This week, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission won consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council. Such a small win wouldn't be worth celebrating, except that it took three years to get there.
The win wouldn't be worth celebrating, except that it's an opportunity to look at the rising crisis facing LGBT people around the world, in Africa especially, but also here in the United States.
Many African nations have legal regimes that criminalize homosexuality. Earlier this year, Uganda attempted to beef up sanctions, calling for the death of all LGBT individuals in the country. More recently, and less publicized, Cameroon arrested three men, two nationals and one Australian, merely on the suspicion of homosexuality. Those individuals face three years imprisonment (Because they were not "caught in the act" they are out on bail until their trial August 2nd. Homosexuals caught engaging in intimacy are automatically held without bail.) The movement to arrest and persecute homosexuality is only growing on the continent, as acknowledged by a British appeal court on July 7th of this year.
But persecution is still practiced here in the United States.
This month, an unarmed African American man was shot and killed by a police officer during a "patrol" of a well-known gay cruising location in New Jersey. The fact that these areas are patrolled by armed police officers is problematic. The lack of any formal investigation into this murder is simply inexcusable.
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has its work cut out for it. But its actions won't be effective without a widespread movement calling for an end to persecution based on sexual orientation. This movement needs to focus on Africa, specifically those countries like Cameroon that are ramping up enforcement. More importantly, it needs to address the general understanding that imprisoning and/or killing gay individuals can be conducted with impunity abroad and here at home.
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Is that similar activity like homosexual activity in a mens restroom at an airport? And why question police patrolling a public area, like a park, to essentially concdemn it, to "leave them alone" but at an other time commend for catching a federal Senator apparently soliticiting in a restroom.
No matter what sexual activity, it is if conducted in a public area like a park or airport it is illegal and that is why police patrol to keep it out of the public's eye. Nuthin' hard about that.
Just maybe that Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission here in the USA should be used to self "police" the gay & lesbian community in this country. In effect, there will always be small-scale bigotry (today) that begets trouble by publicly engaging in acts inviting the bigots to act. Again nuthin' hard about that. For most of us, now, homosexuality is no longer abhorrent, not something to be alarmed about, but fellatio & cunnilingus by heteros in public is illegal, too. Get it? What makes gays & lesbians so special?
Why is religion a protected state if it is a 'choice'?
In reference to the uptick in enforcement in Cameroon, what region are you referring to in that country? Are you saying it is the "Whole" country?
There is a lot of attention on homophobia in Africa and this attention is well-deserved.
Hopefully some attention will be paid to the intense and repressive homophobia that exists in the Caribbean and particularly in countries like Jamaica.
All the English-speaking Caribbean former colonies of the United Kingdom, except for the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands have buggery laws, which go back to colonial times. These laws make sex between consenting adult males a crime. In Jamaica, the buggery law provides a penalty of up to 10 years in prison at hard labour for conviction.
Although the buggery laws are rarely enforced, they feed a very hateful, violent, repressive and intense homophobia in the Caribbean countries that have these laws.
Generally, in these Caribbean countries, lesbian sex is not outlawed. But many in those countries think it is and lesbians are also subjected to intense repression, including "corrective rapes."
The United Nations and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission have their work cut out for them.
I thought churches married people and government did civil unions? In which case it would be a contract between consenting adults.
I have news for them. If you attack somebody with a bat, and they push you away...you have not been victimized. If you try to pass a law that dehumanizes somebody and takes away their rights, and that law doesn't pass you have not been victimizing.
It is not "victimization" when the law prevents you from being bigots.
Accuse the other of doing what you've already been doing.
Do you see laws against those choosing a Christian lifestyle in the armed forces? No.
Do you laws against homosexuality in the armed forces? Yes.
Do you see laws preventing those choosing a Christian lifestyle from marrying? No.
Do you see laws preventing homosexuals from marrying? Yes.
Do you see laws preventing those choosing a Christian lifestyle from adopting children? No.
And on and on and on it goes. We cannot attend proms, join the boy scouts, keep gainful employment, and sometimes just walk down the street without victimization.
This is what it means to be persecuted.
The Xtians are NOT being persecuted...not even close. They are simply upset that their "right" to hate publicly has begun to be circumscribed.
Then again, a man in a dress guarded by rainbow-clothed men should know a thing or two.
All I need is that winning Lotto to start working on the memoirs, Waking From the American Dream.