Which way is up?

By Garth A. Rattray

In spite of the very best efforts of some religious organisations and the traditionalists in societies, from all indications the wheels of change are slowly and inexorably turning in favour of abandoning all our mores and beliefs governing human sexuality.

The wide range of human sexuality is certainly nothing new. However, some societies worldwide have become permissive (some say, 'modern') enough to allow people to openly declare their sexual orientation. It covers the heterosexual (who is absolutely bewildered and totally intolerant of any sexual alternative), the heterosexual (who accepts the 'to each his own' principle), the practising heterosexual (who rails against homosexuality because deep inside there exists sexual conflict and fear of his or her own true sexuality), the bisexual (who has no gender preference), and the homosexual (who has same-sex preference).

It is not my intention at this time to argue whether homosexuality is part of some people's programming or if it is acquired from life experiences and influences. Nor am I now going to argue whether it is good or bad, wrong or right, positive or negative, sinful or not.

However, I find myself musing about the everyday, as-yet-unexplored ramifications of any society wherein sexual preferences are laid bare and/or same-sex marriages are legal.

I must, however, admit that I think that people who claim that they underwent 'sex-change operations' are misrepresenting themselves. No one can change their sex (gender); they can only change their outward sexual appearance. Some transsexuals went so far as to try to change their designated gender on their birth certificates!

Unconstitutional

Now that 9th United States Circuit Court of Appeals in California recently ruled that Proposition 8 (and, therefore, part of the Defence of Marriage Act) is unconstitutional - because it denies same-sex couples the same legal and tax rights/benefits as opposite-sex couples, same-sex marriages are permissible there (at least for now). However, 37 other states do not allow same sex marriages.

I can't help but wonder about how we should label individuals in same-sex 'marriages'. Who is the mister and who is the mistress? Can there be two misters or two mistresses? Does the symbol for 'male' (the symbol for the Roman god, Mars - a circle with an arrow pointing upwards and to the right) and for 'female' (the symbol for the Roman goddess Venus - a circle with a cross pointing directly downwards) still have relevance in such a union? Already there is a new symbol (incorporating the two) for 'bisexual'. Will there be another new representation?

Jamaica is not as homophobic as many believe. There have been (academic, cultural and political) icons who were either known or believed to be homosexuals yet they were treated respectfully and afforded national recognition and honours. Jamaicans seem to take exception to the in-your-face exhibitionistic attitude of some homosexuals. Whenever some push their alternative lifestyle agenda, it is often met with righteous indignation and resistance.

Although some see the prevalence of homosexuality as the harbinger of biblical doom, the fact is that it has always been with us (covertly) and will definitely become more openly expressed over time. On the representational circle of human sexuality, I wonder which way is up or if indeed, we should still be looking at sexuality in terms of up and down, or good and bad, or wrong and right.

If, according to the popular book by John Gray, PhD, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, where are homosexuals and bisexuals from? Our society needs to decide on a rational and calm (sensible and tolerant) approach to these new questions because, the times, they are a-changin'.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.