay the man realized that he was attracted to the same sex. The third is exploration the step that involves experimentation with one’s sexual identity, through developing interpersonal skills to meet others who shared his sexual orientation. During the first relationships step, the person learned how to have a connection with the same sex. In the final step, identity integration, the gay man brings together his public and private characters in order to mix his new Identity as a gay man.
This statement showed that gay men want to come out as they are without wearing a mask. Perhaps they want to be distinguished as a person who exists in the society, in their family that accepts them for not being a heterosexual but as a homosexual.
Struggles of the homosexual
Savin (1998) observed that homosexuals might be feeling fearful when they were coming out or ‘magladlad ng kapa’ and worry that it might be a cause of trouble. For example, a gay who decided to come out to his parents could be rejected and his allowance was cut off and is made to get out from their home. They were certain that there will be a degree of conflict common in the coming out process but there were also several benefits that may eventually result after such an experience. Feelings such as freedom and liberation were usually described from the people who came out, as well as pride in being true to their self as homosexuals.
Marginalization and discrimination were essentials of rejection in the community where they live. Homosexuals who were being marginalized have moderate control over their lives but they may become stigmatized and were often at the receiving end of negative public attitudes. Their opportunities to make social contributions may be limited and they may develop low self-confidence and self-respect and may become isolated.
Social policies and practices may mean they have relatively limited access to valued social resources such as education and health services, housing, income, leisure activities and work. The impacts of marginalization, in terms of social barring, were the dropping out of school earlier, separated to home and family, incapable to find jobs, have less options than others, being passed over in the community and lonely, not capable to access various facilities and move to the other areas (Subhrajit ,2014). This statement declared that any of them want an acceptance through the community or being a part of a society.
Mullins (2007) states that self-acceptance among homosexuals can be found in our family that has been shown first into our individual home; on how they showed their parental attitudes towards their children and for all the homosexuals that was existing in our society and accounted for significant amounts of variance in emotional adjustments to their selves towards being homosexual. In order, to begin tackling the ability to be proactive rather than reactive, more research was needed to identify how to foster the resiliency factors and develop strategies to prevent negative outcomes for homosexuals (Vaughan & Waehler, 2010).
Insights
The first part discussed the general overview of the Coming out of a Closet Queen. The second part discussed the experience of the homosexual (closet queen). The third part discussed about the struggle of the homosexual (closet queen).
To sum it all, the closet queen experiencing different struggles in their different lives but some of them was accepted by the mainstream society. This paper would eventually give knowledge to the readers and also the researchers help in making their study since they make this literature as a guide in making the interpretation.
Chapter 3
Methodology
This chapter presents the methodology. It includes the research design, research locale, the participants of the study, and instrument used data analysis and research ethics.
Research Design
This study utilized a qualitative research design which includes interviews, discussions and observation to collect data about the experiences in the coming out of the closet queen Creswell, (2013) stated that qualitative research design is the process of the understanding reasons of their experiences through observation and individual interview to provide better understanding about the problems of the coming out of a homosexual (closet queen) in Malaybalay City to the SY 2017-2018.
Research Locale
This study was conducted in Bukidnon State University (BukSu) City of Malaybalay the capital of Bukidnon Province. The city is located in the heart of Mindanao. It is relatively cool and refreshing throughout the year. It is occupies an area of 108,259 hectares roughly 13.15 percent of the total land of the province.
Bukidnon State College was recognized in 1924, known as Bukidnon Provincial High School. BSC started a two year course to train elementary school teachers. By the year 1928, it was retitled Bukidnon Secondary Normal School offering a four-year secondary normal program. A two-year special collegiate teacher education course was offered and the school had Bukidnon Normal School (BNS) year 1952. In 1956, BNS started offer Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEE) degree.
At the present time Bukidnon State University is divided into five Colleges, namely College of Arts in Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Nursing and College of Communication Development Technology. Total college student population recorded in the school official portal in the year 2016 is 10,227.
Figure 1. Campus Map of BukSU
Figure 2. Map of Malaybalay City
LEGEND: Sumpong, Malaybalay City
Participants of the Study
The participants of the study were homosexual (closet queen) students of Bukidnon State University (BukSU) Malaybalay City. The homosexual (closet queen) was struggling in coming out of themselves in the mainstream society. There were 1,654 total populations of the College of Arts and Sciences SY 2017-2018. They were 7 participants were purposively selected of the study. The research instruments were used by the researchers was interview guide questionnaire adopted modified questionnaire by Pepito (2016) of her study in coming out of millennial Filipino gay men as guide questions during individual interview and including the use of cellphone for the recording of the answers of the participants.
Administration of the Questionnaire
In this study, the researchers have adopted a modified questionnaire from Pepito (2016) on her study in the coming out of millennial Filipino gay men as guide questions during the individual interview. The first question asked was ‘What are the struggles/experiences of homosexuals in coming out of their selves and being open to the society where they belong’. The second interview guide question ‘what are the factors that influenced you on becoming a homosexual; and the third question asked them on ‘how did the community accept them as homosexual’.
Observation had been applied in determining the coming out of a homosexual (closet queen). One’on-one interview of the participants with the researchers and all conversations had been recorded. Another observation was done on the concentration and willingness of the participants in answering the question during the interview.
Data Analysis
The interview guide questions were used to discover the struggles and experiences of the closet queen. The researchers analyzed and interpreted the responses of the participants during the one- on-one interview (in depth interview). This study used themes to interpret and analyze the data gathered. The data were interpreted and discussed on a narrative way. In the process of identifying themes, the researchers transcribed from the audio recorded and from the transcripts of the interview. These were utilized in response to the main research question on the coming out of a closet queen.
Research Ethics
The researchers ask permission from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences as well as the Chairperson, the Mentor of the Researchers through letter. The researchers conducted an interview for the homosexuals (closet queen). They explained the objectives and the purpose of the study. The gathered information treated with confidentiality. The privacy of the respondents was treated with due respect. The researchers acknowledged their accountability on respecting the participants’ information. The participants were free to answer questions. Individual interview and observation were employed.
Chapter 4
Presentation, Analysis, Interpretation of Data
This chapter presents the themes that emerged from the analysis of the participants responses during the conduct of the in depth interview and from the individual observation. The organization of this chapter follows the presentation in Chapter.
On the struggles of the Coming Out of a closet queen
There were struggles and experiences experienced by the closet queen in coming out from the mainstream society. These were being explored in this theme. Data pertaining to these experiences were presented through frames. Homosexuals would eventually face certain struggles as they choose to come out and tell or show the world of their true sexual preference. Theme 1 presents the responses gathered from the participants regarding their struggles when they came out as a closet queen.
Frame 1
Responses of the Homosexuals regarding to their struggles and experiences as they come out as a Closet Queen.
Participant 1 ”.Alright bullying mao na siya’nga which is daghan man gud mga bata nga dili nemo ka level dayon ingnon mangud kanang ‘ing-ana ka’ bayot ka! Wala.. Wala mo’y lugar sa society.’ (‘.alright bullying it is, when a lot of my schoolmates would say that we are not in the same level. They would say ‘Your gay! You don’t have place in this society’)
Participant 2 ”..Ang pinaka-struggles jud kay ang acceptance sa akong ginikanan sa akong pagkatao’.’ (‘.The worst struggle that I’ve experienced is on how to earn the acceptance of my parents of what I am now’)
Participant 3 ‘The struggles that I’ve been experience sa pag-gawas nako kay gina bully ug ginahemo nila ko ug kataw-an” (‘..The struggles that I’ve experienced in coming out were, I was bullied me and they also made fun at me’.)
Participant 4 ‘Halos sa akong mga amiga kay puros babae mao pud siguro na usa naka influenced sa akoa pagka gay” (‘Most of my friends are girls; maybe they are the ones who influenced me to be gay’)
Participant 5 ”.. Una bullying labi na ang mga laki perme kaayo mang bully og ignon ka bayot ka! Ika duwa dayon discrimination sa silingan nga dile ka gina respeto’ (‘.First is bullying especially among men, they are always bullying me, they always call me as gay, and also my neighbors discriminate me and they don’t respect me’.)
Participant 6 ”. Daghan ga bothered sa akoa kung unsa ang ako ng buhaton especially sa akong lihok ila mang bantayan” (‘.I’m bothered of so many things like, what should I do especially because they always closely observe my actions’.)
Participant 7 ”..So hard to communicate to other people especially nga makabalo na bitaw sila sa emong identity murag mo distance na sila sa emo and especially sa emong parents nga once makabalo na sila murag makaingon sila nga walay right manners and right conduct bitaw…’ (‘It is hard to communicate with other people especially when they discover your identity and they will keep already a distance from you specially when your parents will know, they will say that you have no manners and right conduct’..)
Frame 1 reveals that bullying and discrimination are one of the struggles and experiences that the closet queens encounter when coming out. They were also apprehensive of the reactions of their parents which are mostly negative.
Closet queen 1 stated that discrimination is always been there. It is normal for the society to discriminate gays. Similarly, closet queens 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 encountered bullying of their classmates and neighbors. It is not easy to encounter bullying the closet queens expressed their uncontrolled and unexplained emotions in discussing their experiences being bulled and discriminated. The family who is supposed to give understanding and support refuse to accept them as gays.
This was asserted by Herek et.al, (2000) that gays still experienced bullying in physical or verbal abuse, being threatened, hit, kicked, made fun of them and ignored. The homosexuals experience this in school, work, or even in the street. No one deserves to be a victim of being bullied, this is never acceptable. At the same time, Gary (2013) mentioned that women are more likely to know how to interact openly with gay people that lead to more positive attitudes rather than those heterosexual men who are under considerable pressure to affirm their masculinity by rejecting what is perceived as anti-masculine, such as being gay.
Mullins (2007) said that homosexuals exist in our society and accounted for significant amounts of variance in emotional adjustments to their selves towards being homosexual. Colleen, (2015) mention that sexual identity whether heterosexual or homosexual is an essential part of any humans’ development and experiencing difficulty in developing a positive sexual identity is normal.
Savin (1998) observes that homosexuals might be feeling fearful when they are coming out or ‘magladlad ng kappa’ and worry that it might be a cause of trouble. For example, a gay who will decide to come out to his parents could be rejected and his allowance cut off and be made to get out from their home. They are certain there will be a degree of conflict in the coming out process but there are also several benefits that may eventually result after such an experience. Feelings such as freedom and liberation are usually described from the people who came out, as well as pride in being true to their self as homosexuals.
Savin (1998) also observes that marginalization and discrimination are essentials of rejection in the community where they live, from different persons, in the interpersonal and social levels. Homosexuals who are being marginalized have moderate control over their lives but they may become stigmatized and are often at the receiving end of negative public attitudes. Their opportunities to make social contributions may be limited and they may develop low self-confidence and self-respect and may become isolated
Frame 2
Responses of the Participants that influenced on becoming a homosexual
Participant 1 ‘Isa nakapa-influenced sa akoa kay akoang boardmate ug murag na influence ko kay kung M unsa gud unsa gud sila kabayot then karun Sa una man gud murag lisod e adjust kay gay lang ko So influenced by friends (‘Well, I became a homosexual due to the influence of my boardmate, M really influenced me of who I am now. They are really showing that they are really gays it is really hard to adjust because I’m just a gay. So I could say that I became a gay through the influence of a friend…)
Participant 2 ”..Through observation in the society. The society itself siya gud ang naka influence sa ako kay when we look at the society structure karon ug daghan na kayo ang mga ga exist nga mga homosexual relationship, same sex relationship so sila ang mga tao nga naa sa society mismo ang naka ‘influenced sa akoa’.'(‘..Through observation in the society; the society itself is one who greatly influenced me because when we will look at the society structure right now there are a lot of homosexual relationship, same sex relationship that exist and so the people who are in the society are the ones who also influenced me’)
Participant 3 & 7 ”.Wala’ wala man ‘ basta mao man ni akong gusto” (‘None’ since this is my preference’)
Participant 4”.Halos sa akong mga amiga kay puros babae mao pud siguro na usa naka influenced sa akoa pagka gay” (‘Most of my friends are ladies or girls; maybe they are the ones who influenced me be to gay’)
Participant 5 ”.Akoang mga friend nga gay og babae ang naka influence sa akoa, kay the way sila manamit ang babae gaka ibog ko as a bayot, Na influence pud ko nga chada man diay mag make up og masout og dress” (‘My friends, girls and gays are the ones who influenced me right now, I like those dress and applying make-up..)
Participant 6 ”.First of all is the society gyud sya specially sa among place nga daghan kog friends nga girls, homosexual (gays) and lesbians so mao gyud na nga one of the main reason nga ma-influenced gyud siya sa usa ka tao” (‘.First of all it is the society itself especially in my place because I have plenty of friends who are girls, homosexual (gays) and lesbians so that’s the main reason that can influence a person’)
The second frame shows that the participants’ reasons that influenced them to become a homosexual are: peers, friends, classmates and other members of the community.
It generally shown, that the thing influences becoming a homosexual are peers, friends, classmates and some are in the society as well, it observed by the researcher that common reasons that influence them are society were they belonging. The result suggest that since society as the one reason why most of them are coming out as a gay, in the sense people will learn to accepted gays in society and by respecting of their true identity.
In the study of Bond (2009) claims that the adolescence stage is dangerous time in individual’s identity development of as a young man he should understand what he is and who he is, of what personality does he fit in. In connection of this in the study of Ere”o (2014) mentions that a person shows his identity without wearing a mask it says that this is who I am.
Ere”o (2014) stated that there are six stages that described the identity development of a gay; These are: Identity confusion ‘could I be a gay’ in this stage he is aware of gay’s thoughts, feelings and attraction to the same sex, Identity comparison ‘perhaps this does apply to me’, in this stage the person’s acceptance probability of being a gay. Identity tolerance, ‘I’m not the only one’ who is coming out as a gay man but there are other homosexuals in the society who also comes out, Identity acceptance ‘I will be okay’ the person attaches a positive meaning, Identity Pride ‘I've got to let people know that they are not the only one who is existing in the society perhaps it divides the world into heterosexuals and homosexuals, and is immersed in gay or lesbian culture while minimizing contact with heterosexuals, and Identity Synthesis ‘This is who I am’.
According to Coleman (1982) as cited by Bond et. al, (2009) there are five steps in the coming out of a gay. The pre coming out step is: the young gay man feels different but is not aware that he is attracted to the same sex. Second is when the gay the man realizes that he is attracted to the same sex. Third, is exploration step that involves experimentation with one’s sexual identity, by developing interpersonal skills to meet others who share his sexual orientation. During the first relationships step, the person learns how to have a connection with the same sex. In the final step, identity integration, the gay man brings together his public and private characters in order to mix his new Identity as a gay man.
Social policies and practices may mean they have relatively limited access to valued social resources such as education and health services, housing, income, leisure activities and work. The impacts of marginalization, in terms of social barring, are: dropping out of school earlier, separated to home and family, incapable to find jobs, have less options than others. Being passed over in the community and lonely, not capable to access various facilities and move to the other areas (Subhrajit, 2014).
Frame 3:
Responses of the community for the Homosexuals
Participant 1 ‘Dili lang ka nag show ug respect sa mga tao peru nag-respect ka in a way nga o even sa LGBT group nga dili siya hindrance nga ipakita ang amoang self kung unsa ang amoang part sa society o kung unsa amoang rule sa as kami’.’ (‘ Did not just show respect to others but you also show respect in LGBT group and show them that it is not a hindrance to show who we really are , on what is our part in this society or what is our role as homosexual)
Participant 2 ”.Pamaagi sa pag respito ug ge respeto pud nila ang akong pagkatao” (‘..Through respect ‘ they respect me for who I am or what my identity is’.)
Paricipant 3”.Gi accept ko sa community through sa ilang pagka-open-minded” (‘.The community accepts me through being open-minded’.)
Participant 4”.Gi accept ko sa community through sa pag-respeto nila kung unsa ko ug pagka-open-minded pud nila” (‘The community accepts me through respect for who I am and for being open-minded..)
Participant 5”.Gedawat ko sa among community tungod sa akoang talentog proud pud sila sa akoa” (‘..They accept me because of my talent and they are proud of this’.)
Participant 6 ”Murag sa akoa ra kay through respect ra gyud, respect each other para walay conflict nga mahitabo” (‘.I think through respect with each other to avoid conflict’)
Participant 7 ‘I don’t know if accepted ko nila but I think murag dawat naman ko nila because most of my friends are like dili ga mind bitaw nga lahi ko sa ilaha o lahi sila sa akoa murag same communication with other people ug galantaw pud sila nga equal lang nay equality ang tanan’.’ (‘.I don’t know if they accepted me but I think they already accepted me because most of my friends didn’t really mind if I am different from them or they are different from me. I think the same communication with other people and they also foresee that it should be equal or equality in treating or dealing with them’)
The third and the last frame emerged from the coming out of a closet queen on their social acceptance as a homosexual, when they were asked about the social acceptance by the mainstream society. In general, it revealed that there is social acceptance of the homosexuals if they gain the respect of the community. When closet queen 5 said that society accepts him because of the talent that he has, it is implied that homosexuals are accepted and respected if they can contributed something in the society. The study of Gary (2013) also shows that people accepted only the gay men with talents compared to the heterosexuals with favorable attitudes. But the society has a standard to follow what the proper.
In connection with this Savin (1998) stated that homosexuals who are being marginalized have moderate control over their lives but they may become stigmatized and are often at the receiving end of negative public attitudes. Their opportunities to make social contributions may be limited and they may develop low self-confidence and self-respect and may become isolated. Subhrajit (2014) also observed that homosexual are passed over in the community and lonely, not capable to access various facilities and move to the other areas.
Most of the countries all over the world have accepted the homosexual like the Dutch country. The Dutch government is committed to equal rights and social acceptance of the homosexuals. But here in the Philippines the government is still on the process. One of the problems that a homosexual encounter is on how individuals accept the reality that a homosexual existed in the society and on how homosexual accepts their selves. More often these homosexuals were pushed to find those people who are willing to accept their identity, (Bruce, 2013).
Mullins (2007) also states that self-acceptance among homosexuals can be found in our family, on how they show their parental attitudes towards their children and for all the homosexuals that is existing in our society and accounted for significant amounts of variance in emotional adjustments to their selves towards being homosexual.
Chapter 5
Findings and Implications
This chapter presents the summary, findings and implication of the study. It explores and determined the coming out of a closet queen in BukSU specifically the CAS students.
Findings
Based from the data gathered, the following findings are presented:
The struggles encountered by homosexuals in coming out of themselves and being open to the society where they belong were discrimination and rejection in the mainstream society or in the community.
The experiences encountered by the homosexuals in coming out were physical bullying and verbal abuse, being ignored, not accepted and difficult to communicate with other person especially when they discover their sexual orientation of being a gay.
The factors that influenced them in coming out were friends and social media. The Community accepts them as a homosexual through respecting one another in order to avoid conflict. At the same time, the community accepts them for being open minded and for being talented person.
Implications
On the bases of the findings and summary, the following implication and drawn.
It reveals that bullying and discrimination was one of the struggles and experiences that the homosexual (closet queens) encounter when coming out. They were also apprehensive of the reactions of their parents which are mostly negative.
There is social acceptance of the homosexuals if they gain the respect of the community and it is implied that homosexuals are accepted and respected if they can contributed something in the society.
The closet queens expressed their uncontrolled and unexplained emotions and feelings in discussing their experiences for being bullied and discriminated. Even though the family who is supposed to give understanding and support to their child they just refuse to accept them of being gay.