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By:
John Harry Ndeta | |||||||||
| Posted:
Sep,29-2021 11:06:46
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Voters in Switzerland recently decided to legalize same-sex marriages, making the country one of the last in Western Europe to do so. Italy; now stands alone in Europe as an ivory tower; where same sex marriage remains outlawed.The legislation change in Switzerland was accepted by 64% of the voters and the result has been hailed as a milestone for the Lesbians, Gay, Bisexuals, Transgender, and Queer (L.G.B.T.Q.) community in the alpine nation. Switzerland is the world’s 30th country to adopt same-sex marriages, and one of the last remaining western European nations to do so. The Netherlands was the first in 2001. This seems to be in concurrence with the United States of America standpoint on this matter as evidenced during the Barack Obama regime in 2015 when the Supreme Court ruling legalized same sex marriage in all the 50 States. The push for the LGBTQ liberties in Africa seems to tilting the balance with over 22 out of the 54 African states having legalized homosexuality. In 2006, South Africa became the first and remains the only African country to legalize same-sex marriage, with a constitution. More recently, Angola, Seychelles, Mozambique, Lesotho and Botswana have all passed laws that allow same sex marriage to happen on their soil. Kenya and Uganda in East Africa which are heavily Christian in religious perspectives have held that same sex marriage remains outlawed as they go against the biblical worldview on marriage. The situation is even worse for the gays and lesbians in Islamic countries in the North of Africa where those involved in same sex acts are subjected to death penalty in Mauritania, Nigeria (in states where sharia law is applied), Somalia, and South Sudan. In addition to opening up the option of marriage to all couples, an amendment to Switzerland’s marriage law that was put to voters in a referendum, and approved, grants lesbian couples access to sperm banks and allows same-sex couples to adopt children. Same-sex couples in Switzerland will now be able to have a civil wedding and will be granted largely the same institutional and legal rights as heterosexual couples. This includes simplified naturalization for foreign partners, as well as access to fertility treatments and the ability to adopt children making it a safe haven for those who would want explore this lifestyle. However, some challenges remain for the homosexuals not just in Switzerland but globally. Conversion therapy has been cited as a major challenge in Switzerland. Conversion therapy aka reparative therapy; is a range of practices aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. These practices which are heavily rooted in traditional, even religious practices include prayer, fasting, exorcisms, physical violence and even corrective rape (illegal in many countries). Globally, many if not all religions maintain a conservative view of marriage. In Christianity which is the leading world religion with over 31% of the world’s population, marriage is between man and woman and any other perspectives especially those fronted by the LGBTQ are frowned upon as sin. The same view is held by Islam 25%, Hinduism- 15% Budhism-6% and folk religion- 5% which is forcing regions globally to rethink and rewrite their scripts on this matter. What is surprising in religious classification globally is the growing number of a group called irreligious or atheist who now stand at over 15% of the world population. Recent research findings from Pew Research indicates that the atheists favor same sex marriages by close to 100%. Less than 4% of the atheist sampled opposed the same sex marriages- a finding that shows a correlation between secularism and LGBTQ agenda that is being fanned across the globe. It is evident that the more we denounce faith in God, the more we will abandon what the holy books say about this matter and embrace our own desires, cravings and gratifications. Its little wonder that the seat of the largest church in the world- Italy; remains the only one standing in Europe due to the Catholic church. harryndeta@gmail.com | |||||||||
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Source:
Ajabu Africa
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