There has been an increased focus on public order and its impact on society. Public order refers to the collective behavior of people that maintains peaceful coexistence and protects individuals from harm. It is often used as a tool to enforce societal norms and values, particularly when it comes to sexuality and gender roles. Queer rights refer to the basic human rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, including freedom from discrimination, violence, and oppression.
Political narratives about public order have been used as tools to suppress queer rights, resulting in various forms of discrimination and marginalization against queer individuals. This essay will explore how political narratives about public order serve as tools to suppress queer rights.
Political Narratives About Public Order
One way in which political narratives about public order are used to suppress queer rights is through the creation of laws and policies that prohibit certain behaviors deemed "unacceptable" or "immoral."
In Uganda, homosexuality is illegal, and those who engage in same-sex relationships can be sentenced to life imprisonment. Similarly, Nigeria's anti-homosexuality law criminalizes all forms of homosexual conduct with punishments ranging from ten years to death sentences. These laws are justified by appealing to public order, arguing that they are necessary to protect traditional cultural norms and moral values. In reality, these laws further stigmatize and exclude queer individuals, making it difficult for them to live openly and freely.
Public Order And Political Control
Another way in which political narratives about public order are used to suppress queer rights is through control over bodies and spaces. The police, military, and other state actors often use public order to justify their intervention in private matters such as sex and intimacy.
In Brazil, the police have raided gay clubs and arrested patrons for violating "public decency" laws, which criminalize sexual behavior in public places. In Russia, the government has passed a series of anti-LGBTQ+ laws that ban "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations," including in schools, media, and online platforms. This not only targets LGBTQ+ individuals but also limits freedom of expression and association, denying people the right to express themselves and organize politically.
Police Harassment Of Queer Individuals
Queer individuals also face harassment and violence at the hands of the police, which uses public order as an excuse to target marginalized communities. According to Amnesty International, police brutality against transgender individuals in Nigeria has been linked to public order concerns, leading to arrests, detention, and even torture. Similarly, in India, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code criminalizes homosexuality, resulting in discrimination, stigma, and violence against queer individuals. The law serves as a pretext for police officers to arrest, extort money from, or harass queer individuals under the guise of maintaining public order.
Public Order And Homophobic Violence
Political narratives about public order are used to condone and normalize homophobic violence.
In Uganda, homophobic mob justice is justified by appealing to public order concerns, with some citizens believing that gay people threaten national security. As a result, they have carried out vigilante attacks on suspected queer individuals, often resulting in death or serious injuries. In Brazil, anti-LGBTQ+ violence has increased since the implementation of the anti-gay law, with cases of physical assault, verbal abuse, and even murder reported. This trend has led to fear and anxiety among queer individuals who feel unsafe living openly in their own countries.
Political narratives about public order serve as tools to suppress queer rights, creating laws, policies, and practices that exclude, exclude, and endanger LGBTQ+ individuals. It is crucial to challenge these narratives and promote inclusive policies that respect the human rights of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Only then can we create truly free societies where everyone can live without fear of discrimination or violence.
How do political narratives about “public order” serve as tools to suppress queer rights?
Political narratives regarding public order are often used to justify the suppression of queer rights because they promote a homogenous understanding of society that excludes individuals who defy traditional gender roles. By portraying LGBTQ+ people as deviant and potentially dangerous, such narratives reinforce the idea that it is necessary to preserve social order through oppressive measures such as conversion therapy, marriage bans, and censorship.