Modern Bigotry: Discrimination Under the Guise of God
By: Arushi Rajesh
Tags: Religion, Discrimination, Belief, God, Bigotry

“I can’t tell them”, I would hear my poor friend cry as she broke down in the early hours of the morning, putting on a brave face to stand against her parents who were firmly rooted in their orthodox beliefs.

“They’re extremely traditional.”

These were the words of my two best friends, who shuddered at the idea of telling their parents that they were not heterosexual. As a teenager, struggling with my identity isn’t exactly a new concept to me, but we’ve come to such a point of political hyperawareness in the world, where we feel the need to shift the blame of our faux pas on someone else to avoid being ridiculed. The “someone”, I am referring to, in this context is none other than God.

The concept of a higher spiritual power has been around for quite a while now. However, the biggest misconception is this idea was started by organized groups or religions. Supernatural beliefs from bands and tribes arose to explain natural phenomena that were alien to mankind, like earthquakes or diseases. Organized religion came around during the Neolithic revolution, which was about 11,000 years ago and the states that were born out of it (like Ancient Greece and Mesopotamia) were ruled by chieftains who played dual roles of central authority and divine power (which can be further proof of how politics and religions were never mutually exclusive). What correlation does this have to my point? Well, the origins of certain prejudices never really had a concrete justification, and revulsion towards minority communities have always come from a place of ignorance and gullibility.

In addition to this, many solutions to “fix” people have also come up. The practice of therapy being exploited for bigotry is perhaps the most alarming of all. Conversion therapy is an example of this. Techniques like psychotherapy or even hormone and steroid therapy are used to prove a point which is merely a groundless, unjustifiable belief. In the US alone, there are 29 states where conversion therapy is still legal. That’s right. The self-proclaimed “land of the free” actually restricts more freedom than you think. It’s ironic that the countries we think are progressive are often lacking in areas we thought they would excel in. Granted, they have made much more progress than most countries; the fight for banning conversion therapy still persists. This idea that we ought to “fix” people, simply because they do not fit into the heteronormative standards that society has forced them to conform to is simply the most archaic mindset. A mindset that can very easily be disproved by a single statement: it’s really none of your business. The way one chooses to identify or express themselves has no consequence on your life whatsoever; however, not acknowledging them has a graver effect on their life. It’s important for straight, cis people, and people of the majority, to realize that an individual “defying your beliefs” is simply not comparable to the never-ending oppression they face on a daily basis. Nothing is being solved, it only perpetuates an idea that lacks basic empathy and cognition.

Art by Anindita Doshi (https://www.instagram.com/aninditadoshi/)

The effects of the “solutions” have received much flack, not just for the fallacious arguments they provide, but also for the preposterous consequences it has on one’s mental health. Concepts like “conversion camps” which essentially brainwash the youth; force themselves to conform to the heteronormative standards have instigated a steep rise in various psychological disorders among the LGBTQ+ youth, namely depression. In a survey conducted by Ozanne Foundation, nearly 70% of the people who underwent conversion therapy were suicidal; nearly 60% experienced depression and anxiety for which they required medication; 24% self-harmed and 40% struggled with eating disorders. These statistics alone are adequate to debunk the entire myth of sexuality and gender identity ‘being a choice’. Many countries still retain the death penalty for the LGBTQ+ community and it is somehow justified in the name of “culture and God.” Recently, India’s center told the Delhi High Court that same-sex marriage was not permissible as it was “not recognized by our society and culture”; leaving all of us pondering over what “culture” they were even referring to.

Now, let me be clear. I am not condemning religious people, but if the reason religion exists is to help give people perspective in life and to create life-long principles, shouldn’t these be universally accessible and accommodate everyone? In my humble opinion, pretending to stand on a moral high ground, while possessing beliefs that hurt innocent people, is hypocritical and reveals the façade many people put up to justify their immorality. It is possible to maintain values while also utilizing rationality to analyze issues that involve the fundamental rights of human beings.

In a world that is constantly changing, it is a moral obligation to educate yourself on the politically correct terms and also be willing to learn from your mistakes. Letting your religious principles dictate your opinion on topics as rudimentary as human rights is irrational and moreover, inhumane. As an atheist, I don’t exactly have the credentials to advise people on the subject of spirituality and morality; the only wisdom I can provide you with — is urge you to use your present resources and privilege to learn more. I will leave you with a Harlon Ellison quote that I think sums up my point entirely: