In today’s world, equal right abuse remains a serious problem

Through the ages we have learned that all citizens around the globe experience horrific consequences as a result of unfair dominance and misguided leadership.

It has been clearly recorded that not all inhabitants suffer unimaginable attacks and murders because of their places in minority situations. Africans were shipped to foreign nations and sold into slavery, enduring hardships difficult to imagine. The stories are endless.

The history of our indigenous people, whose lands were brutally taken by European settlers, who were conquered and diminished to second-class citizens in their own domain, is well-documented. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals were harassed and otherwise endured treatment that was considered normal behaviour over the years. Then, transgender and other gender identities came under fire and that continues to this day.

Those who had nothing but their name were and are ridiculed, in endless poverty, yes, even in a nation such as Canada, supposedly one of the richest countries in the world. When, where, and how will it end? Is there light at the end of this proverbial tunnel?

Equal rights have been ignored through time and the problem will not be easily disposed of, if ever. World leaders are determined to rule with iron fists and archaic attitudes. We do not have to search far to learn of presentday ignorance, especially in the Far East, Africa, Asian nations and other tucked away countries, such as Uganda and many others. In Chechnya, recent round-ups of gay men resulted in murders, all under the auspices of leaders like Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and his gang of thugs.

We may also glance to our south where want-to-be dictator President Donald Trump attempts to make rules to suit his fundamental belief that being discriminatory is just fine and should be promoted.

Even as we work toward equal rights and treatment for all, the end result is far into the future. We continue our quest and we educate, raise awareness that we are all citizens of this world, respect diversity and in so doing we will, at some point, experience some movement in a positive outcome.

Canada is so fortunate to have a leader who works at commitments to make improvements. His support toward the LGBTQ2 community has been exemplary and a first world-wide. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and his special adviser, Randy Boissonnault, has accomplished so much with the apology to the LGBTQ2 community.

Trudeau has marched in Pride parades, raised the Pride flag, the LGBTQ2 symbol, on Parliament Hill and promotes this effort around the globe.

We do make progress and we constantly attempt to fill the gap that separates society, regardless of background. This is 2018, and perhaps we will experience a downslide in human behaviour, or witness some sort of progress that rids us of inequality. It is a daunting task that will take years, and even centuries to realize.

We will not know, but we cannot give in to the social unrest that has been the order of the day throughout history. The positivity we are looking for is in our grasp, but not in the immediate future. At times, we get frustrated as the news items contain daily messages of more hate toward those who are the minority. It is the responsibility of all of us to promote equality. After all, it is a human right to be equal.

Comments and information: lgbtconnectionsgv@gmail.com.

Gerard Veldhoven is a longtime activist for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. His column appears Wednesdays in The News.