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Some History of LGBT Related Laws

History of LGBT-Related Laws


Taken From WikiPedia


Throughout history and across cultures, the regulation of sexuality reflects broader cultural norms.


Most of the history of sexuality is unrecorded. Even recorded norms do not always shed full light on actual practices, as it is sometimes the case that historical accounts are written by foreigners with cryptic political agendas.


In the earlier centuries of ancient Rome (particularly during the Roman Republic) and prior to its Christianization, the Lex Scantinia forbade homosexual acts. In later centuries during, men of status were free to have sexual intercourse, heterosexual or homosexual, with anyone of a lower social status, provided that they remained dominant during such interaction. During the reign of Caligula, prostitution was legalized and taxed, and homosexual prostitution was seen openly in conjunction with heterosexual prostitution. The Warren Cup is a rare example of a Roman artefact that depicts homosexuality that was not destroyed by Christian authorities, although it was suppressed. A fresco from the public baths of the once buried city of Pompeii depicts a homosexual and bisexual sex act involving two adult men and one adult woman. The Etruscan civilization left behind the Tomb of the Diver, which depicts homosexual men in the afterlife.


In feudal Japan, homosexuality was recognized, between equals (bi-do), in terms of pederasty (wakashudo), and in terms of prostitution. The Samurai period was one in which homosexuality was seen as particularly positive. In Japan, the younger partner in a pederastic relationship was expected to make the first move; the opposite was true in ancient Greece. Homosexuality was later briefly criminalized due to Westernization.


The berdache two-spirit class in some Native American tribes are examples of ways in which some cultures integrated homosexuals into their society by viewing them, not with the homosexual and heterosexual dichotomy of most of the modern world, but as twin beings, possessing aspects of both sexes.


The ancient Law of Moses (the Torah) forbids men lying with men (intercourse) in Leviticus 18 and gives a story of attempted homosexual rape in Genesis in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities being soon destroyed after that. The death penalty was prescribed.


Similar prohibitions are found across Indo-European cultures in Lex Scantinia in Ancient Rome and nith in protohistoric Germanic culture, or the Middle Assyrian Law Codes dating 1075 BC.


Laws prohibiting homosexuality were also passed in communist China. (The People's Republic of China neither adopted an Abrahamic religion nor was colonized, except for Hong Kong and Macau which were colonized with Victorian era social mores and maintain separate legal system from the rest of the PRC.) Homosexuality was not decriminalized there until 1997. Prior to 1997, homosexual in mainland China was found guilty included in a general definition under the vague vocabulary of hooliganism, there are no specifically anti-homosexual laws.


In modern times eight countries have no official heterosexist discrimination. They are Argentina, Belgium, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, and Spain. This full non-discrimination includes the rights of marriage and adoption. Two additional countries have marriage rights for same-sex couples, namely Portugal and Canada, but in Portugal this right does not include same-sex adoption, and in Canada it varies by jurisdiction (it is legal everywhere except in Nunavut and Yukon). The Canadian Blood Services’ policy indefinitely defers any man who has sex with another man, even once, since 1977. LGBT people in the USA face different laws for certain medical procedures than other groups. For example, gay men have been prohibited from giving blood since 1983, and George W. Bush's FDA guidelines barred them from being sperm donors as of 2005, even though all donated sperm is screened for sexually-transmitted diseases and even the most promiscuous heterosexual men are not barred from donating.


Appreciation to AGM for his contribution.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

William Shatner Defends Gay Friend Character


$#*! My Dad Says

William Shatner did more to help the Gay community in 30 minutes of network airtime than all of the empty words and promises Barrack Obama or any other politician will ever do. He took a stand against one of his oldest friends who was openly homophobic, hostile and threatening towards one of his new friends who happened to be Gay.

Of course he was in character as Ed Goodson in his new sitcom '$#*! My Dad Says' along with Wally, his bitter old friend and ex-navy buddy, and his new friend Tim whom Ed had befriended after Tim lost his job because he helped Ed pass his Driver's Exam and now works part time as Ed's housemaid.

I haven't watched a sitcom on a regular basis since the days of All In The Family, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman and Soap. When I read that William Shatner would be starring in a new sitcom titled $#*! My Dad Says (based on the website of a similar name 'Shit My Dad Says') my curiosity was piqued. I am so happy I decided to give it a try.

During a recent episode called "The Manly Thing To Do" Ed was entertaining a group of his old Navy buddies. Tim was invited to join the party because Ed never realized the stark reality of homophobia and the discrimination that his new friend faced everyday. At first Tim was accepted by Wally but as soon as his sexuality was revealed Wally changed and became openly hostile to Tim. Ed played it off by saying that is just how Wally is. Tim opened Ed's eyes to the true nature of Wally's behavior. Later on,  during the party when all of Ed's old buddies were there drinking and reminiscing Tim arrived with the all male, all gay chorus he was involved with. Ed introduced them to his friends and informed them they were invited to the party and would be providing some entertainment by singing. Wally became irrate and behaved very rudely to Tim and the chorus. Ed told Wally "Lighten up will you?" and Wally insisted the fairies would have to leave. Ed informed Wally that "We are old friends and I tell you this now, if you continue to treat my friends in this way I will ask you to leave my house". Wally waitied for some of Ed's other Navy buddies to speak up but alas no one did. He thought about it a moment but didn't leave. Ed said "Now, come on men! I'm not paying you to stand around and look pretty! Let's have some music." With that the chorus began singing "Anchors Away" and everyone joined in except Wally who just stood there confused at the turn of events. I have paraphrased the dialogue in the description above but that is pretty close to verbatim (I think, lol).

William Shatner is a well known and respected icon of pop culture. As such he is one of the best celebrity spokesman for any cause. His persona embodies masculinity. If you wanted to retain his service as ambassador on your behalf the price tag would undoubtedly be hefty. I was so proud to have Captain Kirk defend a Gay man, even if it was only on a TV sitcom, against bullying by one of his Navy buddies that I had to write about it and share it with you all.

If you are interested enough to watch "$#*! My Dad Says" (I highly recommend it) you can check it out on iMDB/TV at this link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1612578/ then find out when and which network carries it in your area.

Gideon
Posted by Gideon at 12:30 AM

2 comments:

  1. JK and LTNovember 16, 2010 at 1:05 PM

    Bravo, Bill! Bravo, you! Linked to this on our blog.

    ReplyDelete
  2. GideonNovember 16, 2010 at 5:23 PM

    Thanks JK and LT. I appreciate the comment and the bump. Gideon

    ReplyDelete

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