In this video, for those of us who are not hearing-impaired and/or know how to sign, the most interesting thing I think can be learned is how similar those who are hearing impaired are to those who are not. Who would have thought there was a "gay" way to sign, like there is to speak? This leads to another discussion in how certain "norms" can transcend any language.
Showing posts with label homosexuality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homosexuality. Show all posts
Thursday, April 5, 2012
A Gay, Deaf and HIV Positive South African Activist
CNN's African Voices has once again brought another interesting story out of Africa. This one, out of all so far, is definitely the most interesting of all of them. Take a look.
In this video, for those of us who are not hearing-impaired and/or know how to sign, the most interesting thing I think can be learned is how similar those who are hearing impaired are to those who are not. Who would have thought there was a "gay" way to sign, like there is to speak? This leads to another discussion in how certain "norms" can transcend any language.
In this video, for those of us who are not hearing-impaired and/or know how to sign, the most interesting thing I think can be learned is how similar those who are hearing impaired are to those who are not. Who would have thought there was a "gay" way to sign, like there is to speak? This leads to another discussion in how certain "norms" can transcend any language.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tweets From Nigeria's News Desk
In the midst of Nigeria's National Assembly passing a bill that adds strengthens anti-homosexuality laws in Africa's most populous nation, reliable news source Nigeria's Newsdesk tweeted some rather interesting news bites:
"@NigeriaNewsdesk: Anyone who discriminates against HIV/AIDS persons in Cross River State is liable to three months’ imprisonment or option of fine."
Immediately after, they tweeted this:
"@NigeriaNewsdesk: The CNPP yesterday asked President Jonathan to heed the warning by former President Obasanjo against a possible mass revolt in the country."
This brings two things to mind. First, wouldn't this state law conflict with the new federal law? And three months for discriminating against someone with HIV/AIDS (usually assumed to be homosexual in Nigeria) yet a homosexual can receive up to 14 years in prison and is denied certain rights. There's a lot of things that conflict here.
Secondly, I don't think a mass revolt would occur from the formation of this law, since a sizable lot of Nigerians are in support of this bill and a minority is actively against it. However, this brings me back to some of the things I said in my last post about the priorities of Nigeria's government. This issue was put ahead of issues that have been chronic issues in the country for the past decade: a spotty electrical grid (shameful for one of the world's largest oil producers), poverty, health care and education. These are issues that the most attention should be focused on. Businesses and homes need a reliable supply of energy so they don't have to resort to using polluting generators, a unnecessary expense when there should be more than enough electricity for everyone. Nigeria has a vast shortage of doctors and nurses and a health care system that is still being reorganized. The educational system, especially in rural areas, is in shambles. Poverty levels have barely decreased since the beginning of the last decade. Strengthening homosexuality laws is not going to solve any of these problems. Maybe focusing on these important issues can actually avoid any kind of mass revolt.
"@NigeriaNewsdesk: Anyone who discriminates against HIV/AIDS persons in Cross River State is liable to three months’ imprisonment or option of fine."
Immediately after, they tweeted this:
"@NigeriaNewsdesk: The CNPP yesterday asked President Jonathan to heed the warning by former President Obasanjo against a possible mass revolt in the country."
This brings two things to mind. First, wouldn't this state law conflict with the new federal law? And three months for discriminating against someone with HIV/AIDS (usually assumed to be homosexual in Nigeria) yet a homosexual can receive up to 14 years in prison and is denied certain rights. There's a lot of things that conflict here.
Secondly, I don't think a mass revolt would occur from the formation of this law, since a sizable lot of Nigerians are in support of this bill and a minority is actively against it. However, this brings me back to some of the things I said in my last post about the priorities of Nigeria's government. This issue was put ahead of issues that have been chronic issues in the country for the past decade: a spotty electrical grid (shameful for one of the world's largest oil producers), poverty, health care and education. These are issues that the most attention should be focused on. Businesses and homes need a reliable supply of energy so they don't have to resort to using polluting generators, a unnecessary expense when there should be more than enough electricity for everyone. Nigeria has a vast shortage of doctors and nurses and a health care system that is still being reorganized. The educational system, especially in rural areas, is in shambles. Poverty levels have barely decreased since the beginning of the last decade. Strengthening homosexuality laws is not going to solve any of these problems. Maybe focusing on these important issues can actually avoid any kind of mass revolt.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Nigeria Anti-Gay (Marriage) Bill
I've been thinking about some of the issues I have with the fight for gay rights in most of sub-Saharan Africa, mainly it's approach from the West (or should I say the former colonizers).
There's a condescending nature of the West when they tell African nations: "We'll pull aid from countries that pass anti-gay legislation." The United Kingdom's Prime Minister David Cameron said something of a similar vein not to long ago.
Before I go into it, I do believe every minority group in every country should be treated and respected as a human, regardless if you are a racial, ethnic or sexual minority. More so, whoever you sleep with is only your business, as long as you're not having sex with them in public.
The part that bothers me most about this is not even the recent legislation being passed in Nigeria or some that may be passed in other countries, but the passive aggression coming from the West. "They're all on a journey and we want to help them get there," said David Cameron. But did you ASK these nations what is their journey and WHERE they would like to be? You assume that these nations want to be like the West? Many of them want to be African. If you listen to some of the homophobic rhetoric of these leader, despite their bases for the argument, they want to make sure their country has a strong African identity. Do I believe anti-homosexuality laws define an African identity? Hell no. But I also do not believe that African nations should be told aspire to be "Westernized."When you begin to realize African cultures are not backward and they need to be TAUGHT how to think, then maybe change can happen. African countries, based on all the resources they have are more than capable of making their countries work for them. Plus, many of their economies are doing better than many Western nations at the moment. Didn't Angola just offer it's former colonizer Portugal aid?
Now that we are in a post colonial and increasingly global society, the approach of these Western nations to anti-gay policies in Africa should not be "we won't give you money" but instead understanding how to approach the issue that would be effective in an African nation and not basing it on how things are done in West.
To be quite honest, African cultures are very active cultures, especially when it comes to politics. When Africans are angry, we are angry. That's why protesting almost always turns into bloodshed and militant groups form. Do I support this violence? No, not at all because in the end the statement is made at the cost of innocent lives. However, I understand where it is coming from - the mind.
In the United States, when laws are created to protect the rights of minority groups, it doesn't change the minds of people by any means, but because the culture is passive, little is done to challenge the laws which in turn changes HOW people discriminate against minority groups (for example, "white flight" from Northern US cities from the mid 1960s onward).
In South Africa, considered the most liberal African country, who have had laws to protect the LGBT community for around a decade now, corrective rape toward lesbians is still rampant, if not worse than before, DESPITE the laws to protect women from rape combined with the laws created to protect lesbians. In many African countries, people don't passively obey a law simply because it's in place. Instead, the laws will be completely ignored unless the mindset is changed.
If the greater society of an African nations believes homosexuality is sinful, they are not going to support any legislation that protects gay rights. However, if there is dialogue between groups, a compromise can be reached and a change in the mind can begin. It will be a slow process, but in the end, Africans from both sides of the aisle can live peacefully. After that, there's a much higher possibility of this kind of legislation being supported by the majority. This does not mean the West needs to interfere, but instead support dialogue when asked.
Long story short, when the need is there, they'll ask. The West needs to stop assuming Africa needs them. What Africa needs right now are more leaders who are more interested in their populations than their bank accounts.
There's a condescending nature of the West when they tell African nations: "We'll pull aid from countries that pass anti-gay legislation." The United Kingdom's Prime Minister David Cameron said something of a similar vein not to long ago.
Before I go into it, I do believe every minority group in every country should be treated and respected as a human, regardless if you are a racial, ethnic or sexual minority. More so, whoever you sleep with is only your business, as long as you're not having sex with them in public.
The part that bothers me most about this is not even the recent legislation being passed in Nigeria or some that may be passed in other countries, but the passive aggression coming from the West. "They're all on a journey and we want to help them get there," said David Cameron. But did you ASK these nations what is their journey and WHERE they would like to be? You assume that these nations want to be like the West? Many of them want to be African. If you listen to some of the homophobic rhetoric of these leader, despite their bases for the argument, they want to make sure their country has a strong African identity. Do I believe anti-homosexuality laws define an African identity? Hell no. But I also do not believe that African nations should be told aspire to be "Westernized."When you begin to realize African cultures are not backward and they need to be TAUGHT how to think, then maybe change can happen. African countries, based on all the resources they have are more than capable of making their countries work for them. Plus, many of their economies are doing better than many Western nations at the moment. Didn't Angola just offer it's former colonizer Portugal aid?
Now that we are in a post colonial and increasingly global society, the approach of these Western nations to anti-gay policies in Africa should not be "we won't give you money" but instead understanding how to approach the issue that would be effective in an African nation and not basing it on how things are done in West.
To be quite honest, African cultures are very active cultures, especially when it comes to politics. When Africans are angry, we are angry. That's why protesting almost always turns into bloodshed and militant groups form. Do I support this violence? No, not at all because in the end the statement is made at the cost of innocent lives. However, I understand where it is coming from - the mind.
In the United States, when laws are created to protect the rights of minority groups, it doesn't change the minds of people by any means, but because the culture is passive, little is done to challenge the laws which in turn changes HOW people discriminate against minority groups (for example, "white flight" from Northern US cities from the mid 1960s onward).
In South Africa, considered the most liberal African country, who have had laws to protect the LGBT community for around a decade now, corrective rape toward lesbians is still rampant, if not worse than before, DESPITE the laws to protect women from rape combined with the laws created to protect lesbians. In many African countries, people don't passively obey a law simply because it's in place. Instead, the laws will be completely ignored unless the mindset is changed.
If the greater society of an African nations believes homosexuality is sinful, they are not going to support any legislation that protects gay rights. However, if there is dialogue between groups, a compromise can be reached and a change in the mind can begin. It will be a slow process, but in the end, Africans from both sides of the aisle can live peacefully. After that, there's a much higher possibility of this kind of legislation being supported by the majority. This does not mean the West needs to interfere, but instead support dialogue when asked.
Long story short, when the need is there, they'll ask. The West needs to stop assuming Africa needs them. What Africa needs right now are more leaders who are more interested in their populations than their bank accounts.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Men in Love
I don't even know where to begin with this movie. (Literally, after I typed that last sentence, I unconsciously sighed.) Men in Love is a Nollywood film starring Tonto Dikeh and John Dumelo, two famous actors in West Africa. This movie, though...
Okay, I guess I'll simply break this movie down in the easiest terms:
- Man cheats on wife with a ton of women.
- Wife catches him with his secretary and whoops her ass, then threatens to leave her husband.
- Man stops cheating and he and his wife have make-up sex; everything's cool.
- Man meets old friend.
- Old friend invites man to dinner; old friend reveals he's gay and in love with man.
- Old friend drugs man at a party then rapes man.
- Man wakes up knowing he was raped and pissed, but doesn't know he's been "charmed" by the old friend.
- Man cheats on his wife with old friend; wife catches them having sex.
- Wife discovers man has been charmed after praying/crying at a church for 5 days via divine revelation from the pastor's wife.
- Pastor's wife has a prayer vigil and the charm is lifted from man.
- Wife and man live happily ever after.
Can you see my problem with this movie? If not, maybe you need to watch it yourself (there are two parts).
I found this movie entertaining, but there are two things that I just feel I need to discuss. On one had I have the spiritual aspect (no Nollywood movie would be complete without some diabolical ploy being extinguished.) On the other hand, I had this portrayal of homosexuality, which has it's negative overtone (which I have discussed how this is taboo in many black communities before).
This spiritual battle, if you will, is interesting. I knew the old friend (Alex) used some kind of evil magic based on this one thing: no one (gay, straight, bi, smart or stupid) would EVER fall in love with their rapist. Period. That was a dead giveaway. If you were a rape victim and you knew your rapist would you fall in love with your rapist? I think not.
Now, the homosexuality message is worrisome. Even though I think this is the first time I think I have seen two straight men act gay well in Nollywood movie, the message about homosexuality is worrisome - and I am not talking about the overt message that it is a sin. The part that bothers me is it has the undertones of the reasons to support the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, a bill that still sits in Ugandan parliament, waiting to be passed or vetoed due to international intervention. This movie seems to say homosexuals are rapists, use black magic and cannot control their lusts, even though the movie really showed a diversity of gay men.
Since Nollywood is not only Africa's largest movie industry but the second largest in the world based on the amount of movie produced, this message can and will (if not already) reach Uganda and can be used (if not already) by the bill's supporters. Now if this movie is used as a tool to cause the death of thousands of Ugandans, the producers would have some bloody hands to wash.
Before anybody starts to say something crazy, let me tell you I do not support ANYONE being forced to do something against their will. Period. Rape is forcing someone to have sex. I do not support rape under any circumstance; there's no justification for it.
Anyway, regardless of what you may think of homosexuality, there are two things we can all agree on: murder is murder and ignorance can lead to hate.
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