sparkindarkness | Entries tagged with european politics

Another pattern of bigotry, prejudice and pain on the blog

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Moscow Pride has been banned year after year and this year was no different – despite Moscow being happy with “kill the gays” rallies

This year the European Human Rights Court ruled against Moscow's ban. They were ignored – shall we see how toothless such discounting of GBLT people's human rights is?

The march went ahead because they are incredibly brave people who refuse to accept homophobia and are passionately dedicated to equality and combating hatred. I cannot express how brave these people are

UK gay news has a great summation of various events that took place

New post on the blog. click to read the rest

There is another round up of bigotry, persecution and general evil fuckery on the blog

I compile these because often with this crap there's little to say beyond what has already been said. But I do think it sends a message to collect it. And I make no claim that i've collated even 1% of all the crap out there - I have not, not even close. But I feel seeing several of these items together, in groups is helpful to show patterns. This isn't isolated, they arne't oddities - these are trends, tropes and eternally reocurring badnesses

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And, from hate speech we move on to it’s child – the discrimination

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And, inevitably, the violence

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I’ve spoken about this before, but it seems to be an issue that, sadly, keep raising up so I’m going to set my words out again. I’m going to try to avoid repeating myself but it’s hard because my opinion hasn’t really changed and I covered most of it then.

I think burqa bans are, frankly, racist, xenophobic and islamaphobic (assuming that’s a word) and the arguments used for them, even the well meaning ones, seem awfully hollow to me.

The classic argument is that the ban liberates women. That these women are oppressed and forced to wear these garments. They should be liberated! They should resist patriarchal forces pushing them into these uncomfortable and constraining clothing types! Now pass the stiletto heels, miniskirts and breast squeezing wonder-bras (sorry, excess snark got in the way).

I can’t help but hearing “Predominantly brown women, you are being controlled and oppressed by your menfolk telling what you can and cannot wear! So we, predominantly white male-lead governments will tell you what you can and cannot wear instead! Embrace the freedom!”

Which strikes me a little like fucking for virginity.

Do I think that burqas are oppressive? Do I think the idea that a woman must hide vast swathes of her body for fear of tempting the naughty naughty men is very wrong? Do I think that and idea of modesty that demands such coverage to be excessive and limiting and shaming? Yes, yes on all counts. But then, I also think that if a woman decides she doesn’t want to show her body/hair/face/whatever then she shouldn’t be required to and it is extremely oppressive to force that exposure. We can argue that NOT wanting to show one’s face is a sign of internalised oppression… but that’s a difficult path to walk.

Can you go to someone who is margianlised and tell them that their actions and choices are contributing to and caused by their marginalisation? Yes, I think you can – but it’s a difficult and wary path and nearly impossible to do well, especially since you are telling someone you know their motives and reasons better than they do. More, do I think white and male people can go to brown women and tell THEM that their choices and decisions are due to marginalisation? Can that be done without it sounding imperialistic and patronising as hell? No. I really don’t think it can. And that goes to beyond impossible to the outright ridiculous when those same men decide to ban the burqa for these women’s own good.

Are there many women wearing the burqa who would probably rather not? Yes. Is there a culture of devaluing and shaming women that the burqa may be a part of? I think a good case can be made. So make it. Campaign, educate, debate, spread the word, have forums, speak to the women, speak to muslims, speak to moderate scholars, speak to female ex-muslims.

But looking upon a group you deem to be oppressed and “fixing” that by ordering them NOT to be oppressed (while being oppressors yourselves) just doesn’t feel like any kind of solution.

From the European Court of Human rights has recently ruled on a case.

The case of Schalk and Kopf v Austria that challenged the ban on same sex marriage.

It hinged on 3 rights in the convention

Article 12 (Right to Marry) and Article 14 (Anti-Discrimination) combined with Article 8 (Right to Family life).

I desperately wanted this - if they had ruled in our favour it would have been huge. It would have been an uneqivocal ruling that, yes, we had a right to marriage, yes, our families are equal to straight families and no, discrimination against gay people is not ok. A ruling from the European Court of Human Rights

And while this ruling isn’t quite saying all those things are not true (well not quite… the decision on Article 12 pretty much says it isn‘t)… it’s also not saying they are. And that’s a depressing statement to come from the court. They had an opportunity to confirm that we the right to marriage included us, that the right not to be discriminated against truly included us (and that discrimination against us was not acceptable) and that our families truly had value.

And they didn’t take it. In fact, with all three they have undermined us pretty badly.

It would have been a powerful statement. Instead… we have another statement. And I hope this non-statement isn’t equally powerful.

And as to how powerful the statement would be? The rulings of the ECHR are binding (well for a given nature of binding – and by that I mean “when they feel like it“ but that may be cynical cynical me. Well, cynical and accurate me.) on it signatories. And it’s signatories? Well here’s a map It would have meant something. It would have been big. It would have been important.

Of course, it’s probably because it meant something that the judges were unwilling to make the ruling. But, on the bright side, it was 4 votes to 3. One judge, one judge leaning towards actual justice and who knows where we would be tomorrow.

And the result of such hatred is always the lives lost, the blood spilled and the pain suffered.

These lists and links are always depressing – the more so because I know they’re only the tip of the iceberg – not a fraction of what is reported and in turn that only a fraction of the violence that happened – and continues to happen – every day.

A man in Florida has a killed his lesbian daughter’s girlfriend. Friends of the daughter have said that he hated that he did it because he didn’t like lesbians. I cannot even begin to contemplate the pain of this or the hate that would drive ytou to do such a thing.

I should be beyond being shocked by homophobiuc violence by now, but this chilled me. the mayor of Paris has claimed that the killing of 2 men – by burying them alive – was an example of a homophobic hate crime. Buried alive? My mind refuses to go there, absolutely not.

In Scotland, openly gay teenager Jack Frew has been stabbed to death A 16 year old…

In Ipswich, UK, Rodney Greenland explains to us that he stabbed Simon Amers to death because Simon Amers touched him. The gay panic defence, again aired in the court room.

Neil McMillan is now on trial for the murder of trans woman Andrea Waddell

In Mexico, homophobia related murders have doubled. I always hope such reports indicate a greater level of reporting and consideration – it’s disturbing how homophobic hate seems to be increasing!

In Minsk, Belarus there was a pride parade. For 10 minutes before it was put down by violent riot police. Pride Parade marchers were beaten and arrested.

The violence and official brutality of this outweighs even the terrible acts around Lithuania’s pride parade. After fighting with the courts for the mere right to hold a pride parade were then attacked by protesters throwing things and attacking the marchers

An 11 year old girl in New Mexico was bullied and left bloody at school. Returning to class – she was left to bleed, ignored by her teacher. When her lesbian parents asked why, they say they were told it was because the teacher didn’t like that her parents were lesbians

And, returning to George Rekers, and his luggage and that sweet sweet Schadenfreude pie, we remind ourselves just how evil this man was. He was an adherent of aversion therapy for GBLT kids. In particular taking a boy as young as 4 that his parents were “concerned” about due to his “effeminate behaviour”. And when he displayed that “effeminate behaviour” he was punished. This developed into a scheme where when he did something “masculine” he got rewarded. When he did something “feminine” he got spanked. They ran this experiment on the boy for 2 years

Unsurprisingly, the child quickly learned to conform to their behavioural norms (fear will cause suppression after all). They were proud of their success. Except of course that their pushing the child to be more “masculine” thatb he became, as his worried mother described “a roughneck” playing recknlessly without considering damage to himself – or the furnishings. He became, as Rekers described him, “delinquent.”

And at age 18 that boy tried to commit suicide.

Of course, this is from a member of NARTH – that is on record for encouraging the bullying of GBLT children, so what can we expect except this kind of evil?

The Tories, they still want my vote but are very bad at convincing me.

Cameron has recently had an interview about gay rights with the Gay Times. He didn’t do very well.

To be fair to him – it’s hard to see how any politician could do well in the circumstances. The Tory record on gay rights is appalling. As I’ve said before, repeatedly in fact. And it is necessary to hammer home that the Tories are still vehemently homophobic, not only their record, but their current votes and members. They are still fighting against our rights whenever they possibly can. The only thing they’ve ever done to try and change that is some nice words and empty gestures – nothing substantively pro-gay has ever come from the Tories. All we get is rhetoric and lies.

The interview made a vital point. “If you want us to vote for you, we expect you to vote for us.” And that isn’t happening. Not only isn’t it happening but it has NEVER happened with the Tories. Quite the opposite in fact.

Tory MEPs refused to condemn Lithuania’s law that is a direct clone of section 28 in the EU parliament shows just how much the Tory apology over section 28 (which, remember, Cameron himself was still supporting in 2003) is really worth. Tories are predominantly against religious civil partnerships and are very much in favour of religious exemptions to the hate crime laws and the anti-discrimination laws. Tories have viciously opposed gay rights on these issues and more – and Cameron has never felt the need to force the vote.

When our rights are on the line, the Tories vote against us. Cameron never applies to whip in our favour. Gay rights aren’t important to him, they don’t matter to him and anyone who thinks he and his party do is deluded themselves.

Some have pointed out that Labour allows a free vote of most gay issues as well. And some need to buy some context as well. You see, when Labour MPs have a free vote on gay rights issues they largely vote for gay rights. They’re not perfect by any means, they’ve made some mistakes and they’ve screwed things up and allowed more compromises with the homophobes than I am happy with. But their record on gay rights is generally a good one – and they allow free votes because they can trust their MPs not to be bigots.

The Tories allow free votes KNOWING their MPs are bigots. Knowing and not caring. By not using the whip on votes about gay rights, Cameron is showing that he doesn’t care about gay rights and isn’t interested in countering the homophobia in his party.

There is an election coming and I am deeply afraid of the Tories gaining power. Our rights are not stable enough, old enough or strong enough to survive them falling into the hands of these virulent homophobes.

Because I revel in being depressing. But it is vital when the new hate comes along to show and expose it – especially since so many of the usual suspects will constantly try to down play the harm they do. They play the victim – because we’re offended by their hate, while it’s our bodies that are beaten and abused. They scream about their rights being violated – while they push us into the closet and fight every right we’ve ever had. This is about exposing the cost of their hatred – this is about denying their lies, this is about showing the pain they cause.

In Turkey 2 trans women are the victims of brutal murders, following a recent history of numerous brutal trans murders – sadly the government of Turkey is hardly leaping to protect them from persecution.

In Northern Ireland, it has been confirmed that the murder of Sean Fitzpatrick was a homophobic hate crime. Andrius Dunauskas and Raminas Balseris have been found guilty of his murder. While the conviction won’t reverse this horrendously brutal murder, at least there will be some justice

A Saudia Arabian man has been arrested for homosexuality on the strength of… a Youtube video. He has been found guilty and sentenced to… 1,000 lashes, a year in gaol and a hefty fine Dear gods, this is beyond barbarism.

In Malawi, authorities are launching an all out witch-hunt for “gay personalities” especially taregtting professionals. This is where being closeted is not enough – they’re HUNTING gays.

In Brooklyn 5 men beat up a 22 year old man leaving a gay & Lesbian event – screaming anti-gay slurs. It’s depressing how unsafe we are – and notice how it’s always 2-3-5-13 brave brave straight folks pouncing on us?

In California 3 men admit to shooting a gay man with a BB gun in San Francisco they confessed they’d gone to San Francisco to target gays – even in places we think we’re safe, we can still be targetted

In Ljubljana, Slovenia 3 men attacked a gay rights activist Mitja Blazic have been found guilty and sentenced – to 18 months in prison

In Jamaica (WARNING: I’m less than impressed with this source’s deciding to transcribe witness comments by phonetically writing the Jamaican accent) police have to hide 4 gay men from an angry mob.

In Seattle 2 men have been charged with an alleged homophobic attack – they beat their victim screaming homophobic slurs. 2 on one again – and the victim lives in fear in his own faith.

In Cornwall an attack on three men is being treated as a hate crime, since one of the victims is trans and he believes the attack was motivated by transphobia

This is the hatred we face and in response we have….

In a staggering act of hate, the Oklahoma senate has passed a bill (introduced by Oklahoma Senator Steve Russel who has compared homosexuality and necrophilia in the past) that would prevent the new federal hate crimes law from being enforced in the state. This law will result in evidence being destroyed so it cannot be passed on to federal authorities trying to enforce the Matthew Shepherd Act that prosecutes hate crimes against GBLT people.

In Virginia, following the removal of anti-discrimination protections for GBLT state employees and forcing universities to remove their anti-discrimination protections – a bill to try and make such protections laws has failed. Hatred remains protected and promoted and the state is taking big steps backwards. I worry for all those who came out feeling they were protected, or had some protection and now have it stripped from them

In Iowa, State representative Chris Hagenow looked at the evils of domestic abuse and decided – gays shouldn’t be protected or helped to escape it. He has introduced and amendment to exclude GBL people from consideration in the domestic violence provisions. Honestly, how petty and hateful can these people get? You’d think this would be an issue all people could agree on.

There is no shortage of anti-gay violence and hatred out there – but people seem to wilfully ignore it – and fight tooth and nail against the protection that are so sorely needed. We have a right to be safe, we have a right to feel safe – and the people and law makers who fight this most certainly have blood on their hands.

We should all know by now that the haters don’t really have any limits – there’s no extreme they won’t stoop to in their demonisation and attacks on gay people. As such, it really shouldn’t surprise me when they go after our kids.

But it still shocks me – because this shit is evil. Pure, solid EVIL. They take our kids when they are at their most vulnerable, their most scared, their most fragile – and they do everything they can to try and break them.

In Virginia, the Attorney General Cuccinelli has ordered universities to remove their anti-discrimination policies. He is demanding that their current anti-discrimination policies be scrapped – for a reversal of the protections workers and students at these universities already enjoyed.

It’s a terrifying message about how victories can be very fleeting, and it follows Virginia removing the same anti-discrimination policy for all state employees. Can you imagine thinking you’re safe, coming out in the work place, then having this yanked form under you?

It’s not the only university where the message of hate is being spared – at the University of cAlifornia Davis, the LGBT resources centre has been hit by malicious anti-gay graffiti. I think the centre intends to keep it there – as a reminder of how much hate there is still out there. Frankly that particular campus sounds like it needs no reminders of hate – given the anti-semitic and racist incidents that have happened recently

The American Family Association – always to be relied on for some bigotry – is outraged, OUTRAGED – that gay students may be protected from homophobic bullying. They’re furious about a bill proposed in the US by Rep Jared Polis to protect gay kids from bullying. How low will they stoop?

Well, not as low as Linda Harvey from Mission America she believes that this law is ‘fascist’. Because you can’t protect kids from being attacks – that’s what Hitler would do! Don’t try to apply logic to it, your brain will break.

It seems there are no shortage of people who are salivating over the chance to see gay kids beaten up (and killed) as often as possible. Parents in Alameda, California are suing a school to stop it including anti-bullying lessons. Yup, asking people not to hurt gay kids is so unreasonable, it needs a law suit to stop it.

In fact, it seems protecting and promoting anti-gay bullying is the vogue among the hate groups. In response to the Day Of Silence a day dedicated to bringing attention to anti-LGBT violence and hate in schools, Exodus has launched it’s “Day of Truth” because it’s WRONG to teach people that it’s bad to beat up and harass gay kids! What’s the matter, Exodus, worried that more kids won’t grow up as twisted and self-hating as you?

In South Africa, it seems an entire girl’s dormitory had to be closed when it was faced with the possibility of a *gasp* Lesbian relationship between 2 of the residents! The 2 girls who were caught kissing have been expelled – despite South Africa’s anti-discrimination law. It shows how little even legal protections can be worth in the face of hatred. I can’t even begin to imagine disrupting the lives and education of all these girls because of this vindictive hate against 2 lesbians.

In Lithuania a new section 28 has been made. A law to protect children from hearing about any but “traditional families” it had to be edited because it was so blatantly and outrageously homophobic in the first draft that the EU Parliament was outraged. It has been rewritten – but it is little better. How many children will grow up under this law, believing that their lives and their loves have no value?

And a Catholic school in Colorado has expelled one of their students because their parents are lesbians. This is cruelty and bigotry beyond doubt – I pity that child, their school has tried to shame their parents and punished them because of the school’s religious bigotry.

When I started this post, I didn’t think it would be this long. I didn’t realise how many attacks against our kids there were in my big bag o’ links.It breaks my heart to see that i had so much source material. Our kids don’t deserve this and we shouldn’t tolerate it.

Time to get back into the swing of things with a blast of good news.

We need this, we spend – and I certainly spend – far too much time seeing the bad. And we have to see the bad – we truly do have to see the bad so we can combat it, we can work against it and we can see how awful things still are and where the attacks are still coming from. It’s vital we do not turn our back on this suffering, it’s vital we don’t pretend this isn’t happening

But at the same time it’s soul destroying. It’s painful to see the bad stuff every day without reminding ourselves there are victories as well. Sometimes it’s necessary to remind ourselves we are winning this, slowly but surely we are winning.

Mayor of Turin, Italy symbolically marries a Lesbian couple. Yes it’s not legal, but this man is an ally and trying. Respect due.

While the Atlanta gay bar police raid is a complete trainwreck and justice seems to be the last thing on the police’s mind, at least the Atlanta City Council seems interested in pursuing justice.

Mexico City makes both gay marriage AND gay adoption legal. Our families have value and are due respect, it is always a joy to see them honoured as such. It is especially a joy to see this step forward in a country that is so religious. Congratulations to the new marriages that will follow.

There has been a second gay marriage in Argentina. Step by step, moving forwards

In a ruling that could have massive effect across Europe – the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that you cannot discriminate against gay couples ruling that Poland could not treat an unmarried homosexual couple any worse than an unmarried heterosexual couple. While it certainly doesn’t open the door to gay marriage – it does strike a strong blow against homophobia, homophobic discrimination and homophobic family discrimination across all the nations that have signed up to the ECHR. This could be big.

In Western Australia 2 trans men have won a major case forcing recognition of their true gender without having to have organs that allow them to bear children removed. A step forwards – not perfect but still a step forwards.

Gay Marriage and Gay adoption laws pass the first round of hearing in Slovenia’s Parliament *Hopes* let this be another step

After a long battle and much flouncing from the religious right, withdrawl of charity services and almost legendary flouncing by the oh-so-loving Catholic church and even a last minute run to the Supreme Court to try and stop it – gay marriage is legal in Washinton DC. Congratulations all you loving new spouses.

Though Maryland will not perform same-sex marriages – they have moved a step in the right direction by recognising same-sex marriages that occur in other states. Another step forwards Every step counts.

And closer to home – the House of Lords has backed removing the prohibition against religious wording and religious buildings being used for gay ceremonies. Good – as I’ve said before, why should Christians dictate MY religious choices? Naturally the Anglican church is huffing at people daring not to submit to their religious dictates. Now if the parties involved and the religions involved WISH to include religion in their same-sex union, they may do so.

And in the relief section of the news – 2 desperate attempts to gut the Equality bill in the House of Lords have been stopped – both of which would have allowed religious based discrimination and bigotry to be allowed even outside of churches. This would have rendered all the homophobic elements of the Equality Act completely and utter unenforceable – anyone claiming a religious basis to their hatred could discriminate freely. I find myself in near complete agreement with Baroness Murphy when she said “I do not doubt that that is not the intention of my noble and learned friend Lady Butler-Sloss, but these amendments are deeply, offensively, homophobic.” I disagree in that I do not think Lady Butler-Sloss is noble and I don’t have any doubt at all that she is a homophobe.

There are good things – we could all do to remember it when faced with all the bad

We can has gay marriage in Portugal! yes, yes we can has which, considering it's a largely Catholic country, is quite surprising. The Catholic church in Portugal apparently decided it was a civil matter and really not their business *boggle* who are you and what did you do with the real Catholic church? That almost sounded like... reasonableness... Better be careful with that, ther Pope may explode if exposed to too much.

But yes, we have gay marriage in Portugal. They still don't allow gay couples to adopt - but it's still a step forwards.

Sadly, New Jersey is still mired in prejudice and still unwilling to treat homosexuals as equal citizens. Pam at Pam's House Blend has a great resumation of which legislators need tar and feathering

And then we get to an old standard. Why is is that the most vicoferous opponents of gay marriage are so damned useless in their own married lives? Do they fear the competition? "No gay marriage will damage the sanctity of marriage, and that's my job?!" Remember, those in glass houses shouldn't ~~throw stones~~ fire trebuchets.

There are many I could point to (Karl Rove and his divorces were quite recent), but I think a special prize goes to Iris Robinson, grossly homophobic Northern Irish MP who called homosexuals "abominations" among many other happy loving comments.

When she was 59, she comforted a 19 year old after the death of his father (one she had known since he was 9 years old). That comfort turned into an affair which her husband was quite miffed about. My my my thwere should probably be a special hypocrisy prize for this particular preacher of morality

And it further seems that she has been rather... free with the financial rules over her lover's business. My my what a paragon of morality

(I'm kind of torn on the age reporting here. Part of me wants to pile on everything because, yes, she's the enemy and that doesn't make me want to be very fair. But, while there was an age gap, I don't think lovers having a large age gap between them is inherently immoral and I think it's wrong to shame them for that. ESPECIALLY given the inherent sexism - men are rarely criticised for having female lovers that are substantially younger than them and certainly not on the same scale as men. On the flip side She was 59, he was 19. 19. 19 is very young. 19 and recently bereaved - he'd just lost a parent and she was comforting him. There's 'age gap' and there's 'predatory' to be honest.

Oh, and her name actually IS Mrs. Robinson. C'mon, it's too perfect)

That is, the EU has a President and a Foreign Affairs chief (at long last! Gods this has been a long time coming).

Our President is Herman Van Rompuy and Foreign Affairs Chief Baroness Catherine Ashton.

And the EU did say “who?” True, they’re not exactly household names.

I was dubious at first. Well, actually at first I was delighted that Tony Blair hasn’t got anywhere near the post - something I was dreading only a little less than the idea of Margaret Thatcher suddenly running for it (one moment, I just had a minor heart attack considering that). But on reflection I am actually very happy with the choices.

Neither is known for their extreme flash or charisma. This is good. I loathe charismatic politicians. Charismatic politicians lie and deceive. They give speeches and little substance. They promise the moon and tell you the sky is pink and drape wool heavily over your eyes while screwing things every which way. I don’t like charisma in office - it’s too easily used and too easily exploited.

Neither are divisive or giving to divisive foolishness or dramatic gestures. In the EU bloc there are 27 states - and growing. Flashy people, divisive people, people unwilling to listen will not help us and will not manage that well.

Further, they both have a reputation for, well, quite competence. I have a lot of respect for quiet competence. Van Rompuy seems to be credited as a capable economist (and reluctant politician)

Baroness Ashton has considerable achievements in the UK (and is very pro LGBT btw). She doesn’t have a lot of relevant experience - but she does look more than competent. I’m more doubtful about her than Van Rompuy, but on the whole am happy with both choices.

All in all, it could have been a lot worse. Which is usually the best you can say about politics.

Spark In Darkness

Bad news round up on the blog

Moscow Pride March

Bad News Round up again - bigotry and violence

And the consequences of the hate

On the Burqa ban, again

A lost opportunity

Depressing line up of violence and pain

Cameron – I’m still not convinced

More Hate and violence

Leave our Kids Alone

A good news round up

Marriage marriage marriage

We have a President.

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April 2015

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