The Silenced Discussion

Sam Soleta

Blog 10

ASA 02 03

November 23rd, 2015

Lee’s article is centered around the clash between Asian American and sexual identity. In the article titled “Teaching Justice and Living Peace,” Lee explains that there is definitely a stigma amongst the LGBTQIA+ community. The whole entire community is seen as taboo and is often a hard discussion to start. Although I personally have not experienced these struggles, I do see many of my peers who go through these ordeals. Often times, many Asian Americans who identify as LGBTQIA+ are unable to confide in others that they see in their own community and family. Lee has identified three main topics: “separation of sexual identity from ethnic identity; shame; heterosexuality as normative, coupled with homophobia.” My friends who don’t identify as cisgender heterosexuals do experience these on a daily basis. Among Asian households, everything is very heteronormative and most people are raised to believe that heterosexuality is the “normal” and “expected way of life. The newer generations have been progressively working against these heteronormative teachings, but to avoid something so rooted into Asian culture is an extreme challenge. Sexuality is so incredibly stigmatized that it is an often silenced subject and there is little to no theological literature that has discourse on the topic. This has greatly affected all sexual minorities and has created leaps and bounds for these communities to feel welcome.