{"id":4158,"date":"2017-10-03T20:01:22","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T12:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tembusu.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/?p=4158"},"modified":"2025-09-25T16:53:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T08:53:29","slug":"an-evening-with-theresa-goh-the-difficulties-of-being-queer-in-the-public-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/2017\/10\/an-evening-with-theresa-goh-the-difficulties-of-being-queer-in-the-public-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"An Evening with Theresa Goh: The Difficulties of Being Queer in the Public Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cMy parents do not believe that just because I was born different, I should be treated differently.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Born with spinal bifida, Paralympian Theresa Goh, 30, uses a wheelchair to get around. At 17 years old, Theresa was the first female Singaporean swimmer to qualify for the Paralympics. More recently, she was one of the three medal winners from Singapore in the Rio Paralympics, winning bronze in the 100m breaststroke SB4 category.<\/p>\n

On the evening of 5th<\/sup> September 2017, Tembusu\u2019s own tFreedom community invited Theresa down to Tembusu College to share an evening with Tembusians on the challenges of being a double minority \u2013 a person with disability and a sexual minority \u2013 in Singapore\u2019s public spotlight, and her experiences as an ambassador for this year\u2019s Pink Dot. Pink Dot is an annual rally held at Hong Lim Park for the acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) persons. Theresa self-identifies as \u201cqueer\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Her story<\/strong><\/p>\n

Describing her parents as \u201cpractical\u201d and \u201crealistic\u201d, Theresa shared that her parents encouraged her to be independent since she was a toddler. Growing up, her parents installed switches at a height she could reach so she could access it by herself.<\/p>\n

Despite her physical disability, Theresa\u2019s parents wanted her to be active and healthy from an early age. The choice for what physical activity to enrol Theresa in seemed obvious to her family.<\/p>\n

Theresa loved swimming, saying, \u201cI particularly enjoy the water because it\u2019s the place where I feel the freest. I can go wherever I want; there\u2019s nothing that\u2019s stopping me. And that\u2019s very rare in this world for me, for people in wheelchairs or for people with mobility issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her family would spend every weekend at the swimming pool. When Theresa was twelve, a volunteer from the Singapore Disability Sports Council suggested she took part in local competitions. Theresa took up the volunteer\u2019s suggestion \u2013 and the rest is history.<\/p>\n

Theresa recalled a time when she was asked to identify an Asian athlete whom had come out of the closet. She couldn\u2019t. \u201cRepresentation is so important,\u201d she affirmed.<\/p>\n

She contended that when more people voice that it is ok to be gay, it will set off a chain reaction toward societal acceptance. \u201c10 years ago, it is acceptable to use \u2018gay\u2019 as an insult. But now it is not acceptable. And this happened because someone started speaking out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nothing negative has resulted from her public coming out, although she \u201chad a shield up\u201d for about a month after coming out. While Theresa is now \u201cpretty comfortable\u201d with her sexuality, it had taken many years.<\/p>\n

When she was in secondary three, she recalled that her mother told her not to listen to Russian faux-lesbian band t.A.T.u as it was a \u201cbad influence\u201d. Incidents like this made her feel she should not come out when she was very young.<\/p>\n

She did confide that she liked a girl from school with her sister. Her sister, however, divulged the secret to their mother. Theresa sidestepped the issue by saying that she liked that girl \u201cas a sister\u201d.<\/p>\n

Theresa wrestled with the inability to live authentically by \u201ctelling little lies\u201d to herself, and to \u201ccoast by\u201d day-by-day. In 2005, when a friend asked her if she had a boyfriend or girlfriend, she started to realise that it was ok to be queer. She was 18.<\/p>\n

Her parents\u2019 views have since evolved. When she was in secondary five, her mother told her out of the blue when they were at a petrol kiosk that as parents, their ultimate desire is for her to be happy \u2013 regardless of the gender of her significant other.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why Teresa chose to come out and publicly support the LGBT movement<\/strong><\/p>\n

After winning a bronze medal at Rio Paralympics, Theresa realised how much the Singaporean public looked up to our athletes.<\/p>\n

Taking the opportunity, she began speaking up about LGBT issues in the unlikely world of corporate seminars. It seemed a good first place to test the waters on LGBT activism in Singapore. Besides, Theresa noted, corporations were willing to let her speak her mind. \u201cYou don\u2019t get to pick and choose which part of me you want to see.\u201d, she added.<\/p>\n

It was not an easy step to make. She is saddened that she knew of at least five closeted LGBT athletes in Singapore who were afraid they would lose sponsorship if they came out. Some of them are not even out to their parents, she added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While Theresa acknowledged that it is not an obligation for LGBT public figures to come out, she noted that they have the power to shape public opinion.<\/p>\n

Wanting to use the publicity she gained from the Paralympics to make a difference, she became an Ambassador for Pink Dot 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have a reason to say no (to becoming a Pink Dot Ambassador). The only reason could only be that I was selfish,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cMy family was cool with it. My friends were cool with it. I\u2019m cool with it.\u201d Being comfortable with friends and family is not a privilege accorded to LGBT persons in some countries where they risk being killed. She cannot fathom herself in that situation. Singapore, for all its faults, is somewhere where she feels safe. She went to mainstream schools all her life and was \u201cso lucky\u201d that she never got bullied.<\/p>\n

Theresa shared that she \u201copened her eyes\u201d after witnessing violence against the LGBT community both in Singapore and abroad. She talked about the videos she saw on Facebook of transgender individuals being murdered overseas, and hearing about the unfortunate plight of trans-sex workers via word-of-mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope I can make a difference,\u201d she said. For her, it is quite \u201cfrustrating\u201d that there is even a need to campaign for societal acceptance of the LGBT community.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_1075\"<\/p>\n

The elusive quest for LGBT representation in Singapore\u2019s media<\/strong><\/p>\n

Theresa shared, \u201cGrowing up, I didn\u2019t see people with disabilities in the media or on TV or on movies. And what more like LGBTQ?\u201d<\/p>\n

The free-to-air radio programme code states that, \u201cinformation, themes or subplots on lifestyles such as homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexualism, transsexualism, transvestism, paedophilia and incest should be treated with utmost caution<\/a>\u201d and that \u201ctheir treatment should not in any way promote, justify or glamourise such lifestyles. Explicit dialogue or information concerning the above topics should not be broadcast.\u201d<\/p>\n

The free-to-air television programme code pronounces, \u201cmusic associated with drugs, alternative lifestyles (e.g. homosexuality) or the worship of the occult or the devil should not be broadcast<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was like a double erasure \u2026 I felt invisible\u2026 So I had a lot of confusion growing up \u2013 knowing my identity and figuring out who I was \u2013 because I did not see any representation anywhere,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

It was only when Theresa was 15 or 16 years old that she, at her uncle\u2019s house, chanced upon \u201cStrangers in Paradise\u201d, a graphic novel with queer characters and themes. She was surprised as it was \u201cnot the heteronormative thing you would usually see\u201d. She quipped that her mother even bought her copies of the graphic novel, and that this was her first foray into queer literature.<\/p>\n

She emphasised the importance of media representation to the LGBT movement: \u201cwhat you see is what you think\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSpeak up against discrimination in all forms\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The unprecedented regulations Pink Dot 2017 faced inevitably became a topic during the dialogue. In 2017, in order to comply with new regulations prohibiting foreign participation, Pink Dot had barricades set up and participants had to pass ID checks in order to gain access to Hong Lim Park.<\/p>\n

Theresa has mixed emotions on what happened. On one hand, the barricades made her feel \u201ccaged in\u201d. On the other, the barricades provided a \u201csense of protection\u201d.\u00a0 Nevertheless, she said it was a \u201cpositive sign\u201d that people still turned up for Pink Dot despite it being harder to get in.<\/p>\n

Theresa said her role as an LGBT ally was to \u201clift people up\u201d. Homophobes \u201cboggle\u201d her mind: \u201cHow does homophobia make (homophobes) happy? What\u2019s the point (of homophobia)?\u201d<\/p>\n

Religion, for her, is not a reason for homophobia. She pointed out that she had religious friends who are also \u201cvery loving\u201d towards her. The golden rule for all parties should be \u201cdon\u2019t harm people\u201d, she opined.<\/p>\n

Theresa said everyone, regardless of whether one is marginalised, should \u201cspeak up against discrimination in all forms\u201d \u2013 be it racism, sexism or ableism. She cited the example of her best friend, fellow Paralympian Yip Pin Xiu, who is straight and has no qualms of calling out people who insult others as \u201cfaggots\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSlow progress is better than no progress\u201d \u2013 Hoping for a brighter future<\/strong><\/p>\n

She said that while the physical environment has become more accessible to persons with disability, Theresa believes mass culture still views disability as an afterthought. \u201cIf it doesn\u2019t directly affect them, they don\u2019t think about it,\u201d she remarked.<\/p>\n

While being LGBT is not illegal per se<\/em> in Singapore, it \u201cjust doesn\u2019t make sense\u201d for section 377A of the penal code to remain in our law books. Section 377A criminalizes \u201cgross indecency\u201d between two men \u2013 regardless whether the act is consensual or done in private.<\/p>\n

Having said that, she is hopeful for what the future holds. \u201cSlow progress is better than no progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

She observed that social media \u201cplays a big part\u201d in bringing about progress. With the younger generation being more liberal, open-minded and educated, she has cause to be optimistic.<\/p>\n

Pictures by Jarratt Ong<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

—<\/em><\/p>\n

About the Author<\/em><\/p>\n

Bryan Kwa has a keen interest in current affairs and is a FASS student intending to major in Political Science. He mulls over the relationship between political institutions and the negative liberties of humans. The \u2018invisible hand\u2019 of the market fascinates him and he also ponders about the nexus between industry and political power. He dreams of upholding the fourth estate: posing hard-hitting questions to the powers that be and holding them to account.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Paralympic Medallist and Pink Dot 2017 Ambassador Theresa Goh recently spoke to Tembusians at the invitation of tFreedom, a community in Tembusu that aims to build a diverse and inclusive college. Bryan Kwa covers Theresa\u2019s story of self-acceptance and her fight for greater societal acceptance of both persons with disability and LGBT persons. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":4154,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","publication_type-report","theme-society","theme-sports","scope-singapore","flavour-inspiring"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4158"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4160,"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4158\/revisions\/4160"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tembusu3.nus.edu.sg\/treehouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}