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EL ESPECTADOR

The Paradox Of How Anti-Gay Prejudices Favor Lesbians

As a Colombian gay marriage debate illustrates, Western societies have historically despised male homosexuality more than lesbianism. Why is that?

Not the same?
Not the same?
Mauricio Rubio

-OpEd-

BOGOTA Nobody in Colombia paid much attention when a Colombian senator, exhorting the evils of gay marriage, revealed that he found gay men more offensive than lesbians. This uneven, "asymmetrical" homophobia — generally targeting men — is as common as it is ancient.

Pornography for men and erotic art of many periods and societies are filled with depictions of women caressing and kissing each other, while experimental sexology has declared that men are "spontaneously" excited by seeing two women together. Nineteenth century "hygienists" observed a relatively high incidence of bisexuality among female prostitutes, which apparently is welcome in the sex market among libertines and in male fantasies. To find the female version of this attraction for two men, you would have to seek out an independent film such as Bigas Luna's The Ages of Lulu (1990). Again, clashes between feminists and lesbians on one side and transvestites or transsexuals on the other tend to confirm this discrepancy in aversions.

[rebelmouse-image 27088670 alt="""" original_size="266x375" expand=1]

Still, polls on discrimination against sexual minorities in Europe show that reported attacks on lesbians are almost as frequent as those on gay men. Perhaps this equalizing trend suggests that LGBT activism, by publicly associating traditionally despised male homosexuality with the more tolerated lesbianism, has turned out to be detrimental to women.

Historical discrepancy

In the 19th century, many European cities actively persecuted cross-dressing. The crusade against the feminization of men preceded the trial of Oscar Wilde, whose problems began when he fell in love with Lord Alfred Douglas. Douglas's father, the Marquess of Queensberry, threatened them and sought to impose a boycott of one of Wilde's plays, which led Wilde to take him to court.

But as cross-examinations began to reveal the playwright's lifestyle, he had to withdraw his lawsuit and was soon facing prosecution himself. He was jailed pursuant to an 1885 law that punished sodomy and homosexual practices — the very ones most recently denounced by our conservative Sen. Roberto Gerlein.

In the same period, French courtesan Liane de Pougy attended to the needs of powerful men while having passionate affairs on the side with women.

French courtesan Liane de Pougy — Photo: Celithemis

Her lesbian adventures were reported in the press and seemed not to perturb the authorities or public opinion, or to damage her profession — on the contrary, her male lovers liked to fancy that their embrace would "rob Lesbos of a delectable captive." Magnates sought to seduce her with jewels, but she maintained her freedom to return to female lovers.

(L)GBT

One such lover was American writer Natalie Clifford Barney (1876-1972), dubbed the "Sappho of Washington." Invited to dinner at the White House, she reportedly could not "take her eyes off" the First Lady. When in Paris, Barney and de Pougy went to the theater to see actress Sarah Bernhardt, who was often seen with "a number of surprising ladies with short hair and clad in men's jackets and collars." The two women found the manly attire ridiculous, though even these apparently didn't bother the public, press or the police.

These "public" lesbians were activists in defense of their own rights, though it never occurred to them to gang up with gays being persecuted then in many places for their illicit activities. Two world wars, a drag queen riot, AIDS and the extravagant writings of female U.S. academics had to happen before a fragile coalition called LGBT emerged.

And frankly, so far it has been more beneficial to the Gs and Ts than the L crowd.

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Economy

Lex Tusk? How Poland’s Controversial "Russian Influence" Law Will Subvert Democracy

The new “lex Tusk” includes language about companies and their management. But is this likely to be a fair investigation into breaking sanctions on Russia, or a political witch-hunt in the business sphere?

Photo of President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda

Polish President Andrzej Duda

Piotr Miaczynski, Leszek Kostrzewski

-Analysis-

WARSAW — Poland’s new Commission for investigating Russian influence, which President Andrzej Duda signed into law on Monday, will be able to summon representatives of any company for inquiry. It has sparked a major controversy in Polish politics, as political opponents of the government warn that the Commission has been given near absolute power to investigate and punish any citizen, business or organization.

And opposition politicians are expected to be high on the list of would-be suspects, starting with Donald Tusk, who is challenging the ruling PiS government to return to the presidency next fall. For that reason, it has been sardonically dubbed: Lex Tusk.

University of Warsaw law professor Michal Romanowski notes that the interests of any firm can be considered favorable to Russia. “These are instruments which the likes of Putin and Orban would not be ashamed of," Romanowski said.

The law on the Commission for examining Russian influences has "atomic" prerogatives sewn into it. Nine members of the Commission with the rank of secretary of state will be able to summon virtually anyone, with the powers of severe punishment.

Under the new law, these Commissioners will become arbiters of nearly absolute power, and will be able to use the resources of nearly any organ of the state, including the secret services, in order to demand access to every available document. They will be able to prosecute people for acts which were not prohibited at the time they were committed.

Their prerogatives are broader than that of the President or the Prime Minister, wider than those of any court. And there is virtually no oversight over their actions.

Nobody can feel safe. This includes companies, their management, lawyers, journalists, and trade unionists.

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