Roadside explosions. Stoning to the point of death. Nicest of them all, jail time. You would think those sentences would allude to a violent time from our past, maybe a time when people were judged for their religion, and a world war was upon us. That sentence does not bring to mind a current issue for most, and yet, that is exactly what it is doing.I talked about gay marriage last week, about how America is 18 states towards freedom for homosexuals. But, in several states, sodomy is a on the books as a crime. Before we get into that, let’s take a broader view and look outside of the United States.
In Nigeria, dozens of gay men have been arrested under a draconian anti-gay law that makes same-sex marriage a crime punishable by up to 14 years in jail. Members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives in Abuja signed this law in secret on Dec. 17, and the president signed on Jan. 7 of this year, though there has been no public announcement of the law to date. This law also states that membership or support of gay organizations, associations or clubs carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Human activists of Nigeria suggest that some Nigerian homosexuals have fled the country as this new law comes to light. According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), Nigeria’s law “will not only incite increased violence against LGBT people, but it will also justify and legalize that violence.” That’s right people. We are talking about the legalization of violence towards these people. And Nigeria is not the only country to do this; 37 other African nations and Russia are also following in those footsteps.
What baffles me is that these people are more worried about sex between two consenting adults – no matter their sex – rather than development, something their countries could actually benefit from.
Actor Sir Ian Mckellen is an outspoken homosexual who is trying to use his influence to help those that are being criticized and threatened. His focus right now: Russia. Soon the world will behold the 2014 Winter Olympics, hosted in Sochi, Russia. Mckellen wrote a letter to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, along with chemist Sir Harry Koto. This letter demands that Putin repeal the repressive homophobic legislation that has put his country at the center of an international fury over gay rights.
One thing that prompted Mckellen to be involved in Russian legislation was the fact that he had been advised by the UK Foreign Office to not speak openly about his sexuality while in Russia. As a result, Mckellen turned down the opportunity to appear at Russian film festivals.
While the discriminatory legislation is still in effect, Russia better prepare for the protests that the Olympics will bring with them. There is speculation that a large number of people will and already have vowed to protest the country’s anti-gay laws. Despite the fact that they have been threatened with fines and jail time, a number of the Olympic athletes competing are also prepared to protest.
Now that I have addressed that issue, lets bring it back home to the U.S. Just because America is taking the proper steps towards equality, it is important that we recognize and publicize unjust and ignorant behavior in other parts of the world. I think Russia is a fantastic place to start. Echoes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous quote come to mind: “None of us are free until all of us are free.” What better time than during the week we set aside to remember his impact on us to take his words to heart?
We as American citizens need to realize that these things are happening, take a page out of Ian Mckellen’s book, and make a stand. Russian police have the authority to arrest and detain, on sight, any person who openly identifies as or is suspected of being “homosexual, lesbian, or pro-gay,” including tourists or visitors to the country. Basically, to me, this says that the Olympics are the opportunity to get this righted. Or in any case make a dent. The International Olympic Committee has released a statement concerning this law, saying that they will protect LGBTQAI+ athletes who wish to compete from prosecutions and punishment.
The world, along with the rest of our beautiful and “free” country needs to see the light and realize that we have bigger worries on our hands than adults who want to have sex. Let people really be free to make whatever choices they will without bringing the government and police into it. African countries need to focus on the fact that many of their citizens are starving and diseased, and the lack of development could probably use some attention as well. Russia has no excuse either. Remember, in the words of the man we revere this week above all other days, “None of us are free, until all of us are free.” Simply because it doesn’t affect us directly doesn’t mean that it is something we should ignore. Take a stand, and help your fellow human beings to realize the freedoms that the rest of us enjoy.
