Hilary Clinton recently delivered a speech to the UN regarding the equality and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender people. The speech can be viewed on you tube or you can read the transcript in this article. The speech is being hailed as ‘historic’ and many are applauding her clear and direct message regarding the human rights of the LGBT community.
She acknowledges that the US track record in this area is far from perfect with some areas still having laws against it up until 2003. However, she proceeds to declare that “gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights”. She clearly states the violation of human rights that occurs when people are abused, killed, tortured, bullied or harmed in any way because of their sexual orientation. This includes the practice of so-called ‘corrective rape’ where lesbians are gang raped in order to ‘correct’ their sexual orientation.
Clinton also addresses certain myths re homosexuality, declaring them simply ‘untrue’ and tackles the question of religious and cultural intolerance. She uses the example of slavery as having once been said to be ‘sanctioned by God’ but is now unquestionably a violation of human rights such that those who use God to justify the violation of LGBT people may begin to question that justification. She welcomes conversation with those who hold contrasting views such that progress may be made in eliminating intolerance.
Importantly she points out that “when we see denials and abuses of human rights and fail to act, that sends the message to those deniers and abusers that they won’t suffer any consequences for their actions and so they carry on”. She proceeds to call upon leaders of those countries where violations do occur “to stand up for the dignity of all their citizens” and tells them that it “should never be a crime to be gay”.
She calls upon people to reflect on their deeply held beliefs as they work towards “tolerance and respect for the dignity of all persons.”
It is indeed necessary for world leaders to demonstrate true leadership and take action against intolerance to LGBT people and to hold to account those people or countries that perpetuate homophobia and the many crimes against those of the LGBT community and as such Secretary Clinton is indeed to be applauded. However, it is also a sad reflection on humanity, that it has taken until 2011 to state what is to many, a very obvious truth – that all people are equal and should be treated as such.
There is absolutely no true justification for religious intolerance towards LGBT people and such intolerance is always borne out of ignorance, fear and lack of awareness. God is love and loves all people equally irrespective of their sexuality or indeed any other label that people apply to fellow human beings. The love of God is felt within the inner heart and by that source it is felt and known without doubt that all are equal. It is the separation and disconnection from this love that leads to the intolerance and the homophobia fueled by misbeliefs. It is possible to see then how beliefs per se can lead to much harm and separation amongst humanity as they do not come from God, from Love but that which is not love. There are no beliefs in the inner heart – just love that loves.
Whilst many throughout the world, including Secretary Clinton, understandably encourage the development of ‘tolerance’ towards those fellow human beings where there are perceived differences, this is not sufficient and will not truly heal man’s inhumanity to man. We need to work towards love, not tolerance, for all of humanity equally so. The first step on that journey is coming to know that each human being IS love irrespective of history, religion, sexuality, gender etc and as we build love for self, we equally build that love for all others.
From an esoteric and energetic perspective there are consequences to all our actions and choices and as such no-one escapes from the consequences of their actions even if they appear to do so. However, that does mean that we are to stand back and allow abuse or violation to occur for we then become complicit in the perpetuation of the evil. We are each called upon to call out when we see or hear such loveless acts or words used against another. That is not always an easy place to stand but love is a true power that has the strength to take that stand and call out that which is not love. However, it can also be as simple as speaking up in a loving way when a slur or derogatory comment is made regarding someone who is gay.
Love is not just for 2 people, nor for cozy Saturday nights and weekends away – no, it is much, much more than that. God is Love and we too are that love; Love heals, love connects, love unifies – thus if we are to heal the separation and fragmentation of humanity the only true way to do so is through Love, not tolerance. By opening up to humanity and connecting with our fellow brothers we can each break down the barriers, the misbeliefs, the misperceptions that allow the perpetuation of evil such as homophobia. Thus it is not just the work of the UN or governments but for each of us to take responsbility for how we treat our fellow human beings and to bring the love that we are to each interaction.
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