The first question to answer is “what in the hell is a metic anyhow?” More than a couple of people have mentioned that one. In a nutshell 'metic' is a Classical Greek word for 'resident alien'. When applied as a label it indicates a person who is only a partial citizen. Perhaps they aren't allowed to vote, or aren't allowed the full spectrum of rights the average democracy extends to the average citizen.
It's an interesting concept, because it helps to highlight the precarious position of all kinds of individuals resident in a population. Recent migrants, refugees, some minorities, all kinds. Metic becomes a word that points directly at the stigma attached to not being an 'authentic' citizen. And not being authentic or real carries all kinds of problems.
Let's look at Rosemary McLeod's bizarre column in the SST this weekend for example. I'd like to know how heavily she was edited on this one, because it reads very, very strangely. To begin with, this myth of the homosexual agenda is a strange one, and is more a dogwhistle than reality. I consulted a friend who until very recently worked in the Parliamentary precinct, and asked what Rosemary might be driving at. Between us neither could think of anything other than two events that directly addressed a 'gay agenda'. The 1980s homosexual reform, and the civil unions fracas. That said, she did point out that there is a very strong gay presence in the current Labour Party, this in turn 'flavours' the party room.
My response was, “who gives a shit?” They can be dressed in pink tutu and carry fairy wands for all I care, as long as the Government is run in a orderly fashion, and according to set rules. How in the hell Rosemary gets from Tim Barnett's 'gay agenda' amendment to the Crimes Act to effectively excusing the violent death of a gay man is insane. Sure, we can assume rough trade is little dangerous. But so is bungy jumping and internet dating.
In this scenario gay men are effectively metics. They do not have the rights you or I take for granted. If I was stupid enough to wander down to Marion Square here in Wellington and pick up a sex worker it would doubtless be dangerous. But to be murdered by that woman would be inexcusable. No court in the country would let her off. Even had I threatened to treat her violently and she acted in apparent self-defence, my sexuality would not likely be brought forward as evidence for the defence. In the context Rosemary mentions the words 'menacing male homosexuals' are a disgrace. 'Menacing male' is relevant.
Enough has been written about this topic already, but you get the picture. Gay people often do not have the same rights you and I do. A lot of ground has been covered over the past couple of decades, and there are still plenty of people out there willing to admit they aren't entirely comfortable with 'homos'. But just get over it for Christ's sake...
Maybe the issue is that we do need to affirm the rights of straight men. So let me start. Guys, it's OK to be a straight man. No one thinks that anything is wrong with straight men. Hell it's good to be a man! But difference is a good thing. Who cares if your brother, uncle, dad, cousin or grandad is gay?
You see, straight men are not metics. The world is made for straight white men. Straight white men are the unit standard when we do things like make laws and write rules. If you can't get a job, it's not 'the feminists' holding you back. If you can't get into a uni, it's not some 'maori quota'. If you can't get onto the local rugby team because you're too white and wee, it's not the fault of some big Islanders. Be a man and suck it up. Work a little harder. Try a different code. You get the picture.
Again, 'gay' is always outside the norm. Conventional wisdom says that homosexuals are outside the boundaries of the everyday citizen, and the rules are written for the everyday, middle of the road Joe Bloggs. Tim wanting to amend the law to stop reduced sentences for the murderers of gay men is not an act of extremism. If you could matter of factly and violently bash someone to death for the sole reason you're scared of a poke in the bum, Hopawate would have been history a long time ago.