9. GAY AND LESBIAN OPPRESSION
We demand complete liberty to give ourselves to those who
please us, and absolute liberty to refuse ourselves to those who
displease us.
Emile Armand, French Anarchist, on free
relationships.'
1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1. Gays and lesbians have long been subject to discrimination and
prejudice in South Africa and other countries. Personal freedom in
the area of sexual preference (as in all other areas of life) is
tightly controlled under capitalism and the State, with laws in
almost all countries defining what forms of adult sex are and are not
acceptable.
2. We believe that all consenting adults should have the right to
engage in the sexual practices and relationships that make them
happy, and we therefore oppose the oppression of gays and lesbians.
3. We do not accept the argument that gay and lesbian activity is
unnatural, because such behaviour has always existed in all
societies. This includes Africa, contrary to the claims of bourgeois
nationalists <1> .
4. The gay rights clauses in the new constitution of South Africa
represent an important victory for all people. They were won through
struggle, and must be defended in the same way. Such legislative
reforms, while important, are not enough. For example, the laws will
still be applied by the same bigoted police and judges who
implemented the old anti-gay laws. Moreover, there is a gap between
paper rights and the reality on the ground. In general, the broad
structures of gay and lesbian oppression remain in place in practice.
The forces which gave rise to this oppression (see below) are very
much alive and kicking.
2. THE ROOTS OF GAY AND LESBIAN OPPRESSION
5. The oppression of gays and lesbians , just like the oppression
of women, is rooted in the nature of capitalist society and the ideas
it promotes.
5.1. Capitalism relies heavily on the heterosexual family which
provides care for the workers, the sick, the elderly and the next
generation of workers. The hostility towards gays and lesbians stems
from the challenge that their sexuality poses to the idea that this
is the only possible form of family. Clearly, it undermines the idea
that sex is only for reproduction. Homosexuals are condemned as
unnatural because their sexual activity cannot produce children.
5.2. Promoting hatred of gays and lesbians (homophobia) is also a
very effective way of dividing and ruling the workers and the poor.
3. STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES
6. This analysis of the roots of gay and lesbian oppression has a
number of important implications for strategy and tactics in the
fight against gay and lesbian oppression.
6.1. Some gays and lesbians see the solution to their oppression
in separatism and lifestyle politics. We do not see these as real
solutions as these people are trying to drop out rather than struggle
to change the society in which they live. The fight for gay and
lesbian liberation needs to be taken up by all progressive forces and
definitely should not be seen as "their struggle" only.
6.2. Given the roots of gay and lesbian oppression in the class
system, capitalism and the State we do not think that the way to
defeat gay and lesbian oppression is by promoting gay "business
power" or by uniting all classes of the "gay community". The presence
of capitalists in the gay movement is a serious problem, not part of
the solution. The gay bourgeoisie objectively defends capitalism and
the State and cannot thus consistently fight lesbian and gay
oppression. Instead, it tends to try to divert the struggle into safe
channels like sponsoring glossy magazines, trying to make gay pride
marches into harmless carnivals and advertising events etc.
6.3. Instead, we think that the fight must be linked to the class
struggle against capitalism and the State, and we think that all
progressive forces should support gays' and lesbians' right to
equality.
6.4. United class- struggle is the only way to finally defeat gay
and lesbian oppression racism for once and for all. There is no
substitute for a programme of "boring within" and "anarchising" the
trade unions . SEE POSITION PAPER ON SEPARATE ORGANISATIONS.
6.5. Non- homosexual people do not benefit from gay and lesbian
oppression, as it seriously divides and weakens the working-class in
its struggles for a better, freer life, resulting in worse conditions
all round.
4. IMMEDIATE DEMANDS
7. However, although we believe that true liberation for gays and
lesbians will only come about with the abolition of capitalism and
the State, and the creation of a society that gives everyone real
control over their lives, we do not put off the fight for freedom
until the future. Gays and lesbians are entitled to full support in
their struggle for equality.
7.1. In immediate terms, we must raise the issue of fighting
against discrimination on the job, in our trade unions. An end to
harassment must be demanded. Stereotyping and anti-gay attitudes must
be challenged everywhere.
7.2. We support physical self-defence by lesbians and gays against
gay bashers and the police where necessary.
7.3. We reject the right of the State to dictate the sexual
choices of consenting adults.
7.4. We support progressive initiatives of the gay movement such
as Gay Pride marches, the scrapping of anti-gays laws and
anti-discrimination campaigns. We also think that links must be built
with other working class campaigns.
7.5. The right of gay parents to keep their children must be
supported.
NOTES
<1> This is documented for Africa. See, for example, B.D.
Adam, (1986), "Age, Structure And Sexuality: Reflections On The
Anthropological Evidence On Homosexual Behaviour", in E. Blackwood
(ed.)., Anthropology and Homosexual Behaviour. Haworth. NY. London;
E. Blackwood, "Breaking the Mirror: the Construction of Lesbianism
and Anthropological Evidence on Homosexuality", in E. Blackwood
(ed.)., Anthropology and Homosexual Behaviour. Haworth. NY. London ;
M.J. Herskowitz, (1967), Dahomey: an Ancient West African Kingdom. 2
vols. Evanston. Northwestern University Press; S.F. Nadel, (1942),
Black Byzantium: the Kingdom of the Nupe in Nigeria. Oxford. London;
E. Pritchard, (1971), The Azande. Oxford. Clarendon; E. Pritchard,
(1970), "Sexual Inversion Amongst the Azande", American
Anthropologist, no. 72; M. Wilson, (1963), Good Company: the
Structure of Nyakusa Age Villages. Oxford. London.
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