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Good day

We at WhyCantWeGetMarried.com have been very busy of late, writing applications, utilising the efforts of volunteers, collaborating and creating. We want to thank you ALL for your support, even if that support is only in joining our online groups!

We value each and every contribution to our project and thank you heartily for your encouragement!

In this update we have some great news to report, as usual see below the full stories.

1. Tell the Government Your Views!
2. Promoting Inter-racial Understanding:
3. Decriminalising Homosexuality:
4. West Africa Chapter Opens!
5. Expressions of interest for international chapters.
6. Article: ‘Cultural "Rights" vs Human Rights’

Thank you again.
Kristiana
Info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com
WhyCantWeGetMarried.com

1. Tell the Government Your Views!
In Australia you have a wonderful opportunity to share your views about human rights with the National Human Rights Consultation Committee! You can make a submission online by 29 May, 2009.

We at WhyCantWeGetMarried.com would encourage you to include in your submission why you think discrimination is unacceptable, along with any personal stories of how you have experienced discrimination, especially based on your race, religion or sexuality.

2. Promoting Inter-racial Understanding:
To promote understanding and increased human relations, we thought we would share two really wonderful sites that help promote understanding of Indigenous Australian culture. Although specifically about the indigenous peoples of Australia and neighbouring Islands, the information might be useful internationally. Try looking up shareourpride.org.au or reconciliation.org.au

If you know of any other informative websites that might promote inter-racial understanding, please let us know by emailing info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com


3. Decriminalising Homosexuality:
In December last year the United Nations General Assembly created a statement calling for the worldwide decriminalisation of homosexuality. On 18/03/09, United States President Barack Obama formally endorsed the statement to join the other 66 UN member states who have also declared their support.

4. West Africa Chapter Opens!
Our West Africa Chapter has been running for a few months out of Sierra Leone. Their actions and updates can be viewed at their website.

Many, many thanks to George for his tireless efforts on this project. If you want to help the West Africa Chapter by making in-kind donations (such as a desperately needed computer) or want to help out in some other way. Please write to us at info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com

5. Expressions of interest for international chapters.
Thank you very much for the expressions of interest for international chapters for WhyCantWeGetMarried.com!

We have received interest from Venezuela, Mexico, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia and Singapore.

If you are interested in starting up a chapter of whycantwegetmarried.com in your area, please get in contact by emailing info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com .

6 Article: ‘Cultural "Rights" vs Human Rights’
The following is an article I have written that was inspired by another article I wrote in collaboration with a delegate called Nick Henderson, at the World Youth Congress last year.

Cultural "Rights" vs Human Rights

What makes one culture more valuable than anyone’s basic human rights? This is a question that has come out of discussion with individuals from different countries, religions and beliefs. It is a question that every one of us, as human beings, and leaders of our generation need to ask ourselves; what makes one culture more valuable than our basic human rights?

There are many incidents that have lead me to ask this question, but here are just two:

At a conference at attended last year I heard a delegate promoting the action of "curative rape" as an appropriate treatment for lesbian women. Until hearing this individual mention it, I had never been exposed to the term. "Curative rape" is when a man or group of men rape a woman or girl to "cure" her of her identified or suspected homosexuality. While science can verify that this ‘treatment’ is based entirely on myth, that rape is a gross violation of basic human rights, and that homosexuality is not a choice for many people (and even if it was a choice), what makes one culture more valuable that anyone's basic human rights?

Similar devastating belief systems should not only be examined in relation to perceptions of sexuality, nor to a single incident, but should be examined as part of a much broader discussion.

Consider for instance, pop culture and pop music. To some people their national music is a symbol of pride, but to others, it is a soundtrack to genocide. What, for example, makes insensitive music appropriate to be played at a communal café or leadership forum? The question again is, what makes one culture more valuable than anyone's basic human rights? This is not just a hypothetical situation but a legitimate question into a very real breach of each person's right to safety.

This article is designed to be an awareness raiser; to encourage each of us to recognise that we have a contribution to make to this world and a responsibility to ourselves and each other to act responsibly, with integrity, and equitably. Joining this project is a great step in the right direction. However, it is easy to just talk about human rights when you are surrounded by like-minds; real human rights are about integrating your thoughts and your actions even against adversity, for the benefit of humanity.

We at WhyCantWeGetMarried.com have made a commitment to respect cultural difference, accept everyone's right to choose their religion, and value everyone's right to an opinion. What we don't respect, accept or value is that a single belief system can ever be more important than anyone's fundamental human rights, rights that are designed to protect and respect every single one of us.

To see your rights, visit the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights site.