What Would You Do?

What would you do? They get me every time!

I’ve seen countless versions of these WWYD videos, and yes I’ve cried at pretty much every one. But I’d never seen this one. Not only was I shocked at the way people reacted, but out of all of the ones I’ve seen, this one got me the most, and it was because of 3 fundamental lessons I learnt from this 7 minutes and 24 seconds that everyone needs to hear.

1. I was absolutely dumbfounded by the opening fact presented stating that 29 states in the United States have given restaurants and other businesses the right to refuse gay people service. HOW?! How is this even a possibility in this day and age?! How was this one day put to government and approved?

Now I'm aware that this video was created last year so I wanted to research and see if this was still the case. After hours of research, as very little is around about this legislation, I finally found it in written form. The main argument that would allow a business to refuse a homosexual service is that they have “the right of an individual or entity to deny services if providing those goods or services would be contrary to the individual's or entity owner's sincerely held religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs, or matters of conscience” (State of Washington, 2013, pp. 3). I find it hugely ironic that the rights of those with religious and strong philosophical matters or beliefs of consciousness are being well and truly looked after, but those with the beliefs of loving one of the same gender are totally ignored. And even more so, what is the difference to a person selling, let’s say a coffee, to a person of straight sexuality to that of homosexuality? How is the fact of their sexuality even relevant to their choice to buy that coffee? In my opinion this is plain and simply a main course of legislation gone mad with a side of hidden discrimination.

2. The unbelievable reaction of Donovan. His absolute compassion for these two strangers, to go above and beyond, was simply amazing. It was here that I found Ronner’s, (2005) interesting yet disturbing fairytale metaphor quite fitting.

In Robert Browning's The Pied Piper of Hamelin, the "strangest figure" absconds with the town's children. The Pied Piper has become a metaphor that fuels discrimination against gay and lesbians, which is based on the irrational belief that the gay male or lesbian will, by coaxing children toward their own sexual orientation, seal their doom.” (pp. 67)

The issue people have that 2 same sex people raising a child will mean that the child will become gay themselves is as fictional as the Pied Piper’s fairytale. It made me realise, even more so, how even more amazing Donovan’s reaction was.

However, should I be flawed by this type of reaction? If more people stood up for homosexuals, or anyone being discriminated against for that matter, this reaction would obviously become a lot more common. It would in turn still be amazingly beautiful which is obvious to the majority that have seen it, one of the videos comments showing this, “Donovan = my hero” (Liuable, 2012, pp. 1). But the rareness of it was the thing I realised I did not like. There should be more people like Donovan and I hope one day there will be.

3. How much this related to Francis & Le Roux’s, (2011) ideas of social justice. Their definition of what social justice actually is really made a connection to this video for me, “a process and goal that allow for the full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs” (pp. 301). Their definition made me realise even more so how wrong the ways in which homosexual parents are being treated. With this example I understood even more the monumental strength of the power shifts in society, and that everything in life in relation to social justice is not as plain and simple as this definition. But why not? It seems as though it is the most logical fact, all should have equal and fair opportunity for essential needs in life, then why is it that legislations and situations like this video still happen today? Have we learnt nothing from our past mistakes?

Francis, D., & Le Roux, A. (2011). Teaching for social justice education: the intersection between identity, critical    agency, and social justice education. South African Journal of Education, 31(3), pp. 299-311

Liuable, K [kristinliuable]. (2012, July 25), Gay Parents Bashed: What Would You Do?. [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ6UF-3rNDI  

Ronner, A. D. (2005). Homophobia and the law. American Psychological Association.

State of Washington, (2013), ‘SENATE BILL 5927’ pp. 3, Available from:   http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5927.pdf                           
[Accessed on 14^th of September, 2013]