Global fight - homophobia and survival.
Nov. 8th, 2009 05:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparkindarkness2 stories have recently fallen in my RSS feeds that I’m sure people have seen but the word needs to be spread:
In Uganda a new law is being put before Parliament to execute people for the crime of “aggravated homosexuality.” Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda. But in addition to the execution of those committing “aggravated homosexuality” it also greatly broadens the old homophobic law’s definition of gay sex and imposes harsher penalties (including life sentences) for any sexual contact between people of the same sex. It also imposes harsh sentences for “promoting homosexuality” (whatever THAT means) and even a 3 year prison sentence for people NOT REPORTING HOMOSEXUALS.
There is a Petition here about this vile law.
In Iran 3 homosexuals under the age of 18 are facing execution for consensual homosexual sex. This follows another execution In October for another man ‘convicted’ of consensual homosexual sex. The only thing worse than these horrendous executions is that they won’t be the last - and they most certainly aren’t the first. Nor is such persecution in any way limited to Iran in the region - or the world for that matter.
There is a habit when fighting homophobia - and I have it too - to focus on the west. We talk about discrimination and prejudice, rights denied And it’s important. ye gods it’s important. We should never stop talking about this and fighting this.
But around the world, things are often so much worse. We don’t always hear the news from there, nor do we normally address them. But these are very literally fights for survival and there is nothing short of mass murder being committed against GBLT people in these countries. We can’t ignore it. We can’t forget our brothers and sisters under horrific homophobia the like of which those of us in the west can scarcely imagine.
Sometimes I look at cases like these and I’m lost. They make me despair beyond measure because I can’t begin to think how to address hatred and persecution on this scale. I work to get homosexuals asylum in the UK partly to save lives and partly because I just can’t see how to stop such hate - I can’t see persecution on such a grand and incredible scale actually stopping - I know it has here and elsewhere but it just seems insurmountable.
But one thing I can do - I can save lives. And I can help expand the message - here, there, anywhere - homophobia is wrong.
Nowhere on this planet, in no ways shape or form is it acceptable to treat anyone like this - and that includes GBLT people.
In Uganda a new law is being put before Parliament to execute people for the crime of “aggravated homosexuality.” Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda. But in addition to the execution of those committing “aggravated homosexuality” it also greatly broadens the old homophobic law’s definition of gay sex and imposes harsher penalties (including life sentences) for any sexual contact between people of the same sex. It also imposes harsh sentences for “promoting homosexuality” (whatever THAT means) and even a 3 year prison sentence for people NOT REPORTING HOMOSEXUALS.
There is a Petition here about this vile law.
In Iran 3 homosexuals under the age of 18 are facing execution for consensual homosexual sex. This follows another execution In October for another man ‘convicted’ of consensual homosexual sex. The only thing worse than these horrendous executions is that they won’t be the last - and they most certainly aren’t the first. Nor is such persecution in any way limited to Iran in the region - or the world for that matter.
There is a habit when fighting homophobia - and I have it too - to focus on the west. We talk about discrimination and prejudice, rights denied And it’s important. ye gods it’s important. We should never stop talking about this and fighting this.
But around the world, things are often so much worse. We don’t always hear the news from there, nor do we normally address them. But these are very literally fights for survival and there is nothing short of mass murder being committed against GBLT people in these countries. We can’t ignore it. We can’t forget our brothers and sisters under horrific homophobia the like of which those of us in the west can scarcely imagine.
Sometimes I look at cases like these and I’m lost. They make me despair beyond measure because I can’t begin to think how to address hatred and persecution on this scale. I work to get homosexuals asylum in the UK partly to save lives and partly because I just can’t see how to stop such hate - I can’t see persecution on such a grand and incredible scale actually stopping - I know it has here and elsewhere but it just seems insurmountable.
But one thing I can do - I can save lives. And I can help expand the message - here, there, anywhere - homophobia is wrong.
Nowhere on this planet, in no ways shape or form is it acceptable to treat anyone like this - and that includes GBLT people.