Taking a view of our world
According to data published by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (www.ilga.org), the following is how a large part of our world views the LGBT community.
There are 13 nations on this planet where being gay is punishable by death.
17 nations where any propaganda promoting LGBT rights or identities is prohibited
In addition, there are 40 nations where someone accused of murder or assault can cite a "gay panic" defense if the person they are accused of attacking is gay, lesbian or bisexual. In 72 nations, same-sex sexual acts are illegal (all 72 have laws prohibiting same-sex sexual acts between men and 45 of which have laws prohibiting same-sex sexual acts between women). Put another way, fully 37% of United Nations member states ban same-sex acts between men.
Why is this important? Because of something that happened to a gay couple who dared to marry in a nation where their union is legal. But since one of the two men who married is Nigerian, they took pains to try to keep the ceremony secret. Guests had been told not to take photos. They were "very careful" about who was invited. On the Monday following the wedding, they discovered that someone who had been at the wedding had provided photos of the nuptials to a "gossip blogger" who I will not name (not going to give any additional free publicity to someone who would publish such things).
The reaction was predictable. These two men, for doing nothing more than loving one another, have been vilified.
Who is to blame? As much as we would like to believe we live in a world filled with freedoms, that is not the case. We who are fortunate enough to live in a nation where same-sex unions are now legal, where there are as much if not more freedoms than anywhere else; still live in a world where other nations can make laws we do not agree with. Personally I find laws that discriminate against anyone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity just as reprehensible as those who would discriminate against people because of their race, religion, gender, age, and so on. We are all people, all created equal and should be afforded equal treatment.
But while we believe this, we also know it isn't how the rest of the world views such things. I don't fault these two men for choosing to get married. Clearly someone violated their trust, but you shouldn't have to suffer death threats because of a violation of trust. Their own social media posting of their wedding photos was unwise, but it also shouldn't have come at such a high price.
In the Internet age, where social media is so powerful and there are cameras and other recording devices everywhere, we must divest ourselves of the illusion that there is any privacy. There is none.
There are 13 nations on this planet where being gay is punishable by death.
| Afghanistan |
| Iran |
| Iraq |
| Mauritania |
| Nigeria |
| Pakistan |
| Qatar |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Somalia |
| Sudan |
| Syria |
| UAE |
| Yemen |
17 nations where any propaganda promoting LGBT rights or identities is prohibited
| Algeria |
| Egypt |
| Iran |
| Iraq |
| Jordan |
| Kuwait |
| Lebannon |
| Libya |
| Lithuania |
| Morocco |
| Nigeria |
| Qatar |
| Russia |
| Saudia Arabia |
| Somalia |
| Syria |
| Tunisia |
In addition, there are 40 nations where someone accused of murder or assault can cite a "gay panic" defense if the person they are accused of attacking is gay, lesbian or bisexual. In 72 nations, same-sex sexual acts are illegal (all 72 have laws prohibiting same-sex sexual acts between men and 45 of which have laws prohibiting same-sex sexual acts between women). Put another way, fully 37% of United Nations member states ban same-sex acts between men.
Why is this important? Because of something that happened to a gay couple who dared to marry in a nation where their union is legal. But since one of the two men who married is Nigerian, they took pains to try to keep the ceremony secret. Guests had been told not to take photos. They were "very careful" about who was invited. On the Monday following the wedding, they discovered that someone who had been at the wedding had provided photos of the nuptials to a "gossip blogger" who I will not name (not going to give any additional free publicity to someone who would publish such things).
The reaction was predictable. These two men, for doing nothing more than loving one another, have been vilified.
Who is to blame? As much as we would like to believe we live in a world filled with freedoms, that is not the case. We who are fortunate enough to live in a nation where same-sex unions are now legal, where there are as much if not more freedoms than anywhere else; still live in a world where other nations can make laws we do not agree with. Personally I find laws that discriminate against anyone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity just as reprehensible as those who would discriminate against people because of their race, religion, gender, age, and so on. We are all people, all created equal and should be afforded equal treatment.
But while we believe this, we also know it isn't how the rest of the world views such things. I don't fault these two men for choosing to get married. Clearly someone violated their trust, but you shouldn't have to suffer death threats because of a violation of trust. Their own social media posting of their wedding photos was unwise, but it also shouldn't have come at such a high price.
In the Internet age, where social media is so powerful and there are cameras and other recording devices everywhere, we must divest ourselves of the illusion that there is any privacy. There is none.
posted by me at 1:03 PM
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