As the world celebrates the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, it occurred to me that Mauritius, apart from having these 'once-in-a-blue-moon' radio-shows about homosexuality, should first get educated... Did you know that homosexual acitivities were illegal in Mauritius? Well, me either! Online research led me to an interesting fact: same-sex activity is illegal for gay men but legal for lesbians. Does this make sense to you? Are both situations not basically alike -sleeping with the same sex? Is there deeper discrimination here (as if there could be a worse situation!)? Well, YES there is. Did you know that this 'criminal' offence could get a homosexual imprisoned for 5 years? Five years of misery for loving? The bright side or positive rather is that Mauritius signed the UN Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, which unfortunately failed to pass. Can we really accept human beings being bashed, tortured, killed? Can we accept the fact that homosexual teens are more intent on committing suicide than there hetero counterparts? Okay, classification set aside, is it okay for teens to kill themselves? Loving someone is simply loving someone; be it a guy or a girl, love is love. We all, at some point, came to hide our feelings for X person, and we ALL know how hard it is not being able to express your affection to your loved one. Now think how painful it should be for those who hide, not only their feelings, but their whole selves from the world - no wonder many commit suicide! There is plenty of literature out there waiting to be read, waiting to impart knowledge, waiting to be used and dispensed...Gays and lesbians could turn out to be our brothers, sisters, cousins, neighbors, friends, best friends - would you accept their being marginalized? It's high time for a change, and GLAMauritius takes the lead in the fight against discrimination. Take time to think and feel free to Sign the Petition and make things change... Sine Cera
12 Comments
Roca
5/17/2012 04:58:28 pm
do u think that the decision of not legalising same sex activity for men has something to do with or might be influenced by the growing number of child sexual abuse (on lil boys specialy)? other thn that,im cool with homosexuals..maybe some countries r just woried bout reproduction and future population issues..cool article
Reply
Hi there! Well, I think this should indeed ring some bell somewhere! I mean, pedophiles are created, not born. Society is to be blamed and this is what i believe. Wrong socialization can induce weird sexual behaviours, and what not! So, yes, with the decriminalization of Homosexuality, men or women, would feel safer and more open and although much - MUCH- should be done to break the taboos around this, we might end up seeing a decrease in these sexual assaults. But until complete sexual freedom is achieved for EVERYONE, the situation could get worse...Thanks for this question which I hope will set a new whole set of comments into action! This is a serious issue and people should get acquainted to it! About the second part of your answer, well, from what I read, most are worried about the institution of marriage, family and the whole concept of Adam&Eve. But let's face it, gay people are human beings. Some might not be able to have kids of their own, but won't this prevent an increase in birth rates, at a time of overpopulation? Gay couples, would be glad to adopt, save children from poverty, provide shelter, food, care and affection. And this can only happen should homosexuality be legalized and same-sex marriage be recognized. We're talking of millions of gay couples - millions of people contributing to global economy and culture and who are denied of their human rights or facing discrimination at numerous level! Again, thank you for your comment! Stay tuned :)
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Roca
5/18/2012 10:49:40 am
you took a completly diferent and posibly positive perspective to the question,thnx for sharing ur opinion ;)
Deena
5/18/2012 10:39:31 am
Actually, homosexuality is not illegal in Mauritius- homosexual activity is. Even consensual homosexual intercourse is criminalised. This is because it involves sodomy- which is a crime under Section 250 of the Criminal Code of Mauritius, which states that:
Reply
Hi. thanks for the heads up! Made amends! And thanks for the enlightening info as well! In accord with this, then it makes sense why only male-male sex is condemned! As to your recognition of being a homosexual ithout 'engaging' in any sort of homosexual activity (what dos 'activity' mean in this equation anyway? Kissing, flirting in public? Sex?), then it simply makes no sense to legalise he STATE of being a homosexual if you deny the guy/woman of acting out it! Gay marriage? In Mauritis ? Well, that is a long way from now! But let's stay positive - at least, no one got killed because of their being gay (not that I remember of anyway)! Stay tuned
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Dee
5/18/2012 03:38:11 pm
'Activity' means sexual intercourse- but I wonder if someone (homosexual) would be arrested for kissing in public!
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Deena
5/18/2012 03:38:20 pm
'Activity' means sexual intercourse- but I wonder if someone (homosexual) would be arrested for kissing in public!
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Thanks again for clearing things up! Indeed, that's something I've been thinking about as well - do you get arrested for kissing someone of the same sex in public ? About the prospective legislation, I'm sure it will be one of those election promises which will only materialise only at the end of the party's mandate, should they be elected!
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Deena
5/20/2012 03:36:16 pm
I'll try to find out about that piece of info. As for the electoral manifesto, let's give them the benefit of doubt and wait to see what happens.
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sammy
11/29/2012 01:55:02 pm
TORAH
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Kelvin
12/1/2012 04:49:36 am
Well, thank you for sharing your opinion. This is of course, open to debate. I'm a man of science and, if you've watched the video in the post, you could understand that homosexuality is NOT a choice, then how can you punish someone unable to do anything about his/her orientation? I'm surprised as to how you qualify your observations - as proofs? The Holy Scriptures have proved it? I don't think so; they have talked about it, condemned it maybe but did not prove BUT try make it accepted norm that homosexuality be regarded as immoral. After all, these scriptures have been written for the masses,to control the masses and how better than divide and rule,right? By, discriminating the 'deviants' - and I use the word in it's purest form, that is, to stray from the normal trend- these scriptures have achieved the feat of compacting the 'normal ones' together, creating a never-ending gulf between them and who them call as 'immoral persons'. I will ask you ONE question - what do you mean by 'THIS EVIL' ?
Reply
Yanika
12/1/2012 10:12:36 am
hey there :)
Reply
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