Dear Editor,
I refer to the letter captioned “The homophobia in the Caribbean has to change” (07.12.11).
I would like to provide a definition of homophobia. Homophobia (from Greek ??? homo(sexual), “same, equal” + ????? (phobia), “fear”) is a non-scientific term used to describe the fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. Some professionals believe the usage of this word is controversial as it relates to “feelings” and not facts.
I believe the writer is trying to say that the fear of homosexuals fuels a series of actions which often results in the homosexual being discriminated against. According to the definition, this action by heterosexuals is a result of their own insecurities about their “heterosexual’ lifestyle. Logically, this belief implies that all humans with homophobic tendencies are repressed homosexuals. I am sure the homophobes will disagree and this creates another debate.
I don’t hate or discriminate against people based on their alternative sexual behavior. I have interacted with many homosexuals and am on a friendly basis with a few. This does not make me an expert in homosexual matters and it matters not because it is the issue under discussion. I wish to say that I am not homosexual nor do I fear homosexuals. Yes, I agree that there are individuals who do and I have witnessed such hate actions. I applaud the stand to end such hate crimes and you truly have my support in this act. However, we depart when SASOD suggests that one must recognize and accept homosexuality as right as my heterosexual behavior. I have to ask about the absolute morals that recognize such a perversion of the human body as right.
Secondly, the usage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to declare what is accepted behaviour is not convincing. I do not agree with the declarations of the UN and by right I am protected and allowed to disagree without having anyone’s view imposed upon me. The UDHR contradicts my rights as a human to hold to my beliefs. Am I no longer a human because I believe homosexuality to be a perversion of the natural usage of the human body? Are my rights now invalid because they contradict the right you speak so boldly of? I urge you to read the preamble, Articles 18 & 19 of the UDHR.
The articles of rights are nicely written but I need SASOD to explain to me how recognition of something so unnatural to my moral values which actually opposes the very nature of my absolute moral groundings does not then discriminate against me. You are asking me to change my beliefs of something that is wrong in my eyes to benefit individuals in the name of rights, well what about my rights? I also need SASOD to point me to the fantastic origin of their moral grounds. I am most curious of these new values and their ultimate source of information.
In closing, I wish to say, I do recognize the rights of individuals not to be discriminated against, sexually or otherwise. I do not support hate crimes and will support actions to punish those guilty of such crimes. I do not agree that homosexual behaviour is right and belongs in the same category as heterosexual behaviour and this right to my belief is protected by the very UDHR. One bit of advice to SASOD, objective moral values did not just appear. They are grounded in something much higher than personal beliefs.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Persaud
