Bahamas: Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie said on Monday he does not believe in same-sex marriage and it is not an issue on the government’s agenda.
A few weeks ago, Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett predicted that the Bahamian courts will soon have to address the question of same-sex marriage.
When asked his reaction to the issue, Christie said: “For me it never arose.
“It’s something I don’t believe in. It’s something that would never have come up with me, and it doesn't come up.
“It’s a matter that one has to understand that exists in other countries next to us.
“It has become the law in some countries and we have to respect the laws of the countries.
“But when it comes to The Bahamas there’s no issue before my government about changing the laws with respect to marriage.”
Anglican Bishop Laish Boyd recommended to the Constitutional Commission last month that the constitution be amended to reflect that no one should be discriminated against based on sexual orientation.
Boyd, however, said he does not believe same-sex marriage should be included.
Human rights activist Erin Greene later recommended to the commission that homosexuals have the right to marry in The Bahamas.
When asked if he would consider including the question on the government’s upcoming constitutional referendum, Christie said the government would have to decide.
“I can only speak for myself personally,” he said.
“On all matters to do with conscience a government has to decide on it and I’m not going to speak for my government.
“This happened when the laws were changed to allow homosexuality in private with consenting adults, and so again it was a matter of conscience with people voting.
“It’s just one of those issues that have come up and I heard [Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell] speak this morning about the human rights position, when we took the position that we were against discriminating and violence on it and people drew inferences from that.
“I don’t see it as an issue in The Bahamas today. I don’t see it as an issue before my government. It most certainly is not an issue before my government.”
Christie was referring to a vote by the United Nations to support the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
In the House yesterday, Mitchell said Christie’s support of the resolution caused a “ripple, perhaps even in our own party”.
“But the rationale was this: How could The Bahamas, a nation of majority black people… victims of discrimination, prejudice and violence, support a resolution which if passed in the negative could mean that The Bahamas supported violence against people.” Mitchell said.
Mitchell defends
In his contribution in the House, Mitchell also outlined what he said were personal attacks made against him for his support of LGBTs.
“When I spoke last in this place, I made a passing reference to my support for the rights of LGBT people as far back as 1978,” he said.
“That has now become the subject of an assault on my reputation which is an example of the kind of prejudice at work in the country which is the kind that cannot be outlawed, but which exists all the same.
“I have no doubt that the public commentary that uttered forth from a pulpit about that one reference was designed to sully my character and to prejudice people against me.
“It is quite sad.
“At the age of 59, I say again, do not confuse politeness and civility for weakness.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.