Amid the lingering euphoria over the legalisation of gay marriage in the US shortly after Ireland did the same by popular vote comes the sobering news of an attack on a gay pride parade in Jerusalem by an ultra-Orthodox Jew. Before he was subdued, the man, a repeat offender, stabbed six people. Such violence is a stark reminder of the hostility encountered by LGBT individuals even in countries like Israel, which is one of the most progressive in the region in its treatment of gay people, and indeed in Asia. Despite the strides in winning legal protections and rights, “out” LGBTs often become social pariahs, marginalised and excluded from opportunities. In certain instances, the very act of coming out and claiming public space is seen by some as a provocation, an attack on a “traditional” way of life.
[related-post]
Unfortunately, victories in some parts are provoking a backlash elsewhere. When US President Barack Obama offered full-throated support for gay rights in Kenya, where gay sex is illegal, he was dismissed by his Kenyan counterpart, who claimed it was a “non-issue”. And reports suggest that even young Kenyans and Ethiopians found Obama’s views unpalatable. The gay divide is wide. It may be getting wider.
