Coming from an African country I was born with a label that many others would dread to have, I am a gay. To other people coming from a different up bringing this may not seem like a problem or anything to be ashamed about, but when you are from a country where people believe that gay people are “bewitched”, where they are jailed for having been created differently, then you might be able to understand what all the fuss is about. I believe that homophobia is a tradition throughout Africa; what I mean is that you will find that there are many people who still have pre-historic views about homosexuality, and believe whatever folk tales they are told about It, without bothering to inform themselves further. You have countries that call themselves democratic with clauses that read “freedom of association” in their constitution, but fiercely refuse to acknowledge and accept gay people, to give them the rights they deserve as protectorates under that constitution.
Yes people have their differences and I respect that, it’s just the way things are supposed to be; but I draw the line where people are made to feel inferior and criminalized for having their differences, when their characters are dishonored for not feeling the same way as others. Just as I am willing to understand that not all people have equal views, others should be willing to accept that not everything will be of their liking. This is the 21st century and people need to realize that the world has change a great deal, and we have moved passed the eras where people are unfairly treated for being different.
When i think of all these homophobic attacks where gays are being tormented and killed for being the way they are, because it makes certain people feel “uncomfortable”, it breaks my heart because when you think about it honestly its stupid and unnecessary. just imagine someone came to your house and killed your mother for being fat, because it “just made them feel uncomfortable”; there is no chance in hell that you will ever be able to forgive that person, because your mother’s weight has absolutely nothing to do with them and therefore it should be of no concern to them. So who the hell am I, coming from the blue not knowing the kind of circumstances that surround your mother and kill her for being fat? Who are you to judge me for being who I am?
What breaks my heart even more is that those who are In a position to change the views of people, the people who are responsible for educating the public seem not to be doing their jobs, because they do not want to be “pushy” on this very sensitive topic that still widely has extremist views. Which amazes me because since when have politicians been afraid of being controversial, since when have they been afraid of having opinions that they knew wouldn’t be easily accept by people? Well it seems as if its everything else except this. Honestly it’s time for us to stop being naïve and stop trying to ignore the other people and their differences.
To conclude my article I would like to apologize for being who I am, for the brain god gave me to think for myself, the heart I was born with to have feelings and desires. I hope that you will be able to find some a place somewhere deep down in your heart to forgive not only me, but also god for making me the kind of person that I am. I hope you’ve picked up on the sarcasm there, because honestly I’m tired of looking to others for approval, its time I accepted myself for who I am ,because I’ve realized that you will get nowhere in life if you always wait for the approval of others. It’s all up to me and its time i stopped taking offence from ignorant people.
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