A hiao gene? LGBTQuestion.

“Do we have the hiao gene?” (“Hiao” as in Hokkien for vain). 

That’s what law don and activist Thio Li Ann asked. Here it is in full and in its context.

“I take the position that there is a degree of choice. Someone said you might have a genetic predisposition but we all know we don’t act on our impulses.”

“You could have the hiao gene, right? It doesn’t mean you sleep with every man you come across. There is some degree of control, some degree of choice. And yes, the social environment will condition it.”

Mm...after reading that, I wonder, is there a pai kia gene (Hokkien for gangsta)? That is, someone who is prone to becoming violent due to his inability to control his actions. 

Well, that said, it is quite proven that some of us have anger management issues (more than others). And it could very well be in the neuro-hardwiring. 

Our ability is control it is less than others who are born with better prefrontal constitution. 

And if you take a roll call in prison, you will notice that this violent gene is largely gender-biased too.

How about the adulterous gene then? Or, the greedy gene? The love-to-eat-nonstop gene? The holiday-addict gene? The lust-at-first-sight gene? 

Aren’t we a hotwired mishmash of genetic predispositions setting us up for a world of endless behaviourial possibilities upon birth when we interact with the epigenetically triggered social environment?

I guess the debate will go on like the Titanic song because one side will argue that predisposition is not destiny, (like Thio did), and another side will come back with the argument that whether it is destiny or not, it’s really none of your business.

And the follow-up on that side is this, don’t tell us what is right or wrong when you can’t even get your house in order, and you have since the one who had crucified on the Cross, that is, two thousand years ago, to get it right, but thus far, it is still so far from ideal. 

And if you claim to be work-in-progress, it’s time you change your “spiritual subcontractor” because the high penalty you have to pay for delayed righteousness personified as claimed is long, long overdue. 

Needless to say, the push-and-pull tug of war has always been tense and taut with religion being the main agent provocateur (as seen by some). And mind you, not any religion, but only lslam and Christianity. 

And the religious barometer here is section 377A. PM Lee noted that “both sides hold strong views, and in particular, many who oppose its repeal “do so on very deeply held religious convictions.””

He added: “I should therefore say that as a matter of reality, the more gay activists push this agenda, the stronger will be the push-back from conservative forces in our society.”

Alas, you can rest assured that when (or if) section 377A is repealed, both sides are going to dig their heels even deeper into their respective dogmatic trenches to wage a war of ideals that will see no end in sight.

The Christians are already digging their foxhole in preparation for a sturdy defence (or earthly offence) with these words from pastor Derek Hong. “It’s not a crusade against the people but there’s a line that God has drawn for us, and we don’t want our nation crossing that line.”

Actually, if you think about it, our nation has already crossed many lines. Some lines get away with it because of commonsensical economic justification.

Take the casinos for example. When you can’t beat them because such commercial activities bring in the tax revenue, employment for the masses, and attraction and world acclaim, you coyly redraw the line back a little to preserve your spiritual purity and defence. 

Other lines are blurred in the sand like criminalising adultery (where you are liable to be stoned to death in another era) because of cultural changes, the enlightenment movement, and our government’s secular balancing of various conflicting interests in the name of keeping the peace for one and all. 

And so, we are left with the gay line to defend - as Derek said, “we don’t want our nation crossing that line.” 

(And I know the good pastor meant it metaphorically, but we tend to overlook unintended consequences, and one of that is how different believers draw their own lines because spiritual authority is remarkably individualistic)

Here, I can imagine the last scene of Endgame where the Avengers on one side and Thanos’ stooges on the other side are clashing into each other in a epic fight to save and redeem humanity for the last time. 

But the difference is that for endgame, everybody throws their weight on one side. For the gay line, the society is clearly fractured and divided. 

And as a Christian, I was personally caught in the crosshair of the target (by my own camp!) when I decided to traipse across the line in an earnest attempt to understand the other side. 

You see, due to my so-called liberal writings about section 377A seven months ago, some believers are of the view that I have crossed over and should be shunned, avoided. 

Well, I can’t say that I am not a little pleasantly surprised about it, because I thought my writings were supposed to open minds, not close them. 

So, that is where we as a nation stands today. We are not just a fine country, but on some religious/social issues, we are also a line country. 

And no, I am not talking about line dancing where we all get together to have fun. But it is about a line that once you cross it, you run the risk of being considered as no longer one of us. Cheerz.