Still Crude Prejudice

IN Friday’s Namibian (September 16 2006) yet another well-intentioned individual attempted to put an end to the question regarding homosexuality’s supposed “foreign” origins.

Certainly the ubiquity of that particular claim, and its intended implications regarding the legitimacy of homosexuality, explains why so many feel it necessary to confront and attempt to refute it. However, this undertaking begs the question, ‘What if it was true’? What if conclusive and incontrovertible evidence emerged proving that the presence of homosexuality in Africa was the result of the presence and influence of Europeans? Would the matter then be resolved? Should all those advocates and activists struggling for equality give up? Well, they should if they believe that the geographical origins of homosexuality are of some importance.Ironically, that would put them completely at odds with those who assert homosexuality’s foreign origins.It isn’t of any real importance to them.Imagine that proof of the opposite nature emerged (i.e.that the existence of homosexuality in Africa has no connection to the presence/influence of Europeans).Do any believe that those who today make the “foreign origin” claim would give up? I think not.If casting homosexuality as of foreign origin makes hostility to gays and lesbians appear as something more than crude prejudice, it will be exploited to that end.Prejudice is an inherently opportunistic (and insecure) exercise, always ready to exploit any argument or idea that might bolster its claims and confer intellectual justification.These arguments/ideas should not, however, be confused with the foundation of the prejudice they are supposed to justify because, at root, prejudice has no intellectual justification.The question is then, ‘Why waste time and energy engaging in a false debate?’ Why bestow upon the question of homosexuality’s geographical (or biological or social or psychological for that matter) origins the legitimacy that comes with a considered reply? The origins (however defined) of homosexuality are no more important to those who argue their significance than they are to all those gays and lesbians who (hopefully) do not spend (waste) their time worrying where they “come from”.On both sides of the debate the same holds true: It just doesn’t matter.H Gurirab WindhoekHowever, this undertaking begs the question, ‘What if it was true’? What if conclusive and incontrovertible evidence emerged proving that the presence of homosexuality in Africa was the result of the presence and influence of Europeans? Would the matter then be resolved? Should all those advocates and activists struggling for equality give up? Well, they should if they believe that the geographical origins of homosexuality are of some importance.Ironically, that would put them completely at odds with those who assert homosexuality’s foreign origins.It isn’t of any real importance to them.Imagine that proof of the opposite nature emerged (i.e.that the existence of homosexuality in Africa has no connection to the presence/influence of Europeans).Do any believe that those who today make the “foreign origin” claim would give up? I think not.If casting homosexuality as of foreign origin makes hostility to gays and lesbians appear as something more than crude prejudice, it will be exploited to that end.Prejudice is an inherently opportunistic (and insecure) exercise, always ready to exploit any argument or idea that might bolster its claims and confer intellectual justification.These arguments/ideas should not, however, be confused with the foundation of the prejudice they are supposed to justify because, at root, prejudice has no intellectual justification.The question is then, ‘Why waste time and energy engaging in a false debate?’ Why bestow upon the question of homosexuality’s geographical (or biological or social or psychological for that matter) origins the legitimacy that comes with a considered reply? The origins (however defined) of homosexuality are no more important to those who argue their significance than they are to all those gays and lesbians who (hopefully) do not spend (waste) their time worrying where they “come from”.On both sides of the debate the same holds true: It just doesn’t matter.H Gurirab Windhoek