BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE very thought of a “same-sex union/marriage” evokes expressions of anger and disdain in some, but sparks thoughts of tolerance, advancement and human rights in many others.
But whatever the expression or thought, the people of St. Christopher and Nevis might have to begin giving serious considerations to either battling against the legalisation of “gay marriages” or lobbying for the acceptance of such.
Some 13 states in the United States of America and 15 other countries have enacted legislation to make same-sex marriages legal and also to allow “domestic partnerships”.
And as recent as a couple of weeks ago, the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, declared that the issue is one that would have to be debated nationally.
In light thereof, SKNVibes approached a number of individuals, some of whom represent various entities within the Federation, and sought their views on whether or not gay marriage should be legalised in St. Kitts and Nevis.
As with many other such exercises conducted by this publication, most of the interviewees preferred to speak on condition of anonymity.
Another common trend was that most people were totally against the idea of legalising same-sex unions and almost all declared that to do so would be against the principles of the Word of God.
Below are just some of the comments made by persons interviewed on the controversial subject:
“We should not legalise it because it goes against our religion. If we legalise it, we will not be setting any example for our children. It is against the Bible.”
“Homosexuality is sin…No gay marriage! (BUT) you still have to love people.”
“When it comes to gay marriage, honestly, I don’t support it. I don’t have a problem with you having a certain lifestyle, but I think marriage should be between a man and a woman.”
“We should not legalise gay marriage in St. Kitts and Nevis. It is not right. In the Bible it says that it wrong...it is just wrong. That is other countries’ business if they want to do it. But for me it is an abomination.”
“One, it is an abomination unto the Father. Two, you saw what happened to Sodom and Gomorra. It is wrong, simple! But you cannot tell people how to live. It is wrong from the junkyard of hell. Man aine mek for man, das why God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve…”
“I don’t business how people life their lives but I will not support gay marriages.”
“I don’t think they should legalise same-sex marriage. It is an abomination unto thyself and unto the Lord.”
Ras Dabo Penny, the Public Relations Officer of the Nyabinghi Theocracy Order Church of His Majesty Haile Selassie I and Secretary of the Organisation of Rastas in Unity, also weighed in on the issue explaining that legalising gay unions would go against the grain of our type of society.
“Our nation claims to be a Christian society…When you go and you embrace gay living and gay marriages, you go contrary to what a Christian society should live according to the Christian book which is the Bible. St. Kitts-Nevis is not ready for it because we are showing so much intolerance to certain things and to show tolerance to that type of behaviour when we can’t even tolerate our own selves, even religious and political views, is rather hypocritical…”
Another member of the Rasta community, Sankofa Lion, told SKNVibes that he would never agree with the legalisation of same-sex marriages, adding that it is immoral.
“It is immoral, it is against the Father’s principles, it is against the Bible, it is against what we know as a Christian Nation…It is immoral! Read Leviticus 20:13.”
Archdeacon Valentine Hodge of the St. George’s Anglican Church said the church he oversees is holding fast to scripture, which states that same-sex unions are an abomination.
“We in the Church of the Province of the West Indies are holding on to scripture. It is quite clear in Roman1 that condemns homosexual relationships and that’s why we are not marrying two men or two women in our church, because we do not accept that principle…You can’t have it both ways.”
Another man of the cloth – a priest – who was approached on the matter, graciously declined to comment.
The thought processes of the homosexual community regarding same-sex marriages were skimmed when this publication spoke to three known and professed lesbians. Interestingly, their responses to the question were as different as night is to day.
A 30-year-old store clerk said she would support it “if that is what people want”.
“I feel it is okay and if I want to get married to a woman I would get married to a woman. Most people do it, but just that they go overseas to do it.”
Her partner – however – had a different point of view.
“I am already doing bad and disrespecting the Father, but gay marriage should not be legalised. I don’t want to go above God or anything like that, so I would not support it. I am not for it.”
The other women with whom SKNVibes spoke said gay people have rights and she would continue to live her life as she pleases, whether gay marriage is made legal or not.
“Gay people have rights. But I don’t know if it should be legalised. It doesn’t matter to me. I am gay but whether they legalise it or not, I live my life. I could go to the USA, get married and come back to my country and live peacefully. So it doesn’t matter to me. I respect people and people respect me for who I am.”
While America’s President Barrack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron, among others, are in agreement with same sex marriage and seem to want to export it around the world so that other countries will follow suit, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is totally against it.
Earlier this month, he signed a law banning the adoption of Russian-born children to gay couples and to any couple or single parent living in any country where marriage equality exists.
According to The New York Times, in July, he signed a law allowing the police to arrest tourists and foreigners suspected of being gay or pro-gay and detain them for up to 14 days. He also signed a bill classifying “homosexual” propaganda as pornography with vague wording that could subject anyone arguing for tolerance or educating children about homosexuality to arrest and fines.
Putin’s decision had evoked anger amongst gay people and those who support gay rights the world over. And has stated by The New York Times, “Russia is in danger of moving from pursuing the rule of law to the rule of hate. The new laws contravene Russian commitments to human rights and fundamental freedoms under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.”
As visitors and contributors to this online media house, are you against or in favour of the legalisation of “Same Sex Marriage in St. Kitts-Nevis?”
