By Nour Azaiez_ 3rd Science2_ Jan 2017
It has always
been evident to me that the problem of homophobia is still well alive in
our society. It is in fact one of the many discriminatory actions that are not
only accepted, but also encouraged. This case has been proven to me beyond a
shadow of doubt when I was wandering in the city with one of my male friends
who happened to be openly gay. This guy had what some would call "feminine
features" and was wearing earrings.
Along with
the hostile stares, the shoves by guys and the occasional name-calling and
insults, one incident in particular had marked that infamous day in my memory.
One
middle-aged man had come up to us in a shop, raging with fury, and slapped my
friend right on the face knocking him to the floor. It didn't stop there unfortunately;
he proceeded to kick him in the gut violently while shouting "DEATH TO
HOMOSEXUALS".
I couldn't
believe what I was witnessing; that someone would act monstrously to a peaceful
stranger who never did him any harm.
I stepped in
immediately and started to push the guy off him. I shouted for help but no one
intervened. They only watched silently, some laughed, and some even cheered. It
took a lot of energy and time of me to get the man off my friend because of how
considerably heavy and strong he was compared to both of us.
Even then,
the man wanted to continue beating my friend. Yet this time I stepped between
them before he could jump at him asking him what the hell he thought he was
doing beating a person half his age and strength for no apparent reason.
He roared
with laughter saying that "she" is no man and that she indeed did him
great harm by merely existing and being gay, that this is an insult to the
public that this "thing" is out and walking freely along "our"
streets.
Apparently,
the man, and everyone else around, thought it high treason and blasphemous that
my friend being a homosexual, was somehow some kind of blow-in-the-face to
their religion and God.
They also
agreed that he is a public danger, "he WILL sexually harass us" cried
the men with conviction. They are certain that he WILL, just because he happens
to be attracted to men rather than women.
"Ironically",
I told them, "that's what every woman suffers from on a daily basis her
whole life. Yet when we complain about it, we're immediately silenced by your
"not all men" and "men are not animals". It is the same
situation here." They did not think so. "It's not the same" they
said. "Women can take it… It's just how it is working."
What they
were saying was "sexual harassment is okay as long as we're the doers not
the (potential) victims." It is a belief deeply rooted in their minds that
men have always been immune to harassment and always should be. Now that other
men "might" do the same to them that they do to women every day, it's
suddenly blasphemous. It's degrading. It's unacceptable. And the (potential)
doer must die.
This is
absurdly ironic because if we go down using the twisted logic of theirs, all
men must die. Most sexual predators are men… So all men are "potential
harassers"! Yet no one advocates for a mass killing against men …
I tried to convince
them that their arguments were illogical and inconsistent. And talked to them
about how scientifically, homosexuality is NOT regarded as a mental illness as
they think. It is an inherited belief… And if we followed their allegation, we
might as well start burning women for wizardry.
I told them
that they have absolutely no right telling my friend, nor any person for that
matter, who he was "supposed to be" attracted to. The matter is
completely personal and is not, and should never be, a public matter or a debatable
topic in every corner.
It is highly
unlikely that that man changed his perception of homosexuality. But at least
neither he nor the others could disprove my arguments.
I have made
it my business since then, to raise awareness over this huge issue. I have gone
to protests against the laws made against homosexuals, was involved in debates
where the subject was raised and went to Gay-pride and similar parades
advocating for their rights.
What I
continuously do now, is a new age kind of activism that has been growing over
the years. It's "social media activism" which is an effective way of
giving people the power to call out injustices, misconceptions and bad social representations
and bring about a better understanding of other people and their culture. Posts
shared could change mindsets, laws or even start revolutions.
Through these
posts, I made it a point to raise people’s awareness through peaceful debates
and conversations mainly by disproving the arguments against homophobia and
xenophobia. I wanted to show everybody that it’s unconceivable to bad-mouth and
insult someone and call it freedom of speech.
May be the reason
why such males are homophobic is their deep down fear of being emasculated.
Society's exaggerated directives of “hyper-masculinity” have degraded “femininity”.
I have received a lot of positive feedback and thankful wishes which I am proud of. I will not
stop fighting for the oppressed –whoever they are, whatever their tendencies- and
so should everyone else (I suppose).
My motto is: "I do not agree with
what you have to say, but I'll defend to death your right to say it."
