my fear... my signature

A friend sent me this link to the Open Letter to PM Lee on repealing 377A. I spent a few minutes reading it since I know the site has been up for a while. The letter was only created days ago.

Before you think I signed it without thinking, you are wrong. I spent the next 30 minutes pondering... my fears.

I am applying for a new job with a stat board and going for my second interview soon, chances are I will get the job. I was thinking if this letter that carry my name among others, will impact this job application. Or in future, they will track me based on this.

I was also thinking whether I should sign as an individual or a OCer. I wanted to consult the rest before I signed off as OCer but that would mean some discussion and whether it will have any effect. The organisation's and my stand on 377A have been consistent and we know the need to repeal it.

Then I took another 2 minutes to read through who have signed it. Interestingly, who signed it became very important to my decision.

All in all, I took nearly one hour to decide on something so simple and close to heart for me. Something that matters so much to my private life and in a big way, my legal rights as a person.

Anyway, I signed it with Bryan Choong, as an individual and searched through my entire mailbox address to pick up the most important people I know, straight friends and ex colleagues and forwarded them the site address. They know this matters to me, and as a friend and a person with a mind of their own, they can decide what they want to do with that email.

Why I am sharing this? We have fears everyday and I won't deny that I have fears on what is the repercussions of my current actions in future. As what Clarence said, we are sometimes in and out of the closet in different situations. As I signed the letter, BX told me that a close friend of us questioned the purpose of the letter. He simply think it wont work. I said maybe the site should give $10 each signature, that should get thing moving. But the motivation will be so so wrong.

We both agreed that things will probably remain status quo. But what is more important is, we got to make our voices heard and presence felt. And even if this is not going to change for the next decade, we have to make sure things can improve to a state where repealing it is an obvious choice. Even if it can only happen in the next generation.

I read this somewhere, Courage is not about doing something, it is about doing something you fear most.

http://www.repeal377a.com/letter/sign/