Defending the Rights of Homosexuals

So Carly, what do you think must be done to defend the rights of homosexuals?

What we need is to change the attitude of the general Australian public towards same-sex relationships, and to increase society’s tolerance of the individuals, who for whatever reasons, choose to be homosexual. In doing so, I believe we will be in a better position to advocate for the legal rights of homosexuals. The right to marry those we love, the right to receive the superannuation of deceased partners, the right to be included under the same family law, taxation system, industrial relations, to receive the same government benefits and simply the fundamental right to have and raise children. I know that even though my biological instincts steer me to towards a sexuality that will never naturally conceive a child, I still desperately crave to be a mother some day. I am a woman, and should be entitled to the same rights as any other woman. I am in a committed relationship, and I believe that between the two of us, we have enough love, enough moral fibre, enough responsibility, and everything necessary to raise a child, and raise them well. It does not matter that we are both females; there are plenty of children out their being raised by single parents, who grow to become well-adjusted adults. Also, people need not be afraid that homosexuality will be contagious, infecting the minds of our children, because in the cases that a child has been raised by same-sex parents, its been found that there is no more likelihood of them being gay than any other child.

I believe that you have never been harassed or abused for your sexuality before, do you consider yourself lucky then, considering that 2/3rds of homosexual people have been harassed at some point in their lives?

Yes, I think that I am very lucky; I have known many other gay people who have experienced the prejudice, the abuse and harassment that have made their lives almost unbearable. I believe you said earlier that lesbians are 6 times more likely to be beaten than other women. Now what is that saying about the level of homophobia in Australia today. A third of the population think that homosexuality is immoral. Who do these people think that they are? I will say though, that I would rather be living in a city area, in Australia, than in the country, Surely there is something better, a tolerance for those who are different, an equality of rights for bisexuals, and homosexuals, everywhere who are experiencing prejudice to some degree.

So are these figures showing a rise or a decline in the public’s tolerance of the homosexual community?

Quite on the contrary to what many heterosexuals believe, I feel that the problem is getting worse. Our society is a reflection of our governments, and the Howard government’s complete opposition to anything resembling equality for the rights of people of every sexual orientation is seeping into the minds of all Australians and resulting in this prejudice against homosexuals.

So what do you think are the main barriers between you and the rights you want for homosexuals?

I believe the lack of support for recognition of gay and lesbian unions comes about from those who do not fully understand it. The media does little to help, depicting gays and lesbians in a light that’s so far from the truth. Homosexual men are always feminised, often part of some comedic act, I would find this degrading and lesbians liaisons are often depicted as experimental flings. The media is bringing homosexuality out of the shadows, and bringing more awareness to the matter, but does little to help the cause of raising tolerance. We are not just a singular little community of outcasts. We are everywhere, everyone, we could be your best friend, your rival, your next door neighbour, through secrecy, or honesty, and our relationships still share the same intimacy of any of a heterosexual nature.

What do you have to say to those who say that same sex marriages can never be valid as they can never naturally produce children?

Well, to those who think that marriage is all about procreation, I say, take a look at the infertile couples out there! Can they naturally conceive? They were obviously “made” not to bear children, yet if they can still get validity for their relationships through marriage, so should gays. Its not like homosexuals don’t want to have children either, and that’s beside the point. Marriage is not just about the sex and the reproduction, its about love, and commitment, a partnership between two who share a deep bond, and this type of a relationship, whether it be homosexual or heterosexual, can only strengthen the institution of Marriage.

If the church does not see homosexual relationships as valid, and therefore believes they cannot be sanctioned by a marriage, how do you think same-sex marriages will ever be able to take place in Australia?

I don’t believe that marriage is strictly religious. These days, it is considered more of a secular ceremony, and does not need a religious official to seal the deal. Which is why I believe it is irrelevant what the church has to say about homosexual unions. Some of the highly ranked religious leaders of today believe that anything that is not straight, unprotected sex which could potentially result in procreation, within the confines of a religiously sanctified union, i.e. marriage, is unnatural, immoral, and is not condoned by god. If this were the case, then 90% of the population would be going to hell. Many people use contraceptives, many engage in intercourse from all types of positions, and many do it out of wedlock. Does this make all of them sinners? This just clearly exemplifies the meaninglessness of using religion to back up opposition to homosexuality; you cannot simply disregard some aspects of your faith, and embrace others. That’s just ludicrous. Times adapt, the bible is not a literal text, but was written metaphorically, and was written in a period of lower advancement than our own, by people who were merely tools of their time and culture.

But what about comments made by Sandra, that suggest that homosexuality is unnatural?

It is not as unnatural as so many people falsely believe. You even made mention of the fact that it has been found that around 10% of a population, of any given time or culture, are homosexual. This figure suggests that homosexuality is more a biological trait, than a lifestyle choice, and even if this were not the case, shouldn’t people have the freedom to choose what they wish of their lives? Homosexuality is also not exclusive to humans. Dolphins, birds, beetles, penguins, apes, all engage in homosexual intercourse. In the bonobo apes, which are a very close relative to humankind, almost 100% of the population is bisexual. So the argument that such intercourse is simply unnatural just doesn’t quite seem to sit right in light of these facts. Also, there was the comment you made, Kazia, how homosexuality was even practiced openly thousands of years ago, by such people as the Spartans. Now all this seems to me to point to the conclusion that homosexuality is just as natural, if only rarer, than heterosexuality. Shouldn’t it therefore be considered just as valid?

Do either of you have any last words before we finish up here today?

What I am basically trying to tell you today, is that homosexuality is not necessarily a choice, but sometimes a biological trait, is not unnatural, but in fact quite common in nature, and is not a sin, but is simply a different expression of human sexuality and love. Which is why I believe that individual homosexuals deserve respect, acceptance and freedom in their own communities, and that same-sex unions deserve the same recognition and legal benefits of their heterosexual counterparts.