COMMENT Many people say that they hope that one day there will be no more racism, sexism or heterosexism, and that everyone will be treated with equal respect. It is a noble vision and a much applauded aspiration. Many people, however, do not do anything to fight against racism, sexism, or heterosexism, or to promote the change that might make this noble vision a reality.

The future is not something waiting out there to happen, it is made. Decisions must be made, actions must be taken, the future is created! If we do nothing, then the future will be the same as the present. In other words, if we really believe in social justice and human rights, we need to do something.

I have heard many Chinese Malaysians say that Malaysia is a racist country and that they would like to move to the United States. They are always puzzled when I tell them I want to come back when I finish my studies there. I tell them that Malaysia is no more racist, or perhaps far less racist that the United States was fifty years ago, because at least miscegenation is not illegal in Malaysia.

The Supreme Court of the United states only overturned its anti-miscegenation laws in 1967! In others words, interracial marriage was illegal in the United States fifty years ago. Not only did the United States not recognise marriages between blacks and whites, in some states it was even a crime to marry someone who was not in your racial group.

Perhaps the most famous interracial couple was Mildred Jeter, a black woman, and her white husband, Richard Loving, because their case, Loving v Virginia finally led the Supreme Court to outlaw the national anti-miscegenation laws.

Jeter and Loving were married in Washington DC in 1958. They were arrested in their bedroom in their home state Virginia. The state prosecuted them and the judge told them either to leave the state for 25 years, or to spend one year in prison. They chose the former and began to pursue litigation that led to the landmark decision of Loving v Virginia.

‘Fears and prejudices have given way’

In 2007, a year before Mildred Jeter passed away, on the fortieth anniversary of the landmark 1967 decision, she published a heartfelt and moving press release:

“My generation was bitterly divided over something that should have been so clear and right. The majority believed... that it was God’s plan to keep people apart, and that government should discriminate against people in love...

“The older generation’s fears and prejudices have given way... not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom...”

Unfortunately, many Americans today still think that homosexuality is morally wrong, just as people in the past thought that Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving had loved the “wrong kind of person.” But at least many, if not all, have realised how ridiculous it is to think that interracial marriage is wrong.

homosexuality and lesbians symbols 240105 Things have changed, not because they changed voluntarily or automatically, but because people have fought for change. I always tell my friends not to give up, and not to abandon their Malaysian citizenship simply because they are angry with the government or even with the people. Things can be better, if we are willing to work together.

Heterosexism is just like racism, it is profoundly at odds with the noble idea of equality embraced by a modern and humane society. Citizens in a modern and humane society are treated with respect and dignity.

Even though we do not think well of someone’s taste level or preferences, one should be given the space to make his or her intimate personal choices, so long as they do not violate other people’s rights in society, let alone we do not choose our sexual orientations.

If one truly believes in liberalism and human rights, one should know that the interests of the majority should not and cannot trump the interests of the minority or the individual, except when they bring harm to others. As John Stuart Mill asserts, only the imminent prospect of harm to others licences restrictive laws. In a secular state, one should not merely appeal to one’s religious texts to argue whether a behavior is immoral so as to impose one’s beliefs on others.

Sexuality has become a heated topic in the 21st century. The issue of homosexuality has threatened to divide many societies just as slavery did in the United States 150 years ago.

Many Christians and churches in the United States appealed to the Bible to justify slavery and to oppose the abolition of slavery. Their argument was simple, namely “that slavery is condoned in the Bible.” Things have changed tremendously since many slaves fought back, and many good people joined in the movement to abolish slavery.

The future is not something waiting to happen, it is created!

REV O YOUNG is an ordained Christian minister at MCC New York. He holds two masters degrees in both sociology and theology. Currently he lives in New York city and teaches sociology at St Peter’s College. He has published 20 books on sociology, theology and sexuality. He is also a columnist for Sin Chew Daily . He is currently finishing his doctoral degrees in sociology and theology.