Debating sexuality: the opening of Pandora’s Box

The BBC were in trouble this week for hosting a discussion on their ‘Have your say’ page about proposed legislation in Uganda that could result in the death penalty for homosexuals. Nothing wrong with debating of course, and the bulk of submitted comments currently listed on the site strongly oppose the legislation  as a contravention of human rights, a blatant example of attempting to formalise homophobia, and simply wrong.

What is interesting however, is that the wording of the question is not the original. When the discussion was first launched a couple of days ago, it was this: ‘Should homosexuals face execution?’. In the first few hours, responses were so shockingly homophobic (with many seeking its introduction to Europe), editors tweaked the wording to the current, more emollient version: ‘Should Uganda debate gay execution?‘.

This volte-face is reported well in the UK Guardian, which also includes examples of comments on the original question. For those of us working in civil society, the extent of anti-gay sentiment described in the report reminds us that in our battle for equality, equal rights and respect for all lifestyles, large numbers of people remain ‘out there’ who promote a society that demands acquiescence to a more selective and ‘orthodox’ way of living.

Sexuality remains a hugely divisive topic across our world. Legislation in many western countries is now in place for the protection of all individual human rights – indeed, this is a requirement for joining the European Union (and why some countries, desperate for membership, are still denied access due to their highly punitive legal systems). Sadly, individual attitudes are not always synchronous with legislation, as the BBC debate confirmed, and with the myriad of real problems facing our world today, it is our behaviour as sexual beings that continues to dominate public discourses. Can we really not rise above this?

Worried? I am – though not surprised. I do remain hopeful that through social and cultural evolution (and perhaps revolution), liberal attitudes will gain increasing purchase in those areas still basking in pre-modern sensibilities and depending on antiquated notions of behaviour and ‘consensus’.

I won’t be looking to Uganda for inspiration though.