Why are we so obsessed with other people’s sex lives?
It used to be that whatever happens in the privacy of their bedrooms, was their business.
I am talking about the ongoing prejudice against people who identify their gender differently from ourselves – queerphobia or homophobia, as it’s known.
It’s clear that we are teaching this unhealthy obsession with the sex lives of other people to our children.
Why else would there be tension about a Queer Pride protest at Hoërskool DF Malan in Bellville last week?
It started with the school rejecting the request by students to celebrate Pride Month, which led to the protest, which in turn resulted in harassment, intimidation, insults and offensive words.
Let’s start with why the school denied the initial request for a peaceful commemoration.
The governing body says it feared such an event could lead to tension and division within the school, which is pretty much an admission that the school isn’t a place of tolerance and mutual respect to begin with.
Why else would they suspect that a peaceful celebration could cause friction?
But it turns out they were right, which means there’s a lot of work to be done to ensure the human rights and dignity of each and every student, irrespective of sexual orientation, is guaranteed in our constitution.
This is also an indictment of our society in general, but parents and community leaders in particular.
For example, there is a pastor on social media who often reveals his obsession with sex, by hiding behind scripture.
It seems to me that his entire religious existence is based on his supposed biblical stance against homosexuality (and abortion).
While innocent children, hard-working fathers and struggling mothers are being murdered by heartless gangsters, this pastor chooses to focus his attention on people’s bedroom preferences, which he fails to see are determined by the biology given to them by the very God he claims to serve.
He’s so egotistical and self-righteous that he can’t appreciate how sickening it is of him to appropriate the power to pass judgement – supposedly God’s sole domain.
There’s nothing biblical about hateful intolerance.
And queerphobia is nothing more than a twisted obsession with other people’s sex lives.
And if a school is going to teach anything, then it should teach the fact that sexual orientation doesn’t matter; that content of character means a lot more.
In fact, the kids who staged the protest displayed a lot more of that than those who ridiculed and insulted them did.
Because all they could think of was what those kids do in bed.
While the protesting kids were compassionate enough to consider a worldwide movement of oppressed and marginalised young people, determined to be recognised for who they are. They don’t start wars.
They don’t rape helpless babies. They don’t shoot toddlers in the head during gang fights. Their movement is based almost exclusively on love.
And if their love for each other is evil, then I will happily let God be the judge.
breinou@gmail.com