Campaigning for same-sex marriage in the UK, Ireland

Britons, including many gays, would like to think that almost everything that defines equality for same-sex couples and gays has been achieved in the United Kingdom. Civil Partnerships are legal since 2004 and in law, have little difference to traditonal marriage. But the concept in itself is discriminatory. Why have a seperate, but equal law for gay and lesbian partners? Isn't it like racial segregation that was common in many countries just decades ago? Seperate schooling or bus seats? It is. "When I grow up, I wanna... 'civil partner' a prince?"

While heterosexual couples can refer to each other as husband and wife, me and others would have to refer to our loved ones as "my partner". People might think we are in a business relationship. Yet more often, it simply leads to awkwardness or confusion, since many still don't know what civil partners are. Until they are not "married" persons, it will never feel just the same.

The biggest single inequality yet is, that civil partnerships can NOT be formed religiously, like marriages can. Even if religious institution want to, they are legally not allowed to bless same-sex couples wishing to... (well, at least) be 'civil partnered'. A Scottish bishop recently pointed out that he would be breaking the law, if a civil partnership ceremony would be celebrated in his church.

The following projects are currently underway to fight for marriage equality on the Isles:

• United Kingdom

A simple online petition recenlty launched is to be handed to the Prime Minister to call for marriage equality in the UK. A simple signature and email confirmation will do. You have to be a resident address in Britain (you don't have to be a British citizens!) http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Gay-Marriage/

Another private project can be viewed here: www.equalmarriagerights.org

• Scotland

Since March 2009 there is an internet campaign that was

launched with help of student groups try to lobby the Scottish Parliament to lift the ban on both, same-sex marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships. If you live in Scottland, please support and share the campaign on www.equalmarriage.org.uk

• Republic of Ireland

Ireland's government is drafting a civil partnership law, simular to the one in the UK, but with lesser rights. An unexpected support from straight friends and family members is trying to persuade the government, that this is not enough! http://www.marriagequality.ie/

In polls, 81% of the public said different sexualities should be treated equaly.

California rejects minority's rights

A re-cap: Same-sex marriage in California has been a long back and forth game. Twice, in 2005 and 2007, the bill was approved by the legislation and then vetoed by the Governor Schwarzenegger.

In summer 2008, California became the second US-State to allow citizens to marry whatever gender they loved. In November, a voter referendum, called Proposition 8 (Prop 8), passed by a 2% margin, annuled the rights of gays and lesbians to marry yet again.

For weeks and months after the ruling, a weapon-less civil war broke out with protests not only in California but the whole of the US.

The second American civil war began with thousands of protesters demanding equal rights under the law as gay and lesbian couples. Nowhere else has the fight for marriage been fought with more media attention, YouTube videos, Facebook groups and TV appearances with people throwing arguments about civil liberties or religious doctrines at each other.

For months, the legal outcome was unclear until the Supreme Court of California announced it would make a decision weather the Proposition 8 was valid and thus same-sex marriages invalid or if it would protect the rights of a minority that a majority-vote couldn't turn over.

Since November 2008, two countries and three US-states introduced same-sex marriages: Sweden (36m inhabitants), Norway (4,8m), Iowa (3m), Maine (1,3m), Vermont (0,6m). None of those had, however, such a big cultural impact as the battle for marriage in the 37-million-strong California with countless of world-famous actors, TV stars and thousands of bloggers jumping into the debate with strong feelings on both sides.

The ruling today did not re-instate California's reputation for a state where everyone is supposedly equal. It was one of the first states to repeal a ban on interracial marriages in the 70s but decades after blacks got their civil rights, gays and lesbians remain second class citizens. If there would have been a popular vote about the civil rights in the 70s, there'd probably be still no black US president today.

The court needs to understand it has to protect equality for everyone. History thought us what happens if a majority denies the rights to a minority group: Women, Jews and Blacks are the ones that learnt already how important universal rights are. Unfortunately, many of the once discriminated discriminate others again.

Link: Calif. High Court Uphold Prop. 8

5th International Day against Homophobia & Transphobia

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From sexism & racism to homophobia in church

I grew up with a religious family, religious by faith, not out of tradition. Like my parents, I would describe myself as a charismatic or pentecostal Christian like you mostly find it in America and in young, rock-music playing mega-churches. Most of those churches, despite their modern look, unfortunately have a problem with homosexuality and are even in the extreme founders of the so-called "ex-gay" movement that, against all scientific evidence, seek to "repair" individuals with "unwanted same-sex attractions" (which largely results in living life in denial, self-harm and even suicide).

I go to the Australian Hillsong church's offshoot in London. I like the young, ethnically-diverse people, energetic and joyous atmosphere, the uplifting music and the general feeling that you come because you like it, not because you feel obliged to. I've heard that the Australian mother church is somewhat-linked through it's pastors to ex-gay activities, but just because of one disagreement with my church's doctrine, I won't leave.

This Sunday, however, I had quite a stirring experience that made me reflect and pray a lot. Christine Caine, from Sydney was giving the four o'clock afternoon sermon.

One aspect that might be remarkable to you if you come from another denomination or religion is that yes, women are fairly equalised and allowed to preach within protestant churches. I am proud that my church overcame the century-long tradition of oppressing women that still affects today's religious practises. The Catholic, Mormon and Orthodox church don't ordain women, or in Islam, women sometimes aren't even allowed into the mosque, or are kept from the men-only main rooms.

This Sunday, Chris Caine was talking about devotion of one's personal life to God's cause (in her case, fighting prostitution and evangelism). Being an orphan, she said she had a difficult childhood, that she grew up in "a culture that demeaned females" but that she eventually broke out the oppressing culture with the help of Jesus to realise her aspirations. Christine went on:

"[I was] abused by four men for twelve years almost weekly. (...) People with my kind of background don't normally end up doing what I am doing, they end up with the drug-dependant or alcohol-dependent or two or three different kids to two or three different fathers, or gay or at the VERY least confused about their gender identity. That's what normally happens" (get the mp3 here)

Drug and alcohol addiction are negative, OK. Divorce and several husbands is what least women desire but she adds two more things to the list: "gays" and (as I understand it what she thinks is even worse) people that are "confused about their gender identity", by which she might also refer to gays and/or transsexuals.

The message to the thousands of church-attendants is that homosexuality and transsexuality are:

• undesirable
• comparable to drug-addiction and
• the result of an unfortunate past.

With just one sentence, Chris Caine reinforces negative stereotypes in listeners, teaches that non-heterosexuals have something like a sickness and leaves the attendants with the thought that gay people are damaged inside. She continues the religious tradition of teaching other people are inferior and is another proof that humans forget history and repeat the same pattern of oppression again. This is severe because by this, the killing of Matthew Shephard or more recently the suicide of 11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover are caused. What she and many others don't understand is that sexual orientation is nothing chosen, just like nobody chooses to be born black, green-eyed or as a woman.

It makes me sad to see the oppressed oppressing others themselves. What happened to blacks in the US didn't stop them from protesting passionately against gay-marriage a week ago in Washington (the video of it here that will sadden you).

The century-old oppression of women that even held on to affect Christine Caine's life in the late 20th century didn't teach her to respect differences and finally understand that God's creation is so big and diverse. Just like we delight in the many differently-coloured flowers of God's nature, we should cherish God's richly diverse array of humankind in which none is inferior to another.

Iran, Nigeria, Jamaica and 67 more

Living in the UK is great. I mean sure, it rains a lot, the food is rubbish and it's horrendously expensive but what I want to point at is that we have so many rights here and freedom we take for granted. I was shocked when I went to China three years ago and found out that there are hotels (mostly low-budget) that are legally not allowed to accommodate foreigners. I felt discriminated but I (or better my wallet) was happily welcomed in millions of other places. Still I started to realise what difference the feeling of not being treated equally means.

So I'm going to talk about equality. There is something I'd like to set as a base of understanding before I continue: All are born equal! Nobody chooses their sex, skin-colour, height, sexual orientation or eye-shape after birth. So there is no reason to be treated differently!

We did tho until recently: Women had significantly fewer rights than men a hundred years ago and black or 'coloured' people were treated like second-class citizens in South Africa just 15 years ago.

Let's go a bite more into extremes: When were people jailed and killed for what they are? The Jewish people in Europe in the 1940s. Or gays and lesbians in several countries in 2009.

As you are reading, people have to fear for their live and don't have the choice to go to another places. I want to look at some of the 70 countries worldwide where being gay is a crime.

Most countries that enforce a set of Islamic penalty code (Sharia) officially sentence homosexuals to death. Iran is one of the worst offenders. While common practise since 1979, the case of two teen boys in 2005 sparked international outrage. While President Ahmadinejad denied Iran had any gays at all, other officials openly defend the executions. While enforced rarely, the same law is still in use in the UAE, including Dubai.

The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria also enforces sharia law in the mostly-Islamic states in the north, but Christian and tribal societies in the south are just as hostile.

Jamaica was recently named the most homophobic place on earth. The state does not impose the death penalty, but the hatred is so common in the population that violent mobs regularly 'go gay-hunting' and individuals do not receive protection form the police.

I made a YouTube video to highlight these horrible circumstances and spread awareness.

(there is a great article with the complete list of countries on Wikipedia, which I was helped setting up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lgbt_rights_by_country).

Queer for Israel

Most of you know that I took a stongly-voiced position on the Israeli side during the last months of the media war thagt was fought between Gaza and Israel-sympathisers.

Putting that aside, I now want to put a 'pink' spotlight onto Israel and highlight some astonishing facts about a country wedged in between Arab nations.

Most are probably aware that queer boys and girls in Iraq, Syria, Egypt or Iran don't live a very "gay" life. In fact, homosexuality is even forbidden in every Middle Eastern country but Jordan, Turkey and Israel; Flogging, hanging, prison or at least social persecution are what waving the rainbow flag means in the rest.

In Israel, however, gay marriages are recognised, thus putting the Jewish state ahead of even most European countries or US states. (Yet, you can't technically gay marry there since the state doesn't perform civil weddings, it only recognised those declared by religious institutions. It does recognise marriages performed abroad but it would be up to the religions to allow them within Israel.)
Foreign partners of gay Israelis are granted citizen status and joint Adoption is possible since 2009.

Also, Tel Aviv hosts the only annual Gay Pride event in the Middle East and if you watch this video of it, you will witness it is not even a small even hidden in some back allies.

Many other aspects speak for Israel's progressiveness such as equal age of consent and anti-discrimination laws in employment since 1992.

Since 1993 the military allows proud lesbians and gays (like a very dear friend of mine) to serve their country or alternatively volunteer in the national services, such as the Association of GLBTs in Israel (Agudah). This makes Israel mroe advanced than the US who are - even under a black president - still now able to eliminate exclusion and state-operated discrimination.

Many gay-themed films aimed at the mainstream market such as "Yossi & Jagger" (2002), "Walk on Water" (2004), "The Bubble" (2006) and TV series like "Florentin" were produced in Israel.

My personal favourite of Israeli LGBT exports is the trans-singer Dana International, who in fact won the biggest music competition in the world, the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998. A recent music video of hers together with camp singer Idan Yaniv brought me to write this very article. Enjoy.

Sources: Wikipedia's LGBT rights in Israel and LGBT rights by country or territory

Gay culture has to de-sexify

or: An open letter to the ones fighting for marriage equality

The gay movies I saw as a teenager around 5 years ago were all about one topic: sex. If it's about first sexual experiences, sexual relationships or the gay clubbing world with lots of random encounters (think Queer as Folk).
My university (the School of African and Oriental Studies, London) recently hosted a lecture about the rising gay culture in Bangkok and all the gay-themed Thai movies that are becoming so popular are somehow telling a story that just cannot be without the display of sex.
The lecturer was also showing us the variety of gay print publications (he said there are somewhat close to 50 magazines in Thailand alone I believe), 90% with shirtless men on the cover from my judgement.


So gays are becoming more visible. Good isn't it? I say no, because there is something that bother me a lot: All the sex!
To be fair, on the first look, a homoSEXual differs from the rest by definition for that he doesn't have sex with the opposite gender but rather the same. So is it mainly about sex? I dare to believe our same-sex relationships are not just that but like anyone elses including zoo-visits, jealousy dramas, self-cooked dinners together and romantic text-messaging.


What annoys is that through that sex-image we like to display in our (sub-)culture a major part of society associates gays with sex (and thus fun, joy, promiscuity, anti-conservative, family-unfriendly). And this the reason why conservatives fight politically against our right to marry for example. It is because gay relationship seem to be about self-centred, physical and shameless enjoyment that families feel they need to protect marriage and children.

And that is a fatal misconception! Studies show that same-sex couples want to have a family home in stable relationships (in some countries the willingness to marry is higher than among straights) and many want to adopt. But these rights (marrying & adopting) are denied in most of the world's countries (only six out of 195 countries have gender-neutral marriage laws). Opposition in the rest of the world has strong feelings against the rights of same-sex couples as the case of Proposition 8 (a referendum in California weather to allow gay marrriage) showed. It was the most expensively fought civil right issue in the history of the US with millions spend on campaigns on both sides.
However, I begin to think that gays are partly to blame for that strong oppostion. We need to show ourselves as we are, like holding hands with the loved-one on the street, cuddling to a romantic movie in cinema and anywhere and anytime, not just walking around half-naked and snogging at Gay Pride and Mardi Gras. That is the wrong showing-off.

It is also up to us gays themselves to change society's negative perception . And once gays understand that, I will look forward to the day when homosexual couples are not only displayed in sex-themed gay films or as comic contribution in main-stream media but also in secondary roles as normal couples just like there are pictures of opposite-sex couples every minute on TV without a funny side to it.

My own favourite quote

Translate this into other languages if you like!

[EN] I’m a language freak!
I think, in the age of globalization, we all in this world should try to get to know each other a bit more. The key to intercultural understanding are languages. Not everyone can learn several languages. But we can try to gather just a bit more knowledge. I consider this to be the duty of a real world citizen. ~LiangHH
[ZH] 我是一个语言迷!
我想，在全球化的今天，人们应该更好的去了解世界人民。语言正好是不同文化间对话的钥匙。 并不是每个人都能学很多语言。但是至少我们能够尽量的获取一些知识。我认为这是世界公民的义务。 （谢谢xyzx124翻译） ~柯俊杰
[ES] Me gustan las idiomas!
Pienso que en el siglo de la globalización tenemos que intentar a conocernos un poco más. La llave a la aproximación intercultural son los idiomas. No podemos aprender todos los lenguajes del mundo pero podemos procurar saber un poco mas sobre ellos. Considero esto como la obligación de un ciudadano del mundo. ~LiangHH
[RU] Привет всем! Я очень люблю иностранные языки!
Мне кажется, в век глобализации, все мы должны попытаться узнать друг друга лучше, а ключом к межкультурному пониманию являются языки.
Не каждый может выучить несколько языков. Но мы можем постараться собрать больше знаний. И я полагаю, что это должно быть обязанностью каждого жителя нашей планеты. (Спасибо, Антон) ~Винс

[DE] Ich bin ein Sprachen-Fan!
Ich denke, man sollte im Zeitalter der Globalisierung die Völker der Welt besser verstehen lernen. Der Schlüssel zum interkulturellen Dialog sind die Sprachen. Nicht jeder kann mehrere Sprachen lernen. Wir können uns aber bemühen, zumindest ein bisschen mehr Ahnung zu haben. Das sehe ich als Pflicht eines Weltenbürgers an. ~LiangHH
[PT] Gosto dos idiomas!
Penso que o sentido da globalisação consiste em tentar nos conhecermos um pouco mais. A aproximação intercultural são idiomas. Não podemos aprender todas as linguas (idiomas) do mundo mas podemos procurar saber um pouco mais. Isto considero como a obrigação de um cidadão do mundo. (translated by Pedro Henriques) ~LiangHH
[FR] J´aime les langues
Je pense que de nos jours, on devrait apprendre à mieux comprendre les peuples de ce monde. Les langues sont les clefs du dialogue interculturel. Aucun de nous ne peut parler beaucoup de langues. On pourrait faire des efforts, du moins en avoir la volonté. En cela je vois notre devoir envers les citoyens du monde. (Merci beaucoup, Marcel) ~LiangHH
[JP] 私は、言語狂です！
グローバリゼーションの時代に、この世のみんなが もう少し、互いを知ろうとしなければならないと思います。 異文化間の理解に重要なのは、言語です。 誰でも皆が、複数の言語を学ぶことができるというわけでありません。 しかし、我々はもう少し知識を得ようとすることができます。 私は、これが本当の世界市民の義務であると考えます。 (by Maa) ~ヴィンチ[IT] Sono uno straappassionato di lingue
Penso, in quest'era di globalizzazione, che tutti in questo mondo dobbiamo provare a conoscerci a vicenda un pò di più. La chiave delle comprensione tra culture diverse è nelle lingue. Non tutti sono in grado di imparare diverse lingue. Tuttavia possiamo provare a raccogliere un pò più di conoscenza. Considero questo il dovere di un di un vero cittadino del mondo. (Grazie, Allan) ~LiangHH
[TR] Ben bir yabancı-dil manyagıyım!
Günümüzün globalizleşen dünyasında, herkes birbirini daha iyi tanımaya çalışmalıdır bence. Entellektüel dünyanın en önemli anahtarı dillerdir. Elbette hiç kimse bir sürü dil bilemez. Fakat azacık da olsa, daha fazla bilgi edinmek için çabalayabiliriz. Ben bunu her dünya insanının görevi olarak görüyorum. (Tesekkurler, Kaan) ~LiangHH
[PL] Jestem fanem języków!
Myślę, że w dobie globalizacji wszyscy powinniśmy poznać się nieco bliżej. Kluczem do międzykulturalnego zrozumienia są języki. Nie każdy może nauczyć się kilku języków, ale może przynajmniej poświęcić im trochę uwagi. Uważam to za obowiązek prawdziwego "obywatela świata" (Dziekuje, Michal) ~LiangHH
[HE] אני מטורף על שפות!
לדעתי בעידן כזה של גלובליזציה אנחנו צריכים לנסות להכיר האחד את השני בצורה טובה יותר. המפתח להבנה רב תרבותית היא שפות שונות וידיעתן. לא כולם יכולים ללמוד שפות רבות אבל אנחנו יכולים לנסות לאסוף יותר מידע אל האחר, זוהי חובתו של אזרח אמיתי של העולם. (תודה לרון)
[NL] Ik ben een talenfreak!
Ik ben een talenfreak! In tijden van globalisatie denk ik dat we moeten proberen om elkaar wat beter te leren kennen. Talen zijn de sleutel naar intercultureel begrip. Niet iedereen kan verschillende talen leren. Maar we kunnen proberen wat meer kennis te vergaren. Ik beschouw dit als de plicht van een echte wereldburger. (Dankje Roel) ~LiangHH
[SR] Ја сам луд за језицима!
Мислим да у доба глобализације сви на свијету можемо покушати да упознамо једни друге мало боље. Кључ мултикултуралног разумевања су језици. Не може баш свако да научи више језика, али сви можемо да пробамо да сакупимо бар мало више знања о њима. По мени је то обавеза правог, светског човека. (translated by unknown) ~LiangHH
[BS] Ja sam lud za jezicima!
Mislim da, u doba globalizacije svi u ovom svijetu trebamo pokušati upoznati jedni druge malo bolje. Ključ multikulturalnog razumijevanja su jezici. Ne može svako naučiti više jezika, ali svi možemo pokušati skupiti bar malo više znanja. Po meni je to obaveza pravog svjetskog građanina. (translated by unknown) ~LiangHH
[SL] Sem oboževalec jezikov
Mislim, da bi se vsi mi v dobi globalizacije morali bolje spoznati. Ključ do medkuLturnega spoznavanja so jeziki. Vsi se ne morejo učiti večih jezikov. Vendar se lahko potrudimo zbrati vsaj malo več vedenja o njih. To vidim kot dolžnost vsakega državljana sveta. (translated by Matic) ~LiangHH

犯人

[ZH]
在每个国家里有犯人. 在中国他们是你们的政府
在每個國家裡有犯人. 在中國他們是你們的政府
zài měi gè guójiā lǐ yǒu fànrén . zài zhōngguó tāmen shì nǐmen de zhèngfǔ
In every country there are criminals. In China they are your government

一无所知

[ZH] 我的天那! 我的宗教老师和我们谈论华人的信念. 我念一篇文章: "华人在新加坡". 我的老师告诉我们这城市在中国．什么？？？？？？？　"新加坡不是一个中国的城市"我说！！！！！！！！ 我的老师吃惊了: "真的吗?". 我回答: "是的！是一个在马来西亚半岛的国家. 离中国非常远！
哎呀．．．　以前我认为他很聪明，　
但是西方人对亚洲一无所知