Living and letting live

The speech by MP Maurice Williamson on the Marriage Equality Bill highlighted what went on in the New Zealand Parliament when the Bill was carried. There was clapping, singing and a lot of jubilation when the result was declared.

Looking the other way in the face of the difficulties of minorities is not an option

The video of the MP having a go at those who were wringing their hands and resisting this Bill did the rounds on the internet.

The fact that this video – exposing the lengths people can go to in order to justify denying others their rights – became an instant hit also says a lot about how we look at such situations.

Somehow, the mirth and celebration evoked a strange kind of sadness.

The congratulatory tone gave me a sense of gloom not least because this is a law about human rights. That the people’s representatives thought it apt to celebrate and pat themselves on the back for allowing human beings like us enjoy a right, which has hitherto been denied them, is, well, sad.

The fact that Williamson’s speech became so popular, when what he was saying should be obvious to all of us, implies that it maybe is not so obvious after all.

And that is what I found so poignant about the whole story.

To me it showed that in spite of the fact that sexual orientation and gender identity are integral parts of every person and, thus, ought not to lead to discrimination, it is as though we are doing people in these realities a favour by carrying legislation that safeguards their rights.

It’s not as if this issue involved some conflict between individual rights and the duty of the state to the rest of society. It is certainly not as if one person’s legal rights could become another person’s infringement in this case.

Sadly, human history is replete with instances of violations of human rights. It is, thus, our duty to make amends. These are rights not favours.

The debate should be on where we still have to give meaningful recognition; on how to increase visibility to minorities who are still disadvantaged in our society.

As policymakers, politicians must realise that looking the other way in the face of the difficulties of minorities is not an option. So is failing to act.

Omission is, of course, bad as well, especially when one is in a position to eliminate discrimination and offer solutions.

Political power must be used to improve all lives, that is the job of politicians. Thus, I see no need for the political class to congratulate itself when it does what needs to be done. In the same way that people do their work daily.

It is unlikely that a democratic government would pass homophobic or transphobic laws today. But there remain areas that constitute infractions to personal liberties and where anti-discrimination laws have to be introduced or tightened. Real injustices still exist.

Yet, there still remain those who continue to oppose and deny rights to others.

As Williamson pointed out, after the Marriage Equality Bill becomes law “the sun will still rise tomorrow... you will not have skin diseases or rashes... so don’t make this into a big deal”.

If only more of us were to learn how to live and let live. To me it is beyond ordinary comprehension to build a barricade around a minority of people, deny them their rights, vent abhorrence, make their life hell.

Then, when we see reason and change our attitude and start treating people as we always should have, we give ourselves rounds of applause.

Dr.HelenaDalli@gmail.com

Helena Dalli is Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties.