Dara Parker: Homophobia is alive and well, even in Vancouver

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      Last month, a drunk man entered MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert’s office, ranting about the “faggot flags” (read: rainbow) flying at the West End Community Centre. He became increasingly aggravated and proceeded to punch a hole in the wall. Then he punched Herbert’s constituency assistant in the face.

      Homophobia is alive and well, even in progressive cities like Vancouver.

      Unfortunately, it feels like the more legal equalities that LGBTQ folks are afforded, the more backlash that takes place, especially in regions that are still fighting for basic human rights. It strikes me that the pendulum is swinging hard between hate and love, and moving powerfully in both directions.

      Just this past week, we had oppressive legislation in Arizona that sought to allow business owners to refuse to serve lesbians and gays, on the basis of their religious beliefs. Thankfully it was vetoed by the governor, but there is no doubt that this, and other pieces of regressive legislation, come as an increasing number of conservative states struggle with ways to challenge the growing legality of gay marriage.

      Which is to say nothing of what’s happening in Uganda.

      At the same time that Arizona was moving backwards, Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni signed into law a bill that imposes life sentences for acts of “aggravated homosexuality”. The bill strengthens already strict legislation outlawing homosexual acts in the country and criminalizes the promotion of homosexuality. The day after the bill was signed, a local paper published a list of the top 200 homosexuals in the country, threatening their lives by doing so.

      These are dangerous times we live in.

      Things are getting better, but in many places they’re also getting worse. As a queer Canadian, I will to continue to raise my voice and demand full legal and lived equality for all of the beautiful members of our queer family, be they in Kampala—or, in the West End of Vancouver.

      Comments

      8 Comments

      Queerganda

      Mar 4, 2014 at 11:21am

      So I guess there's no parade this year?

      Doonada

      Mar 4, 2014 at 2:05pm

      It will be nice!

      Graham

      Mar 4, 2014 at 2:32pm

      It sickens me to read what is happening in Arizona and Uganda. Keep fighting for equality. Hopefully with a new federal government that has stronger support for LGBTQ rights Canada will become an even bigger promoter of equality.

      mooha

      Mar 4, 2014 at 6:56pm

      A question nobody seems prepared or willing to answer is what difference a persons sexual orientation (or for that matter gender or race) makes in determining the seriousness of the crime. If you assault ANYBODY, it's a crime. What assault is not motivated by some form of 'hate/anger/rage'?

      How can we be fighting for "equality" when we treat some victims differently. It's simply contradictory.

      Would there be this media outcry if a gay person had punched someone straight? I doubt it. As long as we treat some people differently, they will be treated well, differently. It is this type of attitude that breeds resentment and often precipitates exactly this type of incident.

      And just out of curiosity, would it be permit able to fly a "straight" flag ANYWHERE, much less an office that is supposed to represent ALL constituents? I REALLY doubt that. Am I not entitled to the same protection under the law as Gay's et some. Should I not be able to expect my MLA to be as concerned with my issues as anyone else's?

      As Graham says "fight for equality", and not in the Orwellian "we are all equal, but some of us are more equal" definition.

      RUK

      Mar 5, 2014 at 11:11am

      @mooha

      Actually, lots of people bring this topic up, all the time.

      It's one thing to preach equality when the playing field is level, but it isn't level. Equality for minorities is a new norm - there's plenty of us older folks (i.e. not teenagers) who grew up hearing/using slurs, stereotypes, mockery of a person based on their real or perceived membership in an identifiable group.

      By requiring sentencing authorities to consider whether an assault was precipitated by hate for a group, Parliament is recognizing that the perp is actually dangerous to the group, not to a person.

      Let's say I get punched in the face because I make so many trite, annoyingly pedantic posts on the Straight. (It's true.) That person is targeting me, RUK, because of something I did. It's a crime against a particular target.

      If however I am punched in the face because I have slanty eyes, he's acting on a hatred of a group of people. The act therefore intimidates that group. It also makes him more broadly dangerous.

      If you don't like it, I guess you can ask Parliament to get rid of this provision. That's probably better than breeding resentment and hoping that more incidents are precipitated (nice sly hope for more violence there)

      mooha

      Mar 5, 2014 at 9:50pm

      RUK your "pedantry" evidently has you missing some of the larger details. Like, for instance, the fact that I FEAR that creating special laws and/or enforcing laws in accordance with ones identity promotes resentment.

      So when, in your opinion will the pendulum have swung far enough the other way, that straight, white males may expect to receive this type of special consideration? Oh yeah, that was the way it was. And it was wrong then, just as it is now.

      Are you old enough to have heard the expression "two wrongs don't make a right"?

      Barry William Teske

      Mar 11, 2014 at 8:04am

      Oh look its a bunch of anonymous people talking about the homophopia tbat affects me.

      Barry Hingley

      Dec 22, 2014 at 7:22pm

      Thanks 4 all E-Mails &Up Dates you send out!Much Appreciated!Mele Kalikimaka to all staff &volunteers @QCommunity!