A Day of Contrasts

Posted Wed, 7 Dec 2011, 7:51pm by Shawn Sheridan

Two things happened yesterday that were an incredible contrast – a report in the Globe and Mail citing how Christian, Jewish, and Muslim representatives were speaking out against the new anti-bullying legislation as it pertained to LGBT students (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/despite-criticism-mcguinty-...), and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's landmark speech to the UN on LGBT rights (http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1857622883?bckey=AQ~~,AA...).

I was fuming at the content of the Globe and Mail article, and how religious representatives were hiding behind their 'faith' and 'family values' to condone terrorism and torture (after all, that is what bullying really is) of kids by other kids. Please make sure you write both the Premier (https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/default.aspx) and your MPP and tell them that you do indeed support the government's introduction of anti-terrorism and anti-torture (a.k.a. 'bullying') laws, including support for Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) and other provisions to make sure kids are safe in and out of school from 'bullies' (i.e., terrorists and torturers). It is not OK for people and organisations to justify this brutality in the name of 'faith' or 'family values'. We wouldn't let adults do it to other adults. We consider that a crime (assault and battery). Why should we let them do it through their kids to other kids?

After reading that article, and getting all fired up, I saw Hillary Clinton's speech. What a contrast! And what an incredible speech! Directly countering the disgusting statements of those Christian, Jewish, and Muslim representatives from the Globe and Mail article, part of the Secretary of States speech was:

The third, and perhaps most challenging, issue arises when people cite religious or cultural values as a reason to violate or not to protect the human rights of LGBT citizens. This is not unlike the justification offered for violent practices towards women like honor killings, widow burning, or female genital mutilation. Some people still defend those practices as part of a cultural tradition. But violence toward women isn't cultural; it's criminal. Likewise with slavery, what was once justified as sanctioned by God is now properly reviled as an unconscionable violation of human rights.

In each of these cases, we came to learn that no practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us. And this holds true for inflicting violence on LGBT people, criminalizing their status or behavior, expelling them from their families and communities, or tacitly or explicitly accepting their killing.

Of course, it bears noting that rarely are cultural and religious traditions and teachings actually in conflict with the protection of human rights. Indeed, our religion and our culture are sources of compassion and inspiration toward our fellow human beings. It was not only those who’ve justified slavery who leaned on religion, it was also those who sought to abolish it. And let us keep in mind that our commitments to protect the freedom of religion and to defend the dignity of LGBT people emanate from a common source. For many of us, religious belief and practice is a vital source of meaning and identity, and fundamental to who we are as people. And likewise, for most of us, the bonds of love and family that we forge are also vital sources of meaning and identity. And caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human. It is because the human experience is universal that human rights are universal and cut across all religions and cultures.

Well done, Hillary! She also later on in her speech said, "Leadership, by definition, means being out in front of your people when it is called for. It means standing up for the dignity of all your citizens and persuading your people to do the same." That is what Premier McGuinty is doing with the anti-bullying legislation in my opinion.

So there's my day of contrasts. Inspired by the Premier and by Hillary Clinton, and dismayed by various groups' reactions to the new legislation. We have some fantastic allies indeed, but there is still much work to be done!