Homosexuality is Either Something Inborn or a Choice or a DiseaseBut not a Reason for Discrimination
Epitaph of Leonard P. Matlovich states that “When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Matlovich) What would be wrong with a love between two men such that they are discriminated? Why their rights aren’t protected? Does the love between two men or two women make them not human? Actually, this situation conflicts with the definition of the human rights that is "the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law."(wikipedia.org) First of all, it is needed to think about what Matlovich says and ask these questions so that the situation about gays in Turkey can be understood better. In the West, homosexuals are treated equally by other citizens and they have laws that protect their rights because for example, they can marry and even adopt children in all states of America except Florida (adoptioninstitute.org). However, in Turkey, they are discriminated because of people’s beliefs and traditions although in Turkey, this dimension of discrimination is less than most other Islamic countries. (globalgayz.com/g-turkey.html, 79). Ali Erol, an activist from a civil society initiative that aims for the liberation of gays in Turkish society, says that “Gays living in Turkey are being subject to humiliation, exclusion, threats and violence in houses, streets, school, work places, hospitals, public and private institutions.”(Kart, 92) What Erol says shows that discrimination enormously exists in Turkey. Considering this situation, Gays in Turkey should have the same rights with the ones in the West, since not officially letting them to have the same rights cannot be accepted because in secular countries, state and mosque must be separated. Moreover, human rights require equality and non-discrimination. If discrimination of gays in Turkey continuous to occur, Turkey will be lack of human rights and cannot be a proper secular country and consequently cannot be as modern as western countries.
Turkey is constitutionally and structurally a secular country and on account of secularism, in Turkey, state and mosque must be separated. However, people in Turkey generally dislike gays and do not want them to have the equal rights because of religious reasons because in Koran, it says “If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, leave them alone; for Allah is Oft-returning, most Merciful.”(Koran, 4.15) On the other hand, according to a new generation of Muslim feminists, particularly in Morocco, South Africa and Iran claim that there are new ways to interpret it. (http://www.alternet.org/rights/16223/) They say that “when you read the Koran, you realize that far from condemning us, it actually offers a lot of resources on how to live sincerely within our faith as gay and lesbian.”(alternet.org) Some people think and some gays and lesbians claim that there is not a choice of being gay or not. It is something inborn (kuro5hin.org). In this case, it cannot even conflict with any religion because God created them in that way, it can be considered as being left-handed. This is a critical issue in Islam that must be discussed and examined deeply by neutral, unprejudiced authorities. It might be true or misinterpreted. In either case, gays’ rights must be protected by law in Turkey because Turkey is not a religious country but a secular one. Therefore this discussion only bothers religion. In Wikipedia, secularism is defined as “A secular state is a state or country that is officially neutral in matters of religion, neither supporting nor opposing any particular religious beliefs or practices.” Therefore, laws must protect every citizen’s rights without considering any religious belief. Otherwise, Turkey cannot have a complete secularism and accordingly, Turkey cannot rise to the level of modern civilizations.
Turkey should support human rights completely and perform its all requirements including equality of all minorities such as gays in order to maintain social equality and justice and to be a more modern, civilized country. What causes homosexuality is not exactly known but there are some theories. One of these theories is that homosexuality is a decision that the individual made at some point in his/her life. If so, being gay is a choice as normal as the choice of a food to eat. Not everyone likes peanut butter and cannot be forced to eat it. In the same way, not anyone can be forced to be straight. Otherwise, it will be nothing but ignoring their fundamental human rights. Everyone have the right to choose any pursuit of happiness s/he desires.
There is also another claim that homosexuality is a disease that is not something normal at all. Then, should they be discriminated and not given equal rights? Indeed, contrarily, if it is a disease, their rights should be overprotected like it is done for disabled people and they should be provided what they need. However, gays do not want special rights; they want to have equal rights. Demet Dimir, who was given an award for advocacy by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, says "we have a lot of problems in Turkey and we want to live the way the heterosexuals do." (globalgayz.com, 82) They just want to be equal with any other citizen as stated in the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey. In the Article 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, it says “All individuals are equal without any discrimination before the law, irrespective of language, race, color, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion and sect, or any such considerations.” It is also one of the human rights standards of European Union that “non-discrimination toward all minority groups included those with variant sexual orientations.” (globalgayz.com, 83) Therefore, the Article 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and this requirement of being a member of EU has to be practiced. As a result, discrimination of gays is against not only universal human rights but also the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey.
Reflecting on the argument and examples, gays in Turkey should be equal to other citizens like in the West because Turkey is a secular country and everyone has to be treated equally because of human rights. Human rights are not only valid for straights; it is also valid for any human beings too. Just because one does not like "sushi" cannot mean s/he shouldn't have the same rights. Not anyone can be forced to like what is generally liked. Someone also cannot be forced to practice any religion especially in a secular country, Turkey. These days, people discuss why gays should be allowed to marry that refers to why gays should have the same rights but the real question is: Why the choice of being gay disqualifies them from equal rights?
Cenk Başbolat
Works Cited
"Leonard Matlovich." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 10 November 2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Matlovich>.
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Howard, Jeanne " Is Adoption By Gays and Lesbians Part of the Answer for Boys and Girls Who Need Homes?." The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. March 2006. 10 November 2007. <http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/policy/2006_Expanding_Resources_for_Childre>n.php>.
Ammon, Richard "Gay Lives in Modern Turkey." GlobalGayz.com. September 2001. 10 November 2007. <globalgayz.com/g-turkey.html>.
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Koran. AN-NISA (WOMEN). Translated by M.H. Shakir. New York: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc.
Giese, Rachel "Out of the Koran." AlterNet. 22 June 2003. 10 November 2007. <http://www.alternet.org/rights/16223/>.
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