As my first post, I should let you all know that I am Kevin Ballie, a student at American University (AU). I happen to work at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally (GLBTA) Resource Center at AU. My area of activism centers particularly around GLBT activism. My goal is to write diaries on DailyKos as a regular update concerning issues facing the GLBT community. I sincerely hope to gain a readership base of committed GLBT activists and our supporters. Such a base will only enhance DailyKos and provoke greater thought. Just as a note, I may use terms like gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender (GLBT) or queer (a substitute for GLBT).
There was quite a few of whooping and hugging going on in my office yeserday when the news broke about South Africa legalizing Same-Sex Marriage.
"It demonstrates powerfully the commitment of our law-makers to ensuring that all human beings are treated with dignity."
- Fikile Vilakazi, a spokesperson for 17 South African LGBT groups after gay marriage bill is passed
[Quote from 365gay.com]
What does this mean though?
It means that South Africa has just jumped years ahead of America and most of Europe in granting equal marriage rights to same-sex couples. It means that South Africa has become the 5th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriages, and the 1st country to have equal marriage rights outside of the West (Spain, Canada, Belgium and the Netherlands are the other countries who have legalized gay marriage. They're all developed countries in the Western Hemisphere).
I'm particularly proud of the decision since my family has South African heritage. I'll probably be spending a semester in South Africa to focus on HIV/AIDS issues in that country as part of my college studies. I'm now even more sure of that decision thanks to yesterday's decision legalizing same-sex marriage.
Most people don't pay attention to queer movements outside of the west or developed countries, yet it is the queer movements outside of where we usually focus on that will be the propelling force behind the next generation of queer activists. Whether it be fighting for pride marches in Eastern Europe, tearing down the sodomy laws in India, or creating officially sanctioned pro-GLBT groups in Chinese college campuses, today's activists outside of the West are pushing boundaries that no one ever dared push...
On a slightly different note:
365gay.com has this amazing "Today in history" column, which I absolutely adore:
November 15, 1636 - A set of laws enacted for the Plymouth colony includes the death penalty for Homosexual acts.
I was surprised at how similar today's historical fact was to some recent happenings in queer news.
"The Iranian government is again coming under scrutiny for its treatment of gays following reports that a man was executed after being found guilty of homosexuality...
The state Iran News Agency reported that a man, identified as Shahab Darvishi had been hanged in the city for corruption, assault and "lavat" the Iranian word for sodomy."
Countless numbers of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals have had to endure beatings, humiliation and death for centuries in all parts of the world. We're supremely lucky to be living in an age where this status qup is now being challanged all over the world. Queer movements- no matter where they are- must accept the responsibility that they have to each other all over the world. We are all either in this together, or we will be divided and conquered. For every queer voice over the centuries that has been silenced, we will scream back and we will echo throughout the Earth.
Note to Earth: Payback's one big, angry queen. Watch out. your bigotry has an expiration date.