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sparkindarknessI’ve been away over the holidays, so I have some news to catch up on. Sadly - much of it is bad. Let’s move out of this year and hope that such bad news becomes more and more a thing of the past.
7 men arressted for “homosexual activity” in the Maldives. One of the things, despite numerous examples, I still struggle to grasp in my own mind is that there are nations where I can be arrested for being gay - where my existence and my love is criminal. It never fails to chill me and remind me how powerful the hate is.
And they most certainly are not alone. In Senegal 24 men were arrested for homosexuality on the 24th. They were released the next day - but are still being investigated. Even without prosecution - the climate of fear caused when police can and do arrest you for being gay cannot be underestimated. How can any of these people trust the police, go to the police when they need help or ever co-operate with the police when that shadow of persecution hangs over them?
Indian Catholic religious leaders are fighting against the recent decriminalisation of homosexuality in New Delhi. Again, the Catholic church shows their love and shows themselves as an enemy. This wasn’t a law in favour of marriage or even non-discrimination - this court ruling merely decriminalised homosexuality. But the Catholic church is there - hating us for existing.
homophobic and transphobic hate crimes surge (including 21 murders) in Honduras following the ousting of the president. Remember, while the law fails us on many occasions, it is clear that without it’s limited shield our lives would be worth even less than they are now.
Gay rights group in Georgia raided which is a nice caveat to the last piece - even with the rule of law (Georgia decriminalised homosexuality in 2000 - so frighteningly recent) the agents of law still carry the prejudice of our societies and cannot be trusted not to strike out against the vulnerable.
Republican Candidate campaign for Illinois Senator smeared with homophobia which greatly depresses me. Not just because some scum bag is throwing homophobic rumours around to smear someone - but that it ACTS as a smear. That accusing his competitor of being gay - or that his competitor may be gay - is somehow a negative mark, somehow makes him less fit. It depresses me because people WILL be less likely to support him because of homophobia - that this is an effective smear because people DO think we’re somehow unfit for office. That is far more depressing than some ignorant hater mouthing off.
A gay couple in Malawi (one of the depressing number of nations that criminalises homosexuality) have taken the courageous step to have a public wedding ceremony. I honour their courage. Sadly, they were arrested for public indecency. Gay people in Malawi commonly face 14 years in prison.. I cannot imagine the courage it took for Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza to have risked so much. I don’t think I could be half so brave. so far they have been denied bail. I despair sometimes, I really do.
And in the face of all this hate? In the face of global hate against homosexuals - in the face of persecution and legal murder of homosexuals in so many countries. In the face of worldwide hatred and bigotry - what do we have? Well, the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights speaks out on multiple issues of discrimination and prejudice. recently it was proposed including a section that mentioned sexual orientation and gender identity. This was then removed by the General Assembly (lead by Iraq but supported by so many others) so the UN said a great, big collected ’fuck you’ to GBLT people again. Naturally, the religious groups are cheering and partying at the idea of more homosexuals and trans people being persecuted and killed. More and more I am convinced that without the hateful influence of the world’s religions, we’d be much further ahead - and maybe even safe by now.
7 men arressted for “homosexual activity” in the Maldives. One of the things, despite numerous examples, I still struggle to grasp in my own mind is that there are nations where I can be arrested for being gay - where my existence and my love is criminal. It never fails to chill me and remind me how powerful the hate is.
And they most certainly are not alone. In Senegal 24 men were arrested for homosexuality on the 24th. They were released the next day - but are still being investigated. Even without prosecution - the climate of fear caused when police can and do arrest you for being gay cannot be underestimated. How can any of these people trust the police, go to the police when they need help or ever co-operate with the police when that shadow of persecution hangs over them?
Indian Catholic religious leaders are fighting against the recent decriminalisation of homosexuality in New Delhi. Again, the Catholic church shows their love and shows themselves as an enemy. This wasn’t a law in favour of marriage or even non-discrimination - this court ruling merely decriminalised homosexuality. But the Catholic church is there - hating us for existing.
homophobic and transphobic hate crimes surge (including 21 murders) in Honduras following the ousting of the president. Remember, while the law fails us on many occasions, it is clear that without it’s limited shield our lives would be worth even less than they are now.
Gay rights group in Georgia raided which is a nice caveat to the last piece - even with the rule of law (Georgia decriminalised homosexuality in 2000 - so frighteningly recent) the agents of law still carry the prejudice of our societies and cannot be trusted not to strike out against the vulnerable.
Republican Candidate campaign for Illinois Senator smeared with homophobia which greatly depresses me. Not just because some scum bag is throwing homophobic rumours around to smear someone - but that it ACTS as a smear. That accusing his competitor of being gay - or that his competitor may be gay - is somehow a negative mark, somehow makes him less fit. It depresses me because people WILL be less likely to support him because of homophobia - that this is an effective smear because people DO think we’re somehow unfit for office. That is far more depressing than some ignorant hater mouthing off.
A gay couple in Malawi (one of the depressing number of nations that criminalises homosexuality) have taken the courageous step to have a public wedding ceremony. I honour their courage. Sadly, they were arrested for public indecency. Gay people in Malawi commonly face 14 years in prison.. I cannot imagine the courage it took for Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza to have risked so much. I don’t think I could be half so brave. so far they have been denied bail. I despair sometimes, I really do.
And in the face of all this hate? In the face of global hate against homosexuals - in the face of persecution and legal murder of homosexuals in so many countries. In the face of worldwide hatred and bigotry - what do we have? Well, the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights speaks out on multiple issues of discrimination and prejudice. recently it was proposed including a section that mentioned sexual orientation and gender identity. This was then removed by the General Assembly (lead by Iraq but supported by so many others) so the UN said a great, big collected ’fuck you’ to GBLT people again. Naturally, the religious groups are cheering and partying at the idea of more homosexuals and trans people being persecuted and killed. More and more I am convinced that without the hateful influence of the world’s religions, we’d be much further ahead - and maybe even safe by now.