The Comparison of Acceptance of Homosexuality in South Africa and the United States - Essay Example

The Comparison of Acceptance of Homosexuality in South Africa and United States Abstract Homosexuality is believed to have begun during the biblical times, and the practice gradually found its way to modern societies. However, the practice has for a long time being viewed negatively and those practicing it during the time had to face criminal charges and in some cases several years in jail. In South Africa for example, once discovered, homosexual individuals served a maximum of seven years in jail during apartheid. The same case applied to the United States during the colonial period. In recent years the perceptions of people towards homosexuality have changed. In the United States homosexuality continues to gradually gain positive approval as a result of a number of factors such as positive depiction of homosexuals in the media, aging and benefits, increased contact between homosexuals and heterosexuals, and the global fight for equal rights of homosexuals. In South Africa, homosexuality is yet to gain positive approval from the majority although the new constitution supports it. Homosexuals in South Africa used a number of factors to gain approval from the government. These include hijack of the revolution, guilt manipulation and intimidation, and intolerance in the name of equality. Keywords: Homosexuality, Sexual Orientation, South Africa, United States, Acceptance, Civil Rights, Equality, Inequality, Constitution Introduction The origins of homosexuality are believed to date back to the biblical times when the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are said to have been destroyed by God. Despite this the practice found its way in societies that followed. Over centuries different theories have been developed by sexologists, doctors, writers, religious leaders, and philosophers to explain homosexuality. Historical theories of homosexuality were based on fear and misunderstanding rather than scientific evidence. Homosexuality has existed in the world for millions of years, and has generally always been condemned. The religious people view homosexuality as a sin, while psychiatrists view it as a disease that needs to be studied and diagnosed. According to Cantor, D., Cantor, E., Black, and Barrett “over the course of the past two thousand years of western civilization, homosexuality has been punished, by torture and death until the nineteenth century, and then by legal restrictions and discrimination into the present” (2006, p.24). However, despite having an astounding history of repulsion and rejection, homosexuality has been embraced by some cultures in the world such as ancient China, Japan, and Greece. In ancient Greece for example, homosexual relationships between males were viewed as valuable because “love between males was honored as a guarantee of military efficiency and civic freedom” (Cantor, D., Cantor, E., Black, & Barrett 2006, p.24). Consistent rejection of homosexuality in Europe increased with the rise of Christianity. During the time homosexuality and heresy became the worst sins man could ever commit. Homosexuality continues to be an issue of discussion in many of the nations around the world. As many of them keep on rejecting its incorporation in the society, the fact remains that homosexuality persists among the people , especially now that most of the cultures are been washed away due to the mixture of the society arising from immigration stimulating societies’ change in behavior. Again, people are characterized with different levels of leisure and satisfaction which poses agendas on moral factors, but also individuals’ rights and freedom of choice and expression. For most countries homosexuality is a criminal act punishable in accordance to the law, but United States and South Africa have made steps to regulate and facilitate acceptance of homosexuality among its citizens. However, Homosexuality entails a broad aspect, which most people tend to confuse with another. Homosexuality in the United States The perceptions of people in the United States about homosexuality have changed over time. Before the mid-twentieth century, homosexuality in the United States was viewed as a sin or a disease. According to Siker “In the 1970s, thinking about homosexuality in the United States began to change as the American Psychiatric Association (in 1973) and the American Psychological Association (in 1975) declared that they no longer considered homosexuality to be a mental disease or disorder” (2007, p.20). Between the early 1970s and now, and particularly in the last ten years, the opinion of the public in the United States about homosexuality has changed. Since 1990, Americans have slowly become more tolerant of homosexuality. Increasing numbers of people in the United States today continue to support the liberties and civil rights of homosexual people. The exact number of homosexuals in the United States is unknown. Acceptance of Homosexuality in the United States Homosexuality in the United States was accepted as a result of efforts by openly gay and lesbian activists. There have also been changing attitudes towards same sex couples and families in America, making people more and more accepting to the practice of homosexuality. A great extent of the changing attitudes can be attributed to increasing levels of education in the United States population, since more education makes people more liberal in their attitudes towards homosexuality. Other factors attributed to the change in attitude include increased contact between homosexuals and heterosexuals, gays and lesbians in the media, aging, and the global fight for same sex equality. Increased contact between homosexuals and heterosexuals. More gay and lesbians in the United States are coming out to their families, coworkers and friends about their sexual orientation. This increased personal contact between openly gay people and heterosexuals has led to greater acceptance of homosexuality. According to recent research “heterosexual individuals have more favorable attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women if they have had prior contact with or know someone who is gay or lesbian” (Knox & Schacht, 2010, p.268). Negative stereotypes and ignorance are reduced when heterosexuals make contact with openly gay individuals, and support for lesbian and gay equality is increased. According to Knox and Schacht: Polls of U.S. adults find that 56 percent of the respondents say they have a friend or acquaintance who is gay or lesbian, 32 percent say they work with someone who is gay or lesbian, and 23 percent say that someone in their family is gay or lesbian (2012, p.269). Gays and lesbians in the media. Gay and lesbian individuals in the United States are positively depicted in the popular media. Television shows such as ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’ and ‘Six Feet Under’ have led to lower levels of antigay prejudice, especially among the American youth for their depiction of prominent homosexual characters. In fact “in 2009, Sean Penn won the best actor for his role as Harvey Milk in MILK, the story of the first homosexual man elected to a visible political office in 1977” (Knox & Schacht, 2010, p.269). In recent years, United States viewers have been provided with positive images of same-sex couples and their children, and the love and care among them. Aging. Gay and heterosexual couples have very different problems when they age together. According to Knox and Schacht (2010), “when a heterosexual spouse dies, the partner is entitled to social security benefits. When a gay male or lesbian partner dies,…no social security benefits are available” (p.269). This certainly makes homosexuality a good choice for people with concerns when it comes to old age and benefits. The global fight for same sex equality. According to Knox and Schacht (2010), “human rights treaties and transnational social movement organizations have increasingly asserted the rights of people to engage in same sex relations. In the United States, there have been advancements in gay rights as continued adoption of nondiscrimination policies, which cover sexual orientation increase, and the ruling by the United States Supreme Court in 2003against discrimination of sodomy. Domestic partnerships are increasingly being recognized in the United Sates, and a number of states offer responsibilities and civil union rights to same sex couples. Such states include Maine, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Former United States President, George W. Bush had refused to sign a resolution by the United Nations decriminalizing homosexuality. However, “in 2009, President Obama signed a United Nations resolution decriminalizing homosexuality, joining sixty six other nations whose leaders have endorsed the resolution” (Knox & Schacht, 2010, p.269). Homosexuality in South Africa The perceptions of the people of South Africa towards homosexuals have shifted over time. The nation stands as the most progressive country in Africa to support homosexual orientation and same sex marriages. However, South Africa’s perception is relatively low compared to other nations outside Africa. Before the legalization of same sex marriages in South Africa lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities faced many challenges including discrimination just like in the United States. During the years of apartheid, there were very strict laws in regard to homosexuality, in fact, those found guilty of homosexuality, which was regarded as an offence served a maximum of seven years in jail (“Homosexuality in South Africa,” n.d.). The Marriage Act of South Africa only gave validation to marriages between a man and a woman making same-sex marriages a great offence. South African practitioners in the 1960s investigated biomedical reasons for homosexuality. Homosexual individuals would be admitted to hospitals, and all kinds of analysis and examinations would be conducted on them. Most of the time, very few, or no explanations were found after examinations. Homosexuality in South Africa began with the whites and was largely viewed as a sociological problem. The number of homosexuals in South Africa is also unknown, since there are those who are still afraid of being regarded as homosexuals, given the negative perspective that a large proportion of the society still holds in regard to the practice. Acceptance of Homosexuality in South Africa In many ways, homosexuality in South Africa has become normalized. According to Giddens and Griffiths “when South Africa adopted its new constitution in 1996, it became one of the only counties in the world constitutionally to guarantee the rights of homosexuals” (2006, p.435). This made it the first country worldwide to include a clause banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in its constitution (Knox & Schacht, 2010). Homosexuals in South Africa were for a long time viewed as victims of apartheid, as a result of this, they engaged in active movements after apartheid to fight for their rights. Unlike in the United States, homosexual personalities are not often positively depicted in the media. Contact between homosexuals and heterosexuals in South Africa have also been quite rare occurrences unlike in the United States. Homosexuality was legalized in South Africa as a result of homosexuals who hijacked the revolution, guilt manipulation and intimidation, intolerance in the name of equality. Homosexuals hijack of the revolution. During the years of Apartheid in South Africa, many homosexuals served many years in jails since homosexuality was regarded as a serious offence. After the revolution in South Africa, many homosexuals posed as victims of apartheid and the laws that existed during the time. Consequently, they earned the mercy of the government who considered setting them free considering other legalizations that were also taking place worldwide. Guilt manipulation and intimidation. After apartheid, anyone who discriminated against certain practices and gender in South Africa was viewed as being pro-apartheid (“The homosexual agenda in south Africa,” 2008). Old forms of discrimination in South Africa are thus viewed as a return to the past in a society that is constantly moving forward. Homosexuals in South Africa thus concentrated on the use of ‘apartheid guilt’ to advance their objectives. Intolerance in the name of equality. Prior to the legalization of homosexuality in South Africa, homosexuals actively engaged in civil rights movements. They wanted sexual orientation to be included as a civil right in South Africa. The movements involved well placed individuals in the South African government, which made it an issue of consideration (“The homosexual agenda in South Africa,” 2008). In conclusion, homosexuality is an ancient practice that began in ancient times. Although the practice was viewed negatively in most societies the practice continued. There were societies that supported it and viewed it as a guarantee to a number of factors such as ancient Greece, Japan, and China. From its roots in ancient times, homosexuality found its way to modern society. With time, people’s perceptions towards sexual orientation have changed and thus homosexuality has been legalized in a number of nations such as South Africa and the United States. Reasons for acceptance of homosexuality among the nations however vary. Reference List Cantor, D., Cantor, E., Black, James C. & Campbell D. Barrett. (2006). Same-Sex Marriage: The Legal and Psychological Evolution in America. Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press. Giddens, Anthony & Simon Griffiths. (2006). Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press. Homosexuality in South Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2012, from http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~famak20o/classweb/wp/southafrica.html Knox, David & Caroline Schacht. (2010). Choices in Relationships: An Introduction to Marriage and the Family. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Siker, Jeffrey S. (2007). Homosexuality and Religion: An Encyclopedia. Connecticut: Greenwood Press. The Homosexual Agenda in South Africa. (2008). Retrieved December 10, 2012, from http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles/homofascisminsa.htm       Read More