Gender Identity Project - Blog 1 (Introduction)

Bret Zingula

COMM 380

Sara Baker

Gender Identity Project

Introduction Blog

            As we’ve learned throughout our course text, heteronormativity or “…the way in which … social institutions and policies reinforce the presumption that people are heterosexual, that gender and sex are binaries” (DeFrancisco & Palczewski, 2007, pg. 13), is now an unrestricted paradigm in terms of geography.  In many regions around the world heterosexual behavior and relationships are the most heavily perpetuated hegemonic themes.  But as this notion shifts in the Untied States as a result of awareness, acceptance, and legislative reform, many of us negate or fail to realize the heteronormative status and influence of foreign countries on their own population. 

            For my cultural reporter blogs I’ve chosen to research and evaluate homosexuality within native African cultures.  As the issue stands today, the overwhelming majority of sovereign African states, with the exception of many Central African countries, strictly ban any form of homosexual activity by means of decelerated law.  Many of these counties allocate harsh punishments to those convicted of the related “crimes”; among these punishments is death.  Furthermore, within many of these nations that impose illegality on same sex relations, homosexuality between females is explicitly legal, something I found to be very intriguing and conflicting on the basis of cultural perspectives and gender equality.  The following link examines lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights by country or territory. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_by_country_or_territory#Africa  

            One of the most tumultuous regions within the African continent with respect to the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights and the discrimination against them is Uganda.  In an article issued by Clutch magazine, a writer under the name “The Grio” published a piece depicting the growing hatred and violence against gays in the country.  Following the brutal beating and subsequent death of Ugandan gay rights activists David Kato roughly thirteen months ago, The Grio stated, “What strikes me most is the indifference with which the news of his murder was met.  The police officers assigned to the case dismissed his death as a robbery, claiming it had nothing to do with his homosexuality.  The editor of the Rolling Stone newspaper that had published Kato’s photo as a target, said that he intended for the government to punish Kato and the other gay men and women listed.  The editor’s only regret was that civilians had chosen to murder him.  This kind of homophobia is commonplace and rampant in the African world and among blacks in the greater diaspora from North and South America throughout the Caribbean and Europe” (The Grio, 2011).  The following video vibrantly illustrated the issues at hand in Uganda with the same respects to rights and discrimination: 

References:

DeFrancisco & Palczewski. (2007). Communicating Gender and Diversity. Thousand       Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Grio, The. (Jan 28, 2011). Why Homosexuality in Africa is a Death Sentence.          Clutchmagonline.com. Retrieved Feb. 24, 2012, from             http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2011/01/why-homosexuality-in-africa-is-a-         death-sentence/

N/A. (2012). LGBT Rights by Country or Territory. Wikipedia.com. Retrieved Feb. 24,     2012, from             http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_by_country_or_territory#Africa