BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, is encouraging the public to "be light" on homosexuals because they too, like everyone else, have a right to choose their sexual orientation.
He made this plea while responding to a question at his monthly Press Conference which was held yesterday (Aug. 28).
Prime Minister Douglas said that instead of discriminating against homosexuals, the Federation should look towards helping them, especially where going out and being tested for HIV/AIDS is concerned.
He gave a scenario of a bisexual/homosexual man who is engaging in a sexual relationship with both his wife and another person, to which he said "that is important to us".
"If you condemn that person as being a homosexual, that person will be afraid and be reluctant to go and get tested. And so if he doesn't get tested and does not get the care and treatment and advice that he should get if he is positive and he is positive but does not know because he is afraid to go and get tested because of the discrimination, the virus spreads. That's why we are saying be light on those who may be engaged in such activities.
"Discuss the issue, stop the discrimination, stop the stigmatisation and let us therefore discuss this matter in an open, matured and frank way so that we can deal seriously and comprehensively with the spread of HIV/AIDS," the PM explained.
Dr. Douglas said that shortly after he made initial statements on same sex marriage and the discrimination and stigmatisation of homosexuals, he received a letter from some at UNAIDS indicating that a meeting would be arranged to discuss what he had raised in those statements.
"I believe that there would be made available resources for this kind of discussion to take place in the Caribbean region because, to a large extent, it gets down to also involving the Attorneys General in the Caribbean region," he said.
The Prime Minister once said that people have a right to determine their own sexual preferences and sexual orientation, noting that this topic is an exciting one.
"It is exciting because it may sound as if it is an academic exercise, but it is more than academics. It is practical because of the consequences that we are seeing as a result of stigmatisation and discrimination of persons who are at higher risk of contracting the virus and who are being pushed underground, not coming forward to be tested because the society condemns them."
Dr. Douglas said, too, that society needs to desist the discrimination against homosexuals and should instead be understanding of their tendencies.
