Friday, June 18, 2010

Do We Face the Death Penalty?

What does the state execution of a death row inmate have to do with the Moho world? Not that much, I suppose, unless you take into account that in some countries, in this varied world we live in, we could be condemned to die for the "sin" of loving someone of the "wrong" gender. 93 nations in the world still legally punish homosexuality. In 7 of these - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Nigeria, Mauritania - gays and lesbians are punished with the death penalty. But we're safe here in the USA, right? One Internet commenter reminds us, "being gay is a death penalty in the United States if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time." But who needs the death penalty when your religion makes you so conflicted that you choose suicide as the best option?