Usually, dumb ideas from the UK or the eurozone strike on the east coast of the US, and before you know it, migrate themselves to California. The infection is concreted in state and federal legislatures and all of America suffers.
Thankfully, the criminalizing of speech missed the mainstream of the mainland and only the civil liability of “hate speech” whiffed its way across the Atlantic and landed a bit south.
But make no mistake, it is here.
Homophobic epithets are so pervasive across the globe that most heterosexual people are sadly unaware of the psychological and physical toil they have on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. Too often and cavalierly these epithets go either unchecked or unchallenged as hate speech.
Mexico, however, has stepped forward to define and reduce homophobic hate speech. Two commonly used words—â€punal†and “maricones†are the main targets. Both words closely translate as “faggot.â€
On March 6, in a vote of 3-2, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that these two homophobic hateful slurs are not legally protected in the country’s constitution as freedom of speech. The Supreme Court further ruled that any citizen offended by these words now could seek redress by suing for moral damages.
“Even though they are deeply rooted expressions in Mexican society, the fact is that the practices of the majority of society can’t validate the violations of basic right,†the Court wrote in support of its ruling.
Unfortunately, Mexico has an I.V. in California’s arm and this will be flowing in shortly.
what does queer mean?