In the majority of countries where homosexuality is legal, the age of consent is still unequal, often not even in a fair way. For example, in most states of Australia, the common age of consent is 16 for heterosexual acts, and 18 for gay acts. (Lesbian acts, it would appear, don't occur early enough to need to be covered by the law ... at least according to narrow-minded law-makers!)
Where is the sense in this? Some of even the most accepting people towards homosexuality still support these unequal laws on the grounds that 16 is too young for a person to make such a decision, conveniently forgetting that there is no such decision. This sort of inequality makes my blood boil. In a recent campaign for equal rights, an ad was run with a 17 year old man. The captain read, "I'm 17 years old. If I have sex with a girl, my mates call me a hero. If I have sex with another man, the law calls me a criminal."
While the age of consent laws remain unequal, excuses will exist for homophobia.
There are currently only a handful of countries that fully allow same- sex marriages. A few isolated places are defining "domestic partnerships" but this is not enough. Why is it that homosexuals can't get married? This is simple: there are no governments around with the guts to take on right-wing fundamentalist churches and rednecks.
I've known homosexuals who have been in partnerships for 10 or more years, but to the law, they're less than de-factos. There are homosexuals who have been with their life-partners for over 25 years, but to the law, they may as well just be flat-mates.
This inequality is an affront to human nature and society as a whole. Marriage is a sacred institution, yes, but the sacred nature of marriage is love, not heterosexuality.
Do you know that under current Australian laws, same-sex partners have next to no rights when it comes to claiming superannuation benefits? You can will the benefits to your partner at best, but that attracts a lovely 22 per cent "gift" tax.
This is a fact that the government does its best not to admit to, as do superannuation organisations. They like to point out that same-sex partnerships are covered --- they don't like to point out that the government literally legislates against same-sex partners. An ex-wife from 40 years ago would have as much claim on the benefit as a same-sex partner of 39 years.
By far the biggest contributer to homophobia and homosexual hate-crimes has been the combined religions of the world. No, not all religious people are guilty here. Yet the churches of the world have committed a terrible sin in their sponsorship and silent approval and encouragement of homophobia. One day they will confess and ask forgiveness, but at the moment they're not mature enough to do this. Religion has been responsible for more homosexual guilt than any other organisation or institution, and non-heterosexuals throughout the world are still paying the price for this.
Homosexuals are capable of deep religious beliefs, just as are any other group of people in the world, yet many of us come to reject religion in some way because of the rejection we have suffered at the hands of it. Forcing someone to abandon their faith is a terrible thing to do.
Yet there is hope for religion. Some churches are either founded by homosexuals or are 'homosexual friendly', and yet others are trying to step into the light.
One of the best examples of this currently is the Uniting Church of Australia. I'm the first to admit that there are still deeply homophobic elements of the Uniting Church but many of its members are pushing for change, and I consider myself lucky to know some of those people. I can also say that the Reverend Dorothy McRae-McMahon, one of the highest ranking people in the Uniting Church, who came out as a lesbian in 1997 would have to be one of my first "homosexual heroes". She is a woman of great courage and determination who deserves all the support she can get.
Members of the Uniting Church this year put in a float in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the title of the float being Celebrating Diversity. I feel that this was the most positive influence seen in the Mardis Gras for a very long time, particularly for young people who might have been watching and having trouble coming to terms with themselves. Church people were literally saying, "Be true to yourselves, we like you the way you are and support your rights".
Religious homophobia still makes me quite angry, but I'm happy to say that even in this staunch area of deep-rooted fears and prejudice, there is room to change!
(C) 1996-2000 Preston de Guise