Scalia Needs to Rethink “Morality”
Written
by REV. DR. DURRELL WATKINS
Justice Anton Scalia has shockingly compared homosexuality to murder. He
asked a Princeton student, “If we cannot have moral feelings about
homosexuality, can we have them about murder?” Obviously, such a comparison is
inflammatory and hurtful to same-gender loving people and their friends and
families.
Justice Scalia justifies his hateful rhetoric by calling his opposition
to homosexuality a moral argument. Never mind that Justice Scalia lacks the
moral authority to make such pontifications, and that his unrestrained personal
prejudices actually imply that he may be incapable of rendering impartial,
fair, legally sound judgments in matters of full equality for same-gender
loving people. What is most troubling is that this otherwise educated and clearly
powerful person seems to be operating under the assumption that sexual
orientation is a choice, and that even if it were, only one choice would be
acceptable.
I’m gay, same-gender loving, Queer (yes, I muti-identify). Of course,
my homosexuality is a matter of public record (I’ve been out and an activist
for my entire adult life), so of course I disagree with Anton Scalia and all
who try to disguise their heterosexism as moral values.
For me, my same gender love and attraction are innate. That said, if
homosexuality were a choice it would be a VALID choice.
I no longer at this point in my life try to deconstruct homophobic
interpretations of isolated scriptural verses (there are a total of about six
in all of the bible that are used abusively against same-gender loving people),
make excuses for the understandings of human sexuality in antiquity, or “prove”
that same-gender love is as sacred as any other love. I don’t need to defend
myself or my love against people who use religion like a weapon to exclude,
abuse, control, or vilify any minority including LBGT people. I also no longer need
to appeal to psychological, sociological, or biological arguments to justify
same-gender love and attraction (copious though such arguments are).
I simply know myself to be a good person, my relationship to be a
blessing in my life, and my love to be part of that universal energy of love that
many of us call God. If same-gender love and attraction are healthy (and I
insist they are), then whether such love and attraction are the result of
biology, psychology, socialization, or choice doesn’t matter. Good is good no
matter “why” it exists.
The reason that same-gender relationships can't be compared to heinous
acts such as pedophilia, bestiality, incest, rape, and MURDER is that none of
those things are about mutuality. All of those activities have a victim. People
being attracted to each other, sharing time and intimacy together, and even
loving each other are mutual, victimless, life-enhancing experiences. Two
people choosing to share intimacy and perhaps a life together cannot by any reasonable
person be compared to exploiting, assaulting or murdering someone!
"Moral" arguments against violence or abuse of power make
sense. "Moral" arguments against consensual adult relationships are
just bigotry posing as morality.
People are entitled to their prejudices I suppose, and I guess they are
even entitled to pretend their prejudices are ordained by a supreme power (how
convenient when one’s deity hates one’s enemies as well!), but let’s not
confuse fear and hatred of the other, even when such fear and hatred are
wrapped in religious language, as morality.
Justice Scalia’s anti-gay rhetoric (which, ironically, is anything but
just) may appeal to homophobes and religious zealots, but it is increasingly
out of the mainstream of 21st century thought. The day will come when even
powerful people like Justice Scalia will not be able to deny or delay justice
and equality for all people. As the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The
moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” If we want to
make moral arguments, we will talk about tolerance rather than demonizing
others, inclusion rather than marginalizing others, and instead of vilifying
people for their consensual adult relationships, we will demand “liberty and
justice for ALL.”
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