THE STRUGGLE OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Today, Human rights are no longer an abstract idea. People know what they are and why it’s important to respect them. Like everything, however, they are subjective in that their application is dependent on who is the recipient and who is the giver. In case you’re tempted to think of this as a fallacy, focus on the past. After all, without it, we cannot see where we’re going.

The world constantly faces various social phenomena and it is the job of the powerful and elite to alleviate them. They never do, so the minority has to fight for what is rightfully theirs. During the 18^th and 19^th centuries, Africans fought for their freedom against any man, white or otherwise who kept them as slaves. In the 21^st century, the fight did not stop as their oppressors turned to racism. They openly acted in ways that made them feel less than. That is the hierarchy that is human beings, they are at the bottom of the food chain because of the color of their skin. While this fight is yet to come to an end, and we shall certainly revisit it, the 21^st century has given rise to another; sexuality.

The one thing that seems to bring people together regardless of skin color is hate. This is why sexuality is an issue that transcends race. We have come together to find a reason to project our bias, prejudices, and fears on individuals with a sexual identity that doesn’t conform to normal standards. That a man can be in love with another, want to change his body because he identifies as a woman, or even that a woman can do the same, is shameful and scornful. Many use the Bible to defend their actions and opinions. That God Almighty created man and woman. Not man and man or woman and woman. To this, I ask, what of the individual with both sexual organs? Who created him or her? Is it so bad that the choices placed before them are explored? In ‘What it Means to be a Woman’, I spoke about why we give labels to people. I’ll pause and give you a minute to read… OK. Now that you’re all caught up, the hatred that I spoke about comes from not being able to label one another.

Edwin Chiloba, a fashion designer and LGBTQ member, and activist’s body was found dead in a metal box. That someone would go to such an extent to murder him and dispose of him in a gruesome way speaks about our state of mind. Many individuals in the community have been assaulted, received death threats, and even been murdered because of their sexual orientation and preferences. Why is it that we want to forcefully show these people that they are wrong and we are right? What is this innate drive to ‘rectify’ this wrong when so much is wrong with the world? Extreme poverty and poor health and sanitation, just off the top of my head.

I have often been asked what I would do if my son ended up gay. Every time, I give a simple answer; love. I’m not very religious and even I know that the greatest commandment in the Bible is love. God in his might, knows and sees all our actions but cannot change them. If he loves that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individual, who am I to shun my child? To show him that my love is conditional and dependent on his being what I want? I would be a failure.

At the risk that I am just running my mouth, I will end with this. Laws call for equality and non-discrimination the opposite of which is oppressive and backward thinking. Should we fail to learn from history, the oppressed will revolt and history will repeat itself. This is a call for humanity. All lives matter.