Displaying extreme callousness, the BBC News Channel hosted an online debate - "Should homosexuals face execution?" - on its website on Wednesday 16 December 2009 and provided further proof that debates that would be unheard of in terms of specific religious or ethnic groups passes as just fine when gays are involved. Can one imagine a similar debate if "homosexual" was replaced by "blacks," "Muslim," "Jew," or some other group? I think not. It is an example of how frequently gays are dehumanized by even those who may not have malice as their agenda. We become things/objects rather than living, breathing human beings. It is disgusting, in my view. And much of the blame for our dehumanization lies at the feet of the professional Christian set and religious extremists of the Christian Right. In an e-mail I received, Peter Tatchell - who is never at a loss for words - made some apt comments. Here are some highlights:*
"I think it perfectly reasonable for the BBC to host a debate about the current Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, but not in the terms that it was framed," said Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner and spokesperson for the LGBT equality group, OutRage!
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"The BBC would not hold online debates such as: Should Jews be exterminated? Was the Rwandan genocide justified? Should the people of Darfur be massacred? Is it right to stone women to death in Somalia?" added Mr Tatchell.
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"Moreover, the BBC's commentary announcing the debate put a very weak case against the execution of lesbian and gay Ugandans. It read like an open invitation for homophobic endorsements of the state-sponsored killing of gay people.
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"It is a good thing to promote awareness and debate about this vile legislation, even if it means giving homophobes an opportunity to air their prejudice and hatred.
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"We have to acknowledge that violently homophobic views still exist in many parts of the world, even in Britain. Bringing this homophobia into the open is a wake up call. It usefully jolts liberal-minded people out of their complacency.
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"I think it perfectly reasonable for the BBC to host a debate about the current Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, but not in the terms that it was framed," said Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner and spokesperson for the LGBT equality group, OutRage!
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"The BBC would not hold online debates such as: Should Jews be exterminated? Was the Rwandan genocide justified? Should the people of Darfur be massacred? Is it right to stone women to death in Somalia?" added Mr Tatchell.
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"Moreover, the BBC's commentary announcing the debate put a very weak case against the execution of lesbian and gay Ugandans. It read like an open invitation for homophobic endorsements of the state-sponsored killing of gay people.
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"It is a good thing to promote awareness and debate about this vile legislation, even if it means giving homophobes an opportunity to air their prejudice and hatred.
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"We have to acknowledge that violently homophobic views still exist in many parts of the world, even in Britain. Bringing this homophobia into the open is a wake up call. It usefully jolts liberal-minded people out of their complacency.
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If one goes to the BBC page, some of the comments are frightening - some believe that the execution of gays is not only a good idea, but should be implemented world wide. Once again, religions view reveal themselves to be the source of much evil.
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