With all of the
rallying to legalize same sex marriage in Hawai'i this past week, I found this article fitting.
Although same sex marriage is legal in South Africa, it does not stop the
violence against gays and lesbians. The opening sentence was already a shocker
for me as I read "Being a lesbian in South Africa can be a death
sentence." I couldn't help but to wonder what would happen here in Hawai'i
if (hopefully when) same sex marriage is legal?
The newspapers in South Africa are flooded with story after story of men and women
being brutality beaten, raped, and murdered, however nothing is really being
done to solve the problem. One of the worst parts of these stories is that the
ones being targeted are the leaders and activists of LGBTI groups when they are
trying to fight for their legal rights and bring knowledge to their
communities. The numbers of lesbians being raped and murdered are only getting
higher, and the repercussions for the perpetrator only get lower if it is found
out that you are a lesbian.
Living by
Gandhi's famous quote "Be the change you wish to see in the world"
one women states “Even though you want to be the change that you want to see,
there is fear that if I do this, what are my chances of survival?”. One word
comes to mind. Wow. This hits way to close to home for me, this is a quote that
I had just used as a caption under a picture I posted online of the rally.
Although when I was rallying on the side of the road, I wasn't worried about my
safety or more so my life.
I don't
understand how a country that has legalized gay marriage, could still have
discrimination and hatred against people, so much that they fear for their
lives. Bringing all of this full circle into a human rights perspective, not
only is equality a human right, but so is personal safety.
This shocking story
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