One Perspective

For centuries, European countries have existed as unique, individual entities.  Each country had prejudice against the others, during times of war and peace alike.  Each country had prejudices against common minorities as well. 

In the twenty-first century, despite the financial problems caused by Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Spain, and Italy, the western nations of the European Union seem to function like a close-knit team.  They have committed to some loft goals in terms of human rights, particularly in the area of LGBT individuals.  The Council of Europe has recognized that LGBT people contribute to national culture, and that by 2020 all cultural heritage institutions in the European Union will have LGBT resources.  The European Union has gone so far as to say that "homophobia will not be tolerated in the EU", and it is beginning to enforce anti-discrimination laws in its new central and eastern European member states.  Prominent European sports figures have even made pro-LGBT statements on television, with the hope of taming any homophobic sentiments in their rowdy fans.

At the same time, in everyday conversations, ordinary EU citizens make it plain on who does not belong.  They are fast to say that the Muslims do not support gay pride, which quickly translates to Muslims are the problem in the EU, even though .  They are also chilly toward any mention of Serbians, Russians, and Ukrainians.  "The Ukraine will never be a part of the EU," a man from Ireland told me, even though my question to him was how to help two gay Ukrainian men find funding for their magazine, the only gay magazine in the Ukraine.  The privileged educated elite also have no sense of charity or reaching out to the working class and poor. There is no sense of LGBT brotherhood/sisterhood that transcends class or educational status.  It is a very different movement than in the United States.

I have returned from two weeks in Amsterdam, which is one of the most multicultural, international cities in Europe.  During that time I have spoken with native Amsterdammers, as well as people from other EU countries during an international conference for LGBT librarians, archivists, and museum curators.  I was shocked to find that their concept of support for LGBT rights did not extend past their borders.  In an increasingly wired world, where only laws prohibit us from making all LGBT books available digitally for everyone around the world, this attitude must change.  Social justice is a global movement, not limited to a privileged few.   

The motto of the European Union is "United in Diversity".  But how is it so when EU countries continue to ban headscarves, veils, and other religious clothing and jewelry, when EU countries ban kosher and halal slaughter, and when EU countries continue to evict and forcibly relocate their Roma populations?  If homophobia has no place in the EU, then what about all of the other phobias? 

In the United States, we have our problems.  We are far from a perfect country, and perhaps we are a little less educated than the European Union.  But we admit our faults.  We know too well our history and present state of racism, religious discrimination, and homophobia/transphobia.  We make fewer grand national statements, but make greater, more permanent improvements in civil rights through national discussion as well as legislation.  We know that there will always be those who will not agree...and we know that, as long as they harm no one, we are OK if they do not agree. 

Is Circumcision a Human Rights Violation?

In the court of Cologne, Germany, judges had called circumcision a "criminal act", equating it with bodily harm.  Jewish and Muslim groups around the world have expressed deep concern over the ruling.  If all of Germany declares circumcision a criminal act, people would either have to travel abroad for the ritual procedure, or emigrate from Germany entirely.

While many studies show that there are multiple health benefits to circumcision,  these benefits are often debated.  Jewish and Muslim groups, as well as secular ones, also have conflicting views on circumcision.

Male circumcision is addressed in the Old Testament.  God commanded that Abraham, all of the men of his tribe, and all descendants should cut their foreskins to show their loyalty to God and also to identify themselves as God's Chosen People.  It is the responsibility of the father to circumcise his son when he is eight days old.  The family hires a mohel, or a ritual circumciser, to perform this duty during a celebration.  The mohel receives special training in this art.  Secular Jews will take their baby boys to a hospital for a surgical procedure.  To date, there has been no evidence that this procedure harms Jewish males or their sexual capabilities, and no reports of Jewish males suffering injury or death from the procedure. 

Male circumcision is not addressed in the Koran, but has become regular practice for Muslims around the world.  Legend has it, however, that Mohammed said that circumcision is traditional for men and "meritorious" for women...but never said that Allah requires it.  Depending on their cultural traditions, male Muslims are circumcised at different ages.  Grown men who convert to Islam may be expected to have themselves circumcised.

Unlike male circumcision, female circumcision (also known as "female genital mutilation" or FGM) has no health benefits, and has been proven to cause harm to women later in life.  It is an extremely painful procedure that often renders a woman unable to enjoy sexual intercourse, and can lead to various forms of cancer.  Some families who come from countries that practice FGM seek asylum in non-FGM practicing countries, to protect their daughters from this damaging practice.  Female circumcision is against the law in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Sweden, as well as in 15 African countries...but Germany has yet to outlaw this practice.

If the German circumcision ruling does something to address FGM, that would be one giant leap for womankind.