Dear Editor,
With reference to Mr Ramkarran’s comments on the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the Police Force’s apparent refusal to recruit practitioners (or victims) (‘It would enhance the human rights of the region…‘ SN, Oct 28), the question that arises is whether the police could actively invite into their ranks practitioners of behaviour still considered criminal by the law and risible or offensive by the public at large.
While governments could and should take the initiative in engineering social change, the consequences of a simple discrimination are to be considered. Here in France, in a day or two there will be parliamentary discussion on permitting gay marriage, and then parenthood. As it used to be said “If the white man can do it, then who is we?“ Our cultural programme has got to go beyond this mimetism. On this point, I submit that Mr Ramkarran is mistaken.
Yours faithfully,
Abu Bakr
