‘Superqueer’ is the slogan of Toronto’s Pride Parade, which takes place in Ontario’s capital June 21 to June 30 this year. Every year, people of all genders, races, and sexual orientations flock to Toronto to celebrate Pride. Celebrations center around the members of our society who don’t subscribe to the traditional heterosexual definition of intimacy or the concept that sex defines gender. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people are embraced here in Canada and legally enjoy the same rights and freedoms as their non-LGBT counterparts, a fact that became official nationally in 2005.
Sadly, controversy over what exactly the rights of LGBT individuals should be is reverberating through many countries in the form of legislationaiding or diminishing the LGBT cause. In France, protests erupted after a bill allowing same sex marriage and adoption was signed into law on May 18, an election initiative on the part of newly-elected president, Francois Hollande. Most recent of these protests interrupted the French Open. This reaction is not particularly surprising when looked at the context of social freedoms in this country. For instance, the French government’s strict adherence to maintaining a secular state has resulted in stringent rules about wearing ‘conspicuous’ religious symbols like a head scarf in schools. Although many French citizens are opposed to same sex marriage on religious grounds, it seems that quite a few are simply struggling with adjusting to a new worldview, particularly the idea of same sex couples and their potential children. For instance, in the town of Matha in southwestern France, the mayor will consider marrying a lesbian couple but not two males because ‘they can have children.’ Adoption by same sex couples is also strongly contended on the part of the ‘rights of the child.’ In France, many protesters seem more focused on the definition of a family rather than a couples’ right to be involved romantically, whether same gender or opposite, although religious beliefs undoubtedly play a strong role.
While the first ever Russian float makes its debut at the New York Gay Pride Parade, violence is increasing for LGBT Russians in their home country. Recently, Russia’s lower house of parliament unanimously voted to pass a law forbidding the “propagation of non-traditional sexual relations” thereby making it illegal to even confirm that homosexual relationships exist if talking to someone under the age of 18. The aim, it would seem, is to discredit all sexual relations which cannot be used for procreation. Peaceful protests on the part of LGBT supporters turned violent when their fellow citizens attacked them. This new legislation aims to wield ignorance in aid of intolerance.
It is difficult to quantify human sexuality at this point in our society. Some scientific studies tie sexual orientation to levels of certain chemicals present at birth, making it a characteristic as definite as skin colour or hair texture. Religious and societal views continue to cloud our ability to look objectively at this issue. However, know this: in the end we are all awesome human beings and love is what makes you happy, even if you happen to be asexual. Be happy with who you are, no matter whom or how you love.
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