Government Gay Bashing in Uganda

This article is a response to my last article, where New York Times writer Dayo Olopade addresses the reintroduction of an anti-homosexual bill by a member of parliament in Uganda in his article “Gay Bashing, a Government Division”. This is a “large step backwards”, as Olopade puts it, as this was a bill shot down in 2009 but now being put back into action. The proposed legislation imposes a life sentences for any same-sex behavior and a death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”, which includes gay acts by a person with H.I.V or with a minor. This new bill has caused Ugandan homosexuals to flee to neighboring countries where they seek refuge. Olopade questions the credibility and integrity of the Ugandan government by stating that the government spent more than $500 million dollars on new military plane but failed to build or staff any new hospitals. Parliaments also recently approved a $40,000 U.S. dollar value payment for each parliament member to buy a new car— a questionably self-interested approval. The most prominent point made in Olopade’s article is that gay bashing has served as a “handy distraction” from ethical lapses in power. In other words, gay bashing is a major concern in Uganda, only to distract citizens from realizing the major abuses of authority and neglect of legitimate developmental goals by the government.

In Theo Van der Meer’s “Gay Bashing— a rite of passage,” Van de Meer speaks about gay violence as a reality in the 21^st century. While his article focuses on societal gay bashing in Holland, Olopade’s article takes this concept and applies it to a much bigger and more powerful entity— the government. What happens when your own government, that controls the laws of your country, becomes a gay-bashing bully? This is a problem that many Africans face, especially in Uganda, which has become almost the capitol of anti-homosexual practices in Africa. The one parallel feature that I think stands between the two articles is the idea of gay bashing as an action for power. I feel as if both the citizens from the Netherlands and the parliament members from Uganda take violent and malicious action toward the gay community as a discharge of masculinity or power. This is sad and unfortunate, but nonetheless is a prevalent topic in the world today.

In “Searching for Community: Filipino Gay Men in New York City”, author Martin F. Manalansan IV speaks about Filipino gay men’s struggle in finding a “community” and identifying with themselves in America. I believe that this can relate to Olopade’s article because the African citizens struggle to find community in Uganda because of the anti-homosexual laws. They flee to other countries, simply to avoid the prejudice, justified violence and intolerance. This is a struggle to find community because few African countries accept homosexuals.

I believe that this is an incredibly important topic because I feel that many people in America are sheltered from the idea that gay-bashing and government corruption does exist.  Being from California, we live in a very liberal and democratic setting, where the government is generally perceived as just and we allow many personal freedoms among our citizens. However, the idea that there are countries around the world that do not allow such personal freedoms is a terrifying thought. I think that we should understand that we are lucky to live in such a country and find out what we can do to take a stand against such anti-homosexual policies among African countries.

Readings Used:

Van Der Meer, Theo “Bashing a Rite of Passage?” in Culture, Health and Sexuality, Vol. 5 No. 2

Manalasan IV, Martin F “Searching for Community: Filipino Gay Men from New York City”. GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies. Routeledge Chapman Hall, 1993

Article Used

http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/gay-bashing-in-uganda-is-a-diversion-from-government-malfeasance/





by


 Michael Inouye 

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: An analysis on how the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ issues are represented and addressed in the film

The proposed paper I plan on writing about will be an analysis of the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and how it addresses issues that the LGBTQ community faces. Some of the issues that film presents and addresses are issues of: sexual and gender identity, issues transgender people face, and issues of acceptance and rejection by different cultures and communities. My thesis for this paper is that this film is one the first films to properly address issues that the LGBTQ community faces, whereas other films play off of LGBTQ stereotypes and most LGBTQ characters are killed off by the end of the film.

Unlike most classical Hollywood films, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is the first film I have watched that properly represents real LGBTQ issues as well as being the first film in which the LGBTQ characters are not killed off by the end. Other films such as Rebel Without a Cause and Thelma and Louise, play off of LGBTQ stereotypes and they don’t properly address critical issues that the LGTBQ community faces. In films like these, the majority if not all of the main LGBTQ characters are killed off by the end of the film, as a statement to indicate that their lifestyle is not one that will allow them to survive in society. By doing so, the media is trying to send a message to society stating that they want to get rid of the LGBTQ community because they do not fit in our so called “perfect” society. The film Priscilla Queen of the Desert is perfect in the sense that, not only does it properly address issues facing the LGBTQ community, but it also presents issues that are wrong with society when they reject the LGBTQ lifestyle and community.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert portrays various situations and issues concerning the LGBTQ that were discussed in class. One of these situations is the idea of gay-bashing. In the film when one of the characters, Felicia, goes out to a party and when the men at this party realize that Felicia is a man, they immediately begin to chase after Mitzi in attempts to beat him. Theo Van Der Meer address this issue in his article “Gay bashing-a rite of passage,” in this article he discusses how gay bashers after attacking their victim “they felt that they were ‘somebody.’” In the film the man that attempted to attack Felicia felt that his sexuality was being threatened, so in order to feel that he was a “man again” (a somebody) he had to beat Mitzi in order to prove his manliness. Another issue that is discussed in the film is the issue of Homophobia and how Mitzi, Bernadette and Felicia deal with it when they become victims of it upon their arrival at Coober Pedy. Before they leave Coober Pedy, they realize that their bus has been vandalized on one of the sides with “AIDS F***** Go Home,” which depicts the homophobia the people of Cobber Pedy have. Barbara Smith address homophobia in her article “Homophobia: Why Bring it up,” and in this article she talks about how “homophobia is not taken seriously as other forms of oppression.” When this occurs in the film no one from the city does anything to help Mitzi, Bernadette and Felicia, instead the townspeople look at them as if nothing had happened and continue on with their daily lives. This goes to show that people do not take homophobia as a serious form of oppression, which is exactly what the film is trying to portray. In conclusion, the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, is a perfect film that discusses real issues that the LGBTQ community faces, as well as properly representing the LGBTQ community.

Smith, Barbara. “Homophobia: Why Bring it Up?” The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. Henry Ablelove et al New York & London.: Routledge, 1993.

Van Der Meer, Theo. “Bashing A Rite of Passage?” In Culture, Health and Sexuality. Volume 5, Number 2. pp 153-165

“Brittana” From a Non-Gleek Perspective: Challenging Metronormativity

Unaware of what I was getting myself into, I was casually sitting in one of the lounges the other day to study. Luckily the room was unnecessarily large, but the best part was that it was empty – a luxury, considering you don’t find yourself to be alone often in college. This only lasted for about ten minutes until a girl walked in, turned on the flat screen TV that was residing in the corner of the room, and sat down. A couple of girls who appeared as though they didn’t know her joined her to watch shortly after, and I soon realized what they were doing; earlier that evening one of my friend could not prevent themselves from brining up the Glee episode that was airing tonight, as the Valentine’s Day episode had been advertised heavily beforehand. I believe that now would be the appropriate time to warn you, reader, that I have never watched a full episode of Glee before that night, and that I had always been curious about what all of the hype was about and therefore watched my first episode with three other strangers instead of studying for my silly midterm.

            My knowledge of the plot of the show had been sparse, and honestly I can say that it still is. My basic understanding of the show, and I could be very mistaken, is that it follows a group of high school students in a “singing club” of some sort and every week they perform covers of popular songs so that all of the “Gleeks” – what the fans of the show have deemed themselves – can throw their money at their computer shortly afterwards to purchase as many Glee covers that they can get their hands on. I can also say that this show has a very large LGBTQ fanbase, primarily because there are openly queer characters on the show, such as Brittany and Santana. Honestly I wasn’t exactly aware that there was a lesbian couple on the show, because I was only familiar with Kurt and Blaine, and this struck me as surprising for some reason. As the couple kissed for the first time on screen, the three girls who I had been sitting with all gasped with excitement. I feel as though “Brittana” is significant to the LGBTQ community because they give a very positive portrayal of a lesbian couple on a show geared towards all ages. The most surprising part is that Fox Network of all companies produces this show. Aware of their core beliefs, and the fact that people who share these beliefs feel “threatened about issues of sexuality”, it is honestly a huge step that Glee is produced and is able to cater to families who are watching, as well as their LGBTQ fans. The couple is also significant because I feel as though they definitely challenge the “metronormative” concept that a rural area is a very hostile environment to queers and that for things to get better you must get to an urban area (Gray 50). The show is set in Lima, Ohio which I assume to be a very rural area where, apparently, it is very possible to find community and do queer identity work.

Works Cited

Gilchrist, Tracy E. "'Glee' Gay-Cap: The Santana/Brittany Kiss Heard Round the World."SheWired. Here Media Inc., 15 Feb. 2012. Web. 23 Feb. 2012.

Gray, Mary. "From Websites to Wal-Mart: Youth, Identity Work, and the Queering of Boundary Publics in Small Town, USA." American Studies 48.2 (2007): 49-59. Print.

Smith, Barbara. “Homophobia: Why Bring it Up?” from The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. Ed Henry Ablelove et al New York & London: Routledge, 1993.

Glee: addressing stereotypes or informing the greater community?

With media and social entertainment easily obtained through television use or the internet, it’s hard to resist temptation to just tune in and watch the latest hit show. I’ll admit there are far too many times when I would fall victim to the draining colored images of mindless entertainment. But I’m not ashamed and why should I be? The television is there for people to unwind from a long day at school, at work, or to just simply relax and stay informed. It requires little to no mental effort and with moderation and a good selection of shows, it can seem harmless. One day, as I was sitting back, with my shoes off and my pajamas on, one particularly interesting show caught my attention. Glee, a musical show focusing on a group of high school outsiders, left a great impression. While this show addressed the struggles of high school bullying and harassment, it also embedded personal feelings of young gay and lesbian teenagers, disabled teenagers, ethnic minorities, and stereotypically popular students. I can see how the show’s depiction of a young gay teenager can be viewed as an over-exaggerated, possibly tainting the LGBTQ community, but I also perceive it as a great advancement, identifying issues and broadcasting it to a greater community.

For my paper proposal, there are various articles I’d like to use to argue my point. Nan Stein’s “Bullying, Harassment and Violence among Students” and Theo van der Meer’s “Gay Bashing- a rite of passage?” both bring up interesting factors about bullying that can relate to the messages presented from Glee. They present issues of peer groups in a personal level and in a broad setting, making it relatable to individuals who are attacked for reasons that may not relate to homophobia (Van der Meer 61). It is difficult to be on the radar as a minority and it’s even more difficult when you are a multiple minority, including race, gender, sexuality, disability, and the struggles of high school. Thus, two more interesting articles come to mind. Smith’s “Homophobia: Why bring it up?” and Tomas Almaguer’s “Chicano Men: A Cartography of Homosexual Identity and Behavior” does an amazing job bring up new issues to the table. They present ideas of complexity within one’s identity, making gender, race and ethnicity growing factors of homosexuality, issues that white males can’t truly understand (Smith 112). Santana, one of the main characters in Glee, is a strong Chicana woman who struggles with her lesbian identity, drawing in Almaguer’s point of Chicano families, sometimes unable to accept a lesbian family member (547). With Glee, there are many angles to approach the diversity presented in this show, making it difficult to really address the LGBTQ community more appropriately or without attachments of stereotypes. It is one of the best ways to gain popularity, attacking all minorities, saying things out loud that many people were already thinking. But the way I see it, by presenting issues up front and being able to laugh at uninformed perspectives of certain individuals creatively brings up social issues that need to be made known at a greater population. 

Works Cited

Almaguer, Tomas. “Chicano Men: A Cartography of Homosexual Identity and Behavior.” A Journal of Feminism Cultural Studies 3.2 (1991) 75-100.

Smith, Barbara. “Homophobia: Why Bring it Up?” The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. New York & London: Routledge (1993) 111-115.

Stein, Nan. “Bullying, Harassment and Violence Among Students.” Racial Teacher. 80 (2007) 30-35.

Van Der Meer, Theo. “Gay bashing- a rite of passage?” Culture, Health & Sexuality 5.2 (2003) 153-165. 

Adventure Time’s Lesbian Subtext Brings Light to Homosexual Representation in Cartoons

How many people can say that they’ve grown up watching a cartoon that portrayed a homosexual relationship as though it were the same as a heterosexual relationship in animated television? None. In fact the animated shows that have depicted gay characters, such as South Park, often utilize gay stereotypes in order to depict these characters. This, though as unfortunately true as it may be, is the reality of the conventional notions of today’s society and the notions that have preceded it. Cartoons are generally all geared to appeal to a range of age groups that vary from children who attend grade school to college students in their late twenties. The latter of which still find amusement in a few of the more witty cartoons that in some cases have “multi leveled jokes that … kids won't pick up on, teenagers might, and adults definitely will” (Nichols). One cartoon that has acquired attention and critical acclaim from a wide range of age groups due to its multi level humor and unique art style is Adventure Time. Adventure Time, a cartoon that premiered in 2010 on the popular Cartoon Network channel follows the daily adventures of a boy named Finn and his dog “brother” Jake as they fight evil through the “Land of Ooo”. If that already doesn’t sound bizarre enough, they are also very close friends with the Princess of Ooo, Princess Bubblegum, and a Vampire Queen named Marceline. An episode titled “What Was Missing?” that aired in September of 2011, included what many of the fans referred to as subtext of a possible past romantic relationship between the two female characters Princess Bubblegum and Marceline. Though many of the fans were angered by the immediate removal of this episode from Cartoon Network’s website due to the enormous amount of “shipping” (interest in a potential romantic couple by a fan base) that occurred, this episode signified much more than the desires of a fan base. This animated television series could potentially be the first time in history where a homosexual couple could be portrayed in a cartoon as any heterosexual couple and exemplify a positive portrayal of an LGBTQ relationship in an animated series geared towards adolescents, which could have a large impact on what society considers “normal”.

            After “What Was Missing?” aired, the studio that produces the cartoon asked the fans through a webisode what they thought about the two female characters getting together in a relationship, which essentially made the subtext canon (Nichols). The response from the fan base was overwhelmingly positive, which may have shocked Cartoon Network into removing the episode from their website. The network clearly did not know how to appropriately respond to the overwhelming positive response to a relationship between two female characters, and instead chose to ignore them entirely. This directly ties to “Homophobia: Why Bring it Up?”, an article written by scholar Barbara Smith that examines the numerous reasons for “people’s reluctance to confront homophobia in themselves and others” (Smith, 113). This is an issue that has been reinforced in the media countless times. This is why there aren’t any examples of a homosexual couple to be portrayed normally in a cartoon. Due to “deeply entrenched attitudes and behaviors” people feel “threatened about issues of sexuality” and prefer not to bring up the topic at all (Smith 113). The network ignored the issue and pretended as if nothing had caused them to remove the episode, which is likely reflective of their stance on the possibility of producing a show that normalizes what society deems abnormal. The problem with that though, is that we also live in a society where this affects several people. According to “Harassment and Violence among Students” by Nan Stein, “one third of teens report that students are harassed due to perceived or actual sexual orientation” (Stein 32). This ultimately gives many students only the option of “compulsory heterosexuality”, where heterosexuality is the default orientation that must be embraced according to societal norms (Stein 32). Perhaps this wouldn’t happen if children were actually given a source of media that for once says, “there is nothing wrong with being who you are, and there is nothing inappropriate about it and that is why it is being televised”.

            The idea that this show could affect so many adolescents growing up and the future of queer representation in animated television is groundbreaking. The episode is currently back online, and though fans will have to wait for new episodes to see how the relationship between Princess Bubblegum and Marceline unfolds, the possibility of this becoming much more important than just another “ship” is a large step for the LGBTQ portrayal in the media which has an even more significant affect on society.

Works Cited

Nichols, Brittani. ""Adventure Time"'s Animated Lesbian Subtext Is Too Hot for TV." Autostraddle News. Autostraddle, 30 Sept. 2011. Web. 7 Feb. 2012.

Smith, Barbara. “Homophobia: Why Bring it Up?” from The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. Ed Henry Ablelove et al New York & London: Routledge, 1993.

Stein, Nan. Bullying, “Harassment and Violence among Students” in Radical Teacher, No. 80 “Teaching Beyond Tolerance” Winter 2007 30-35.

Anti-gay bullying awareness achieved through America’s most televised football game

The Super Bowl, an annual National Football League (NFL) championship game between two competing teams, is the perfect opportunity to promote awareness on numerous issues. This year’s Super Bowl is scheduled to include a twelve-minute performance from Madonna during the halftime show, bringing national support for gay pride and awareness. The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is also hoping to air an advertisement promoting an anti-gay bullying campaign (Wong). Nan Stein’s article, a thorough presentation advocating anti-harassment in an academic setting, can be compared to GLSEN’s strategic move to prevent unnecessary harassment towards the LGBTQ community. I will also deconstruct Theo Van Der Meer’s views on the cultural ontology of gay bashing to further analyze the effects of a national ad campaign. Although verbal and physical harassment may seem inevitable, the Super Bowl presents a supportive environment making it possible for anti-gay bullying campaigns to safely confront individuals for their misuse of the word “gay.”


According to Stein, the definition of bullying is determined by any act of cruelty, isolation, and verbal and physical attacks (31). In this case, we can confirm with GLSEN’s anti-gay bullying claim and support their case. Inappropriately using the word “gay” in replacement for words like “stupid” and “dumb” is, indeed, a form of bullying. While it does not sound as fatal as a physical assault, it is society’s unspoken acceptance of the misused terminology that subconsciously supports bullying. When bullying becomes unmanageable, it is necessary to apply strategies to resolve the disputes (Stein 33). GLSEN’s  “Think Before You Speak” campaign to socially ban the use of all negative connotations of the word “gay” would reduce and reverse the social acceptance of young adult microaggression, a concept formally presented in lecture.


There can be many reasons why the term “gay” is socially used in replacement for other negative adjectives. Through my interpretation, peer groups are one explanation. Individuals who may not feel comfortable misusing words or partaking in immoral actions are sometimes pressured to act against their will because of the presence of their peers (Van Der Meer 158). According to Van Der Meer’s, this is an expression of claiming one’s social status and the ability to remain dominant is often ranked higher than moral beliefs. GLSEN’s campaign redefines the value of the word “gay” using social power of well-known celebrities, therefore, reversing the effects of peer groups. Grant Hill and Hilary Duff are a few proud voices that stand strong in the “Think Before You Speak” movement (Wong). To understand the value of Madonna and GLSEN’s gay awareness campaign, it is important to remember the event as a whole. The Super Bowl gathers millions of viewers nationwide, thus, drawing in a large audience for the halftime show. According to Stein, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals are constantly harassed in school settings on a daily basis (32). With that said, we can only imagine how often people mindlessly use the word “gay” through day to day conversations. Drawing in a large audience creates a strong and united atmosphere, acknowledging those who may have felt isolated, and revolutionizing world views one step at a time. 

Works Cited

Stein, Nan. “Bullying, Harassment and Violence Among Students.”  Radical Teacher. No. 8. 2007.


Van Der Meer, Theo. “Gay bashing- a rite of passage?” Culture, heath, and sexuality, 2003, vol. 5, no. 2, 153-165. 


Wong, Curtis M. “Think Before You Speak, Anti-Gay Bullying Campaign Produced By GLSEN, To Air At Super Bowl.” Huffpost Gay Voices, Huffington Post. Web.1 Feb.  2012.

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/think-before-you-speak-anti-bullying-super-bowl_n_1247349.html

Elton John tells World Leaders to Stop Anti-Gay Discrimination

Homophobia and anti-gay discrimination are a serious global threat. Today, countries such as Pakistan, Tanzania, and even Singapore, criminalize homosexuality and can legally imprison homosexuals for their entire lives. In the Commonwealth of Africa, homophobic discrimination is thriving through British colonial anti-gay laws passed in the 19^th century. However, in the 2011 article “Elton John tells world leaders: stop anti-gay discrimination”, author Oliver Wright writes about Elton John’s support for an international gay-rights group, called Kaleidoscope, that plans to combat these laws and end homophobic prejudice on a global scale. The homophobic discrimination described in Wright’s article exemplifies Theo Van Der Meer’s concept of a “shame culture” and further perpetuates Barbara Smith’s constructed misconception of homosexual oppression as a political concern.

In “Gay bashing— a rite of passage?”, author Theo Van Der Meer highlights the reality of gay violence in the 21^st century. Though Van Der Meer’s research took place in Holland, the principal of homophobic violence is universal and is described in Oliver Wright’s Independent article. In the article, Bisi Alimi, the first Nigerian to come out on national television, states that “As a result of coming out I was attacked, tied up and beaten in my own home in Lagos”. Relating Alimi’s experience to Van Der Meer’s research, I would describe the Nigerian culture as a “shame culture”. Defined by an “unequal distribution of honor” and the maintaining of social inequalities, I believe that Nigerians preserve a hierarchy in which homosexuals are on the bottom. Just as the Dutch described homosexuals to be on the bottom rung of the social ladder in Van Der Meer’s piece, the Nigerian’s equate homosexuals to criminals on the lowest rung of the society. This criminalization is significant because it justifies violence and prejudice against gays and lesbians among the African culture. Until this discrimination is put to an end, the LGBTQ community will continue to suffer from brutal oppression and validated beatings.

           In “Homophobia: Why Bring it Up?”, Barbara Smith passionately discusses the destructive effects of homosexual oppression. She also describes four misconceptions that she finds to be particularly damaging to the gay and lesbian community. Her first misconception, “Lesbian and gay male oppression is not as serious as other oppressions. It is not a political matter, but a private concern” can be directly related to Wright’s article because of the “political” implication. Though every country has its own homosexual laws and policies, lesbian and gay oppression is undoubtedly a political issue more than just a private concern. An example of modern day discriminatory oppression is the active encouragement from Commonwealth states to persecute homosexual behavior. The anti-gay laws, described in the Independent news article, justify life imprisonment for outwardly identifying oneself as gay in many African countries. Implementing political pressure, Kaleidoscope plans to combat these laws and fight for their revocation. Evidently, gay and lesbian oppression is an internationally political issue.

Homosexuality is not a crime and should not be punishable by law. Oliver Wright’s article brings forth the unfamiliar issues of discrimination that take place in the world today. Elton John’s name is included in the title of the article to raise awareness of the apparent subjugation of gays in these Commonwealth countries. Whether we choose to ignore the unjust practices of these “shame cultures” or support them, legalized homosexual oppression is a modern day problem, and is very much a political issue.

Article Used:

“Elton John tells world leaders: stop anti-gay discrimination” Oliver Wright 09/12/2011

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/elton-john-tells-world-leaders-stop-antigay-discrimination-2353158.html

Readings Used:

Van Der Meer, Theo “Bashing a Rite of Passage?” in Culture, Health and Sexuality, Vol. 5 No. 2

Smith, Barbara “Homophobia: Why Bring it Up?” from ¨The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. Ed Henry Ablelove et al Ne York & London: Routledge 1993