I am a middle aged woman (OMG, who is that person in the mirror?) who has seen many changes over the course of the 4 (and change) decades that I have been on this earth.
Some of those changes are from before my memory kicked in, admittedly. But still in my lifetime.
When I was born, homosexuality was still illegal in my country. In 1965, Everett Klippert became the last man tried and convicted for the "crime" of homosexuality in Canada.
The day after Klippert's conviction was upheld, New Democratic Party leader Tommy Douglas invoked Klippert's name in the Canadian House of Commons, stating that homosexuality should not be considered a criminal issue. Within six weeks, Pierre Trudeau presented the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69 (Bill C-150), an omnibus bill which, among other things, decriminalized homosexual acts between consenting adults. The law passed, and homosexuality was decriminalized in Canada in 1969.
Tommy Douglas, also the father of medicare.
Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau proposes amendments to the Criminal Code which, among other things, would relax the laws against homosexuality. Discussing the amendments Trudeau says,
"It's certainly the most extensive revision of the Criminal Code since the 1950s and, in terms of the subject matter it deals with, I feel that it has knocked down a lot of totems and over-ridden a lot of taboos and I feel that in that sense it is new. It's bringing the laws of the land up to contemporary society I think. Take this thing on homosexuality.I think the view we take here is that there's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. I think that what's done in private between adults doesn't concern the Criminal Code. When it becomes public this is a different matter, or when it relates to minors this is a different matter."
At the Leadership convention in 1968, Trudeau told Canadians this:
(video should start at around 2 mins)
A practicing Catholic, Trudeau still saw the writing on the wall. His faith did not interfere with decisions he made for the country as a whole. There were many MP's who are now forever on the wrong side of history,the clip at this link shows the same tired old arguments that were used in 1967.
The Charter of rights and freedoms, signed into law on April 17, 1982:
"Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability."
These fights about equality and discrimination still happen of course, but the Charter is the final word to the courts. The supreme courts, federal and provincial have blasted away all Canuck versions of Amendment one and prop 8 that have come before them.
In 2006, Canada as a whole, legalized same sex marriage. The earth hasn't split apart, and marriages still break up for the same reasons they always have.
The gnashing of teeth by the Canadian religious right will be ongoing until they all die off I am sure. But as with everything, the polls show that people just don't give a flying fuck about this stuff anymore. The majority of anti gay bigots are aging. Fast.
People care more about stuff that actually affects them. Like jobs, education, and....hockey.
I was totally unaware of anyone being gay until my early teens. No one ever talked about it, and my family being what it was, I can say quite assuredly they didn't really "approve".
My brother came out at 15 or 16. My Mum, was pretty cool about that. She loved her children no matter how rotten we were, or how late I stayed out, no matter how things turned out. Totally unqualified love. (gah! I miss her!)
I think my granny struggled with it. Denial. But she did seem to get over much of it, even having him and his boyfriends over for dinner. Granny was a "difficult" person, but we meant a lot to her as well.
My Dad. OY.
He got really angry, and told my brother that he was going to hire a prostitute to turn him around. Lots of yelling ensued, lots of horrible things were said, and they have not spoken in...Oh....30 years?
(Mum and Dad split up when I was 10)
Time flies hey?
My Brother and I are not close at all nowadays, but that is altogether to do with other things that I will not go into. Family stuff can get so complicated.
Onward.
So with all of these changes just in my lifetime, I still bloody well don't get it?
Yesterday's vote in NC just made me shake my head in wonderment.
Gonna pray away the gay, Conversion "therapy", LGBT kids being stalked and harassed, denying people the right to just live their lives the way that makes them happy. Don't ask don't tell bullshit.
All this crap is just killing kids, and continuing the cycles of hate.
We still hear of the GAY AGENDA!
OMG, they are out to convert everyone to their "perverted" ways.
The only people I see out there trying to convert anyone, are usually wearing suits, carrying briefcases, and knocking door to door.
But that's all protected.
Freedom of religion, also translates to freedom from religion but they don't want to hear that part.
Years ago, a gay friend/co-worker and I were getting smashed on wine, and doing each others hair in my kitchen, (I was in the hair/beauty industry at the time) and we were talking about the GAY AGENDA!
His response cracks me up to this day. I paraphrase.
The Gay agenda? To rid the world of cow and duckie kitchen decor.
That should be on the agenda of all of humanity me thinks.
Some days I just want to smack all of these anti LGBT bigots and morans upside the head. (metaphorically of course)
As history shows, many are going to be forever on the wrong side.
My daughter has told me that in her school there are a couple "homophobes". But at least they know better than to say anything in her presence now. She tolerates no bullying, no hate.
We will win, and that is how we will do it.
NC is just a temporary setback. Nothing else is acceptable.