By Sean Macleish
Dear Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves,
Your administration owes us an apology and an explanation for your refusal to give basic human rights to LGBT Vincentians, which includes me.
I am disappointed with your negligence to stand up for equality. You continue to legalise discrimination under the law for LGBT citizens, which has a long, protracted history of promoting marginalisation, social exclusion, harassment and violence.
In 2018, the criminalisation of homosexuality in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is state sponsored homophobia, which legitimises the demonisation of gay people like me. It advises society that we are less than, that we are defined as second-class citizens and we are to be hated.
I read in a news article your response to the recent attack on gay people in Calliaqua. You were quoted as saying,
“A social and moral issue like this, it should be a freedom issue, a libertarian issue, it should be led by the churches”.
I couldn’t help but think of the fiduciary responsibility that your 17-year administration has in protecting the human rights of LGBT people. You have failed without apology or explanation. Instead you have deferred your ethical and moral duty to represent all Vincentians, to religious organisations, rooted in dogma, which is the foundation of discrimination against LGBT Vincentians. This is a judicial issue, which ultimately falls under your office and despite being the representative for all of your people, you are not an advocate for equality in public policy.
When will the equality of LGBT Vincentians be more important than political currency, based on bigotry? When will you end this apartheid?
In May 2011, Camillo Gonsalves, then Permanent Representative to the UN, told the Human Rights Council that there was no mood in society in SVG to decriminalise homosexuality and that the laws criminalising homosexuality were widely accepted by society.
Your administration shares responsibility and culpability in the mistreatment of people based on their sexual orientation, because your inherited anti-gay law promotes a negative philosophy that vilifies LGBT people. Decriminalising homosexuality in SVG sets a positive tone and is a monumental message that everyone is equal under the law, regardless of sexual orientation. It reflects a government that welcomes everyone to have a seat at the table without laws that shame and create fear.
The views expressed herein are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions or editorial position of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].
The opinions presented in this content belong to the author and may not necessarily reflect the perspectives or editorial stance of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].
Keep the decent pm out you all bulling organization that what you gays seeking for in this blessed country cannot exist .
Yovaz blaze up pon dem ting dey
That will never be allowed in this country, neither should u be. I don’t care where u are from. Nasty ass!
Sean my Darlyn don’t hold your breath and we do not need any apology from PM, because if PM did respect us and our lifestyle he will not be saying that the church should address this issue. Also the beating of the cross dressers was the perfect time for him to make it clear to the nation that hate crimes will not be tolerated.
As a lesbian woman born in St Vincent, I believe that it does not matter the life style one chose to live as long as they are not breaking the law, they should be left alone to express who they are and feel safe doing so, its a basic human right. Most Vincentians are to small minded in this regard.They hide behind the word of God and the Church, but only God knows how they are living behind closed doors. They are quick to quote the bible, but I guess they forget that bible was written by men, and the original version was not English, which means it was translated by men to favor men in the churches. Most women are kept as servers, meaning the cooking, cleaning, the events etc.
They are so quick to beat up gays, but quick to opened their arms and wallet to fraudulent preacher and quick to forgive them. The Canadian preacher who got a member of his church pregnant and lies about it and who scammed Vincentains out of thousands, I didn’t hear them saying much about that. I am not saying to legalized this lifestyle in St Vincent, I just believe that people should live the life that makes them happy without fear of being killed or beat up.
Remember Happiness is a state of mind.
What is Right and wrong is our own personal conviction.
The ONLY conversation, that the “CHURCH” need to have with those who practice the abomination of homosexuality is to say; “Young men your creator did not make you to burglarize another man’s anus for pleasure. It is quite a vile and wicked thing to do and you NEED to REPENT. Failure to REPENT and turn from such unclean practices will cause you to lose your soul. You may be struggling with this perversion but JESUS CHRIST has the power to set you free from this wicked desire.”
This is the ONLY conversation that the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST will have with the homosexual and all sinners. You need to repent. God have already spoken on this matter very clearly and there is no confusion. God said he made the WOMAN for the MAN. Any other thing is unnatural and not acceptable by God and his Church. The homosexual man may say that it is natural for him to want to penetrate another man’s anus for pleasure, but consider this; if I were to have a bucket filled with human feces and sat in the front of my home with a stick stirring the bucket of human waste and this is known by my neighbors, wouldn’t the society consider me to be a very nasty and unclean person, how different is this from another man wanting to play in another man’s waste exit. The homosexual desire is caused by an unclean and perverted spirit that have overtaken these young men. Only submission to the unadulterated word of God and the saving grace and power of Jesus Christ can set these people free from this wicked spirit. Some of these young men may say they feel like a woman trapped in a man’s body. That feeling is induced by the spirit of Satan, which his is a lying spirit but you must resist and do not believe this lie. God did take a rib out of Adam in the beginning and made the woman so there is no more woman left in man after that.
I do not support any beating of these men or women as you cannot beat the devil out of someone, it takes a willingness and desire for the person who is bound by these perverted desires to be obedient to God’s word and hate their sinful ways. This life style MUST NEVER be accepted by the society as a norm. They must keep this in their closet, why do they want to come out of their closet to impose this perversion on society?? Is it that St. Vincent want God to wake up La Soufriere burn this wicked place up. Do not forget SODOM and GOMARRO these things are written for our learning. Young man the prime minister owes you no apology. YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR ABOMINATION, IN YOUR CLOSET and REPENT and then you can come out into the light and walk in the light. The Homosexual, demands to be treated with respect when they don’t treat their own self with respect. To practice this life style is to dishonor your own body. The scripture calls this the abusing of your body. Respect yourself first and you will be respected stop putting your pluming in filth and then ask society to accept it as norm. GOD FORBID IT!!
INTERESTING LETTER!
The author speaks to ‘…an ethical and moral issue,’ but fell woefully
short of identifying a ‘…constitutionally prescriptive or legal right.’
From 2011, up until now, Camillo Gonsalves is right; the ‘…religiously
described abominable act of homosexuality and the prohibitive act
between ‘…Sodomites and Catamites,’ remains a statutory crime.
It begs the questions:
(i) …Where is it prescribed in the nation’s Constitution that
‘…homosexuality’ is a basic human right? and
(ii) … Where has the Prime Minister been neglectful?
Judicial issues are well outside the realm of the Executive.
There is no way that the Legislature will entertain a ‘…Decriminalization of Buggery Bill.
The Judiciary, therefore, might be the best avenue to ventilate and test any personal
grievances.
Dear Sean,
A legal point of clarity:
Homosexuality is not a crime in SVG. Therefore, as its incorrect to state that its being criminalised.
Any related offence will have to be buggery, which clearly dictates being caught in the act.
Sean with a ll due respect St Vincent is a country that is based on Christian principles whether you like it or not. If you don’t like St Vincent my advice to you is to pack up and leave or take refuge in one of the uninhabited Grenadines islands if you still cannot find a place for the people of the likes like you .
What will you be asking for next ? Gay marriage in order to contaminate our society with all these Gay crap? We already have too much to deal with by itself. Adding another burden is an unwelcome too much. Folllow my suggestion so that you and you people may be governed by the likes of youself.
In my opinion, St. Vincent is no longer a country based on Christian principle. Just take a look at the escalating crime/violence. High rate of violence against women, kids are being consistently molested and a weakened family structure highlight some of the degradation to our society. Am not going to comment on this LGBT nonsense.
You are the one who should be apologizing to the People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to want to impose this ungodly lifestyle.
I am not a friend of Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP. I am not a member of any political party in SVG and have my loyalty to the people of our nation. We are a god fearing nation and god fearing people.
I have my own issues with political parties and politicians in st. Vincent and the Grenadines. The opposition is weak and question the opposition position on this issue. Is the opposition, in receipt of funding from your sources, Sir?
I suppose that you are in receipt of funding from international organizations and individuals to be advancing this is as an acceptable way of living.
Do you sir, have sympathizers in any of the political parties included but not limited to the ULP and the NDP?
Will the NDP proceed in welcoming you should they get elected? I wonder based upon the photograph from their recent walk with a fully displayed flag on the purse of one of their supporters.
If you were to promise Ralph and the ULP that he will get re-elected on this issue, then he may give you consideration. For the record, my brother that is never going to happen. your lifestyle shall never be welcome in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
I respect and appreciate my brothers and sisters as members of the human race, but I do not agree with this lifestyle.
Equal Rights must and shall be taken into context with competing rights, minority rights versus majority rights, and the general conflicting rights of the public versus a designated issue. In this case, the public interest is far greater than your interest and that of your lifestyle.
The Romanian Parliament has now, entrenched in their constitution that marriage is only between a man and a woman. The backlash is advancing fast. The UN can say what the UN wants but SVG is a sovereign nation and shall continue to be. A minority is not going to impose their will on the majority,as in your case. My brother, with all due respect read the bible, with respect to this way of living and if you were to miss the parts of the bible that deal with this issue, please re-read it!
Should the good lord and the great people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines elect me as the leader of ST. Vincent and the Grenadines in the future, this lifestyle SHALL NEVER be accepted on my watch. Life is about choices but this is a sinful, morally bankrupted and unacceptable lifestyle.
There is a lot more that I can say on this issue, but I have made my point.
Ricardo Francis, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Waiting and in the Making
Why have you not posted my comments, Kenton?
I am very fearless and stand firm for a core set of values and principles.
Ricardo Francis, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in waiting and in the Making
Leave my pm gonsalves out of u all batty man things you all nothing that a […] buller man
Thou shalt not bull.
St.Vincent is a very conservative society. It will be political suicide for Comrade side with these people on this issue.
Homosexuality has been around for a long time in SVG and everywhere else. I am not homosexual but I wouldn’t condemn anyone, male of female, for being gay. Everyone has the right to be themselves. We have a beautiful nation. Let show the world that we are good and fair people. Don’t let ignorance cloud your view.
Had to laugh at some of the comments, real jokes.
Homosexuality is a sin, just like adultery, theft etc. Many false prophets like to misquote the bible above to justify homosexuality, adultery etc.
End of the day it is wrong in God’s eyes. As funny as it may be to some to beat up gays, or criminals like what the police recently did to those who committed burglary it is wrong.
The PM is one of the last people you would see give an apology.