Early in October of this year, I was honoured to be present as the
Niagara Rite was performed by an Anglican priest to bless the civil
marriage of a same-sex couple who "wish(ed) to receive the blessing of
the church and to affirm their life commitment to each other before God
in the community of the church." I watched the ceremony being performed
and listened to the priest's exhortation to all those gathered to
relate to each other in peace and harmony. I saw the two who were being
blessed looking at each other with love in their eyes, and I saw, too,
the obvious regard in which they are held by parish members, friends
and family. As I witnessed all of this, I couldn't help thinking of the
most homophobic place in the world, as Jamaica is known to human rights
groups, worldwide. My thoughts were occasioned by having read a report
in "The Economist" magazine not long before the ceremony, that detailed
the September 2009 murder of John Terry, a British honorary consul in
Jamaica. Beside the man's body was found a note calling him a "batty
boy", homophobic Jamaican slang for a homosexual. I kept thinking of
Terry's murder while I watched the beautiful ceremony being conducted
in front of me. I thought of how peaceful an occasion it was, and how
much these two men were surrounded by love and well-wishing on that
day, in contrast to how dangerous a situation it would be for them to
live in other places like Jamaica. I cried as the ceremony progressed,
as much for those who live in constant fear in such places as Jamaica,
as I did because the Bible readings chosen by the couple were so
beautifully appropriate. I puzzled over why so many fear what is
different so much that they are ready to kill those who embody the
difference.
Today, I heard about Uganda's proposed anti-homosexuality law and I
thought all over again of the loving ceremony that I witnessed. Every
one who chooses such a life-style should be left in peace to live out
their choice, but if the bill passes in Uganda, it will perhaps wrest
Jamaica's "worst place" title from that homophobic country. Among other
things, the bill would effectively criminalize the legitimate work of
national and international activist organizations working for the
defense and promotion of human rights in Uganda, and put major barriers
in the path of HIV/AIDS prevention. The draft bill also includes a
provision for imprisonment for up to three years of anyone, including
heterosexuals, who fail to report the identities of those who are
lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered, as well as anyone who
supports human rights for the aforementioned people, within 24 hours of
learning who they are.
Kate Sheill, an Amnesty International expert on sexual rights declares
the bill to be immoral. It will certainly fuel the fires of homophobia
that already burn in Uganda, and be used as an excuse to attack and
even kill anyone even suspected of being different. Proof would not be
justification but neither will it be a requirement. Thugs and mobs
never stop to enquire after such formalities. Nelson Mandela and
Archbishop Desmond Tutu are both widely regarded as great men, and both
these men declare homophobia to be as bad as racism. Why can't the
governments of Jamaica and Uganda step up to the plate and take action
to stem the tide of hatred directed at their citizens who are lesbian,
gay, bisexual, or transgendered? Why can't every country in the world
that condones such discriminatory behaviour see the truth in Mandela's
and Tutu's words and understand that the difference these people
represent is not a dangerous difference?
Why do so many fear what is different so much that they are ready to
kill those who embody the difference? I don't understand.

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Posted By aka.alias to aka.alias at 10/28/2009 04:56:00 PM