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Do gay and lesbian people have human rights?
By Tony Mcgregor
I write this because the Ugandan Parliament in October 2009 introduced new legislation making “aggravated homosexuality” an offence which could carry the death penalty. In South Africa we have possibly the most liberal provisions regarding same-sex relationships to be found anywhere in the world. The South African Constitution in Section 9 Subsection 3 states, “The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.” Subsection 4 states, “No person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds in terms of subsection (3).”
But if we look at the situation in all countries across the world the rights of lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals and trans-sexuals are more noticeable by their absence than their presence. One can reasonably ask, “Why?” What is it about gay and lesbian people that have “straight” people so scared? What is it about gay and lesbian people that they should not enjoy the same human rights protection as anyone else? I am not gay myself (had a few homosexual experiences in my youth, as do most young men, but that's about it) but I fail to see why gays and lesbians cause such fear or horror.
Homosexuality has a very long history – from the earliest recorded time and in all societies men have been attracted to men and women to women, without causing any problems for their societies. Indeed in ancient Greece the accepted way was for mature men to have young boys as their sexual partners while their wives did duty as reproducers.
What is it about the “love that dare not speak its name” that is so awful? Why does that love not dare to speak its name? Some of the world's greatest thinkers and writers have been homosexual. And their effect on others has been only to give pleasure and to deepen awareness and understanding through their contribution to culture. If people love each other, why can they not be left alone to express their love, even if it is in a homosexual relationship? As Lord Alfred Douglas wrote in the poem "Two Loves": But I am Love, and I was wont to be
Alone in this fair garden, till he came
Unasked by night; I am true Love, I fill
The hearts of boy and girl with mutual flame.'
Then sighing, said the other, 'Have thy will,
I am the love that dare not speak its name.' Surely loving one another should not be used as an excuse to commit the judicial murder that is the death penalty. Amnesty International is organising a campaign to try to get the Ugandan Parliament not to adopt this draconian legislation and to abide by the international human rights obligations of the Ugandan Government. The details of the campaign can be found on Amnesty's website (see URL below).
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http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/
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Amazing that the penalty for loving the wrong person is as,or more, harsh than for murder, torture, and so forth. There are some pretty twisted values out there.
A very thought provoking intel, Tony.
I certainly don't know the answer but the question bears discussion.
Keep up the good intels.
Frederick
Of course they have human rights. It is those who violate children who deserve serious punishment by society.
If I'm not mistaken, the culture in sub-Saharan Africa is particularly harsh on homosexuality. I'd be interested to know why that is. Then again, places like Britain were pretty hard on gay people only a few decades ago. Think of Alan Turing, for instance - a brilliant scientist whose life was ruined because of his orientation.
Super strong post, Tony, and I mean that from the bottom of my lesbian heart!
It bothers me that the question has to be asked or considered. Obviously we have to consider it, but only because the ignorant people are making an issue out of it. The true question should be, "Should ignorant people have human rights?"
In a perfect world, this question shouldn't need to be asked because another person's sexuality (as long as sex is consensual) is obviously private to them whatever it is. What a pity that this world isn't perfect and that your thought provoking article is necessary.
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.
Well, although I have a lesbian in my family I still squirm when I see male homosexuals kissing each other in movies and TV dramas. It just goes against my nature. It's not education or parenting it just feels wrong so I abhor it, and nothing will change that for me.
As I recall: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Anyone who thinks gay and lesbian people don't have human rights would be redefining the meaning of "pursuit of Happiness" to meet their own perspective or unhappiness.
No more than anybdy else.
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