Our Photographic Project To Raise Awareness About Brunei’s New Law Of Stoning Gay People To Death
We would like to dedicate this week to people who still fight for their basic rights across the world. This time, we have a gift of stones for the Sultan of Brunei and UK government for their response (read more in the article written by Dr. Marius Janciauskas below).
A massive thank you to everyone who supported this awareness project and especially to people who took part in it. Thanks, everyone! Let’s share this project to keep reminding ourselves how far we have come and how far we still need to go!
Article by Dr. Marius Janciauskas | Photography by Sane Seven.
More info: Facebook
‘We’ve found the one our soul loves. Because love is a human experience, not a political statement’ – Rikie Kelly & Daniel Cox
Some say that when you see a rock coming, it hurts less. This will be of no comfort to the people of Brunei, where Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has introduced the law allowing the punishment of gay couples with death by stoning.
In 2019, the world is still grappling with who should react to this and what should be an adequate response. Is it down to celebrities and actors like George Clooney to defend human rights internationally? Should we leave this hurdle to the charities? Or is it one of those cases where the world leaders symbolically condemn the leader of another country and we all move on to the next big story unfolding elsewhere?
‘We all have a right to live and love in the world across race religion and sexuality. True leaders show this by example. The world at this time is regressing in human rights this call for everyone to stand up and show support’ – Sean Paul Redding & John Lowe
The decision should not be difficult, confusing or deeply philosophical. If I instructed a group of friends and neighbors to stone to death people whose beliefs, looks or sexual preferences did not fit my worldview, the world would not ponder whether my political stance and economic worth outweigh the cost of human life.
If the leaders that represent us have nothing to say, or symbolic condemnation is the only response they can muster to avoid political or economic fallout, then we are all throwing stones at Brunei people to avoid standing in the way of the flying stones. After all, as Commonwealth countries, Brunei and the UK share the same values in human rights.
‘People fought four out rights many years ago so we do the same for the people of Brunei!’ – Jake Jervo & Charlie Oxley
Brunei is neither the first, nor the only, country to take away the rights of LGBTQ citizens, but this reversal of cultural evolution should be a big reminder to us that somebody once fought on our behalf for own rights to be who we are today. To some it was the fall of the Soviet Union, to others it was the end of slavery, the rights to vote or to love openly. Those rights should not be a privilege anywhere in the world.
It is said that river stones remain, while water flows away. But there is also a saying that a drop of water can hollow a stone. Let’s not be the water that flows away. Each of us is a small drop with the power to leave a mark in the stone. It doesn’t matter how big or small our individual response is; it counts as long as it triggers another drop in the sequence.
‘Be the best version of yourself – be YOURSELF!’ – Damian Kutryb & Artur Biernat
As for the current government’s failure to reassure its own LGBTQ population of over 3.5 million people that it still holds the values that they fought for only decades ago, we have created a gift for the Sultan that we hope the leaders of the two countries can exchange at the next official meeting.
Stones signify many significant moments in the history of cultural evolution, ranging from Stonehenge to the Rosetta Stone. We would like to offer the Sultan a gift of stones from gay couples and families in the UK, urging the Sultan to undo the oppressive law and use the stones to build a symbolic new foundation for a diverse and prosperous country that is loved and respected by everyone in the world for its strong values.
‘We live in an international system in which we are all interlinked. We can’t ignore the plight of LGBTQ+ people who are being persecuted in other countries and continue to fund the wealth of their oppressors. How much is a life worth?’ – Andrew Bullock & Christian Nielsen
If Brexit drafts have buried all official templates related to less pressing issues like human rights, the gift includes a basic letter template:
Dear Sultan,
A lot of great nations were built on love, respect, and compassion that freed people from fear and replaced it with creativity and innovation.
Equally, many nations have faded or continue to crumble under the rule of injustice and inequality because love always prevails in the end.
We urge you to undo the oppressive law against gay people and free the rights of all people to love and to be loved.
As a gift, we send you these stones to set a symbolic foundation for a new prosperous country that is a part of the amazing human civilization that we can all continue to build together.
Today we are all gay. We can find love for you in our hearts and we hope that you can find love for us in yours too.
Unknown
We have received legal advice not to send the gift as private citizens, in case it is perceived as a threat, despite our good intentions. But when we, the people, are too small to protect our fellow humans in hardship, it’s precisely why we need the governments to voice concerns, instead of actors and celebrities.
Unfortunately, we could not include a stone to represent all those who feel strongly about the issue, but I would like to think that we speak on behalf of everyone.
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Share on FacebookIt astounds me that people think forcing their norms and beliefs on others is acceptable. I am old 60+ and my gosh I would think that by now we would have conquered hate and bigotry. Just so sad we can't show more love to fellow mankind as we do cute viral animal pics.
It IS getting better - area by area, city by city, community by community, generation by generation. It may be slower than we'd like - but it IS getting better. A friend of mine comes from a multi-racial family, with a big burly dad, who is very old-school, working-class, manual-labour, self-made kinda guy .... who went all-out on a wedding for his eldest son, who was marrying a man. To see a guy, who, by all cliches, would be the one rejecting his son, and instead went all-out to celebrate his son's marriage - is something divine to see. Both parents, of both men, walked them down the aisle, full of happy tears and love - just like any wedding. So, it IS getting better - little by little. And those of us who are following you, will continue to try to make it better. <3
Load More Replies...It's 20 f*****g 19 and stoning is still used as a form of punishment, anywhere? Why does being gay matter? So what if your religious book says so that book is instructed YOU how to live YOUR life, not how to live for others. God judges your sins and part of that judging is in how you treat others. Stoning someone to death simply for not complying for "your beliefs" just shows how barbaric and hateful your religion is. The God I serve only requests I am kind to everyone.
That sultan really took the cake and stoned it to death earlier. He told the rest of the world that we should be more tolerant to him and his brand of evil.
Load More Replies...Unless *you* are having sex with the person - what people do in their bedrooms, and with who, LITERALLY is irrelevant to you. For f**k's sake... it's 2019!!!!!! May those in the photos, and those of their communities, remain safe. From a fierce ally, across the planet. <3 <3 <3
as a Muslim girl, my religion doesn't condone the act of being gay but that doesn't mean that we are told to go around and slander and touter other people who are, most young Muslims live amongst and have friends who are part of the LGBTQ community so it shouldn't give any person from any religion the right to do so even if your religion says no to it we should treat each other like humans, not as aliens
Can I ask what would happen if you or someone you knew found that they preferred someone of the same sex? As far as I know, "what is supposed to be" in a religion doesn't matter when it comes down to the individual. I'm heterosexual and non -Muslim so just wanting to understand. What you say about your beliefs is how it has been with Catholics and Christians etc for ever, hence the persecution. I hope one day we can all let each other live in peace, no matter your beliefs.
Load More Replies...I will never understand this animosity towards gay people. It's not a crime, it's not unnatural (it existed since forever and also, many animals mate between same sex), it doesn't hurt anyone, it's just normal relationship between two people. It should be nobody's business anyway. Your own love life is your own love life. Period. Any government that tries to control that is a sick dictatorship.
Maybe it began at the stage were the religion still needed to out breed the competition or something.
Load More Replies...The sultan clarified matters, a little; there's still a moratorium on stoning. https://www.npr.org/2019/05/06/720598000/brunei-wont-enforce-death-by-stoning-law-for-gay-sex-sultan-says
So it's a case of "we will still keep the law, we just won't enforce it.... for now."
Load More Replies...YES! Let's all brutally murder people who have done nothing wrong; kill them for being DIFFERENT. This "difference" is HORRIBLE. The Sultan must be a genius or something. Definitely not an intolerant, homophobic d**k who can't see past his own ego. No, the very idea astounds me!
BRUNEI ROLLED BACK THE LAW AFTER A MONTH OF GLOBAL PROTEST & BOYCOTTS!!! Although not a complete victory... it is at least *some* positive progress. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2019/05/06/brunei-rolls-back-gay-death-penalty-after-a-month-of-global-protest-and-boycotts/#b01a5d76c0b3
Since they still seem to be keeping it in reserve so they still have something to threaten with, I still think he is a displaced in time primitive twit for even thinking this would fly I internationally. .
Load More Replies...It’s a project about gay people, but where are the gay women on here? Homophobic a******s abuse ANYONE who is gay. They are truly sick people. I can’t believe that in this day and age, people STILL think stoning is acceptable. Sickening.
According to an NPR article about this, there are still laws that say women accused of lesbian sex get whipped, which is an entirely different problem.
Load More Replies...Oh god...this breaks my heart. I’m so sorry to everyone who's been directly affected by these laws
How is what two people get up to in the privacy of their own bedroom forcing their lifestyle on a whole country?! Why is it anybodies damn business but their own??
Load More Replies...As you can see from the latest developments in Brunei, petitions and boycotts can change the stoning laws. I hope this will change your worldview slightly too.
Load More Replies...It astounds me that people think forcing their norms and beliefs on others is acceptable. I am old 60+ and my gosh I would think that by now we would have conquered hate and bigotry. Just so sad we can't show more love to fellow mankind as we do cute viral animal pics.
It IS getting better - area by area, city by city, community by community, generation by generation. It may be slower than we'd like - but it IS getting better. A friend of mine comes from a multi-racial family, with a big burly dad, who is very old-school, working-class, manual-labour, self-made kinda guy .... who went all-out on a wedding for his eldest son, who was marrying a man. To see a guy, who, by all cliches, would be the one rejecting his son, and instead went all-out to celebrate his son's marriage - is something divine to see. Both parents, of both men, walked them down the aisle, full of happy tears and love - just like any wedding. So, it IS getting better - little by little. And those of us who are following you, will continue to try to make it better. <3
Load More Replies...It's 20 f*****g 19 and stoning is still used as a form of punishment, anywhere? Why does being gay matter? So what if your religious book says so that book is instructed YOU how to live YOUR life, not how to live for others. God judges your sins and part of that judging is in how you treat others. Stoning someone to death simply for not complying for "your beliefs" just shows how barbaric and hateful your religion is. The God I serve only requests I am kind to everyone.
That sultan really took the cake and stoned it to death earlier. He told the rest of the world that we should be more tolerant to him and his brand of evil.
Load More Replies...Unless *you* are having sex with the person - what people do in their bedrooms, and with who, LITERALLY is irrelevant to you. For f**k's sake... it's 2019!!!!!! May those in the photos, and those of their communities, remain safe. From a fierce ally, across the planet. <3 <3 <3
as a Muslim girl, my religion doesn't condone the act of being gay but that doesn't mean that we are told to go around and slander and touter other people who are, most young Muslims live amongst and have friends who are part of the LGBTQ community so it shouldn't give any person from any religion the right to do so even if your religion says no to it we should treat each other like humans, not as aliens
Can I ask what would happen if you or someone you knew found that they preferred someone of the same sex? As far as I know, "what is supposed to be" in a religion doesn't matter when it comes down to the individual. I'm heterosexual and non -Muslim so just wanting to understand. What you say about your beliefs is how it has been with Catholics and Christians etc for ever, hence the persecution. I hope one day we can all let each other live in peace, no matter your beliefs.
Load More Replies...I will never understand this animosity towards gay people. It's not a crime, it's not unnatural (it existed since forever and also, many animals mate between same sex), it doesn't hurt anyone, it's just normal relationship between two people. It should be nobody's business anyway. Your own love life is your own love life. Period. Any government that tries to control that is a sick dictatorship.
Maybe it began at the stage were the religion still needed to out breed the competition or something.
Load More Replies...The sultan clarified matters, a little; there's still a moratorium on stoning. https://www.npr.org/2019/05/06/720598000/brunei-wont-enforce-death-by-stoning-law-for-gay-sex-sultan-says
So it's a case of "we will still keep the law, we just won't enforce it.... for now."
Load More Replies...YES! Let's all brutally murder people who have done nothing wrong; kill them for being DIFFERENT. This "difference" is HORRIBLE. The Sultan must be a genius or something. Definitely not an intolerant, homophobic d**k who can't see past his own ego. No, the very idea astounds me!
BRUNEI ROLLED BACK THE LAW AFTER A MONTH OF GLOBAL PROTEST & BOYCOTTS!!! Although not a complete victory... it is at least *some* positive progress. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2019/05/06/brunei-rolls-back-gay-death-penalty-after-a-month-of-global-protest-and-boycotts/#b01a5d76c0b3
Since they still seem to be keeping it in reserve so they still have something to threaten with, I still think he is a displaced in time primitive twit for even thinking this would fly I internationally. .
Load More Replies...It’s a project about gay people, but where are the gay women on here? Homophobic a******s abuse ANYONE who is gay. They are truly sick people. I can’t believe that in this day and age, people STILL think stoning is acceptable. Sickening.
According to an NPR article about this, there are still laws that say women accused of lesbian sex get whipped, which is an entirely different problem.
Load More Replies...Oh god...this breaks my heart. I’m so sorry to everyone who's been directly affected by these laws
How is what two people get up to in the privacy of their own bedroom forcing their lifestyle on a whole country?! Why is it anybodies damn business but their own??
Load More Replies...As you can see from the latest developments in Brunei, petitions and boycotts can change the stoning laws. I hope this will change your worldview slightly too.
Load More Replies...
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