Lawmakers have once again been taken to task for using what has been described as under-handed tactics to alter the national position on same-sex intimacy.
On Thursday, evangelical group Family-Faith-Freedom (FFF) Barbados intensified their objections to portions of the Barbados Welcome Stamp Initiative and the Employment (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill, 2020 that in their opinion, contradict the country’s long-held values.
And, according to Chairman, Reverend Paul Leacock a referendum to get public sentiment on the polarising issue would only be respected after a period of wide consultation.
“We need to be careful that we do not just conform to international norms or the pressures from different groups, but to do what is best for Barbados. We need to be able to educate our people before we make any sudden changes,” the religious leader warned.
“Government is given the authority to govern, and we respect that authority as stated in the Word of God, but Government is given that authority for good,” he added.
During a Thursday morning press conference at the First Baptist Church in Bridgetown, the group lambasted Government for allowing visitors on the welcome stamp initiative to bring their “partner” – a term not clearly defined in the Remote Employment Bill, 2020.
While addressing the issue in Parliament last month, Prime Minister Mia Mottley made it clear that there will be “no discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation” under her administration.
In a stinging objection to such sentiments, attorney Corey Beckles, a member of the FFF’s board, contended that such positions are inconsistent with existing domestic laws.
He then took aim at recent employment rights legislation, which lists “sexual orientation” along with domestic partnership status as a category of discrimination. Drawing on international examples, Brathwaite argued that domestic partnerships have been widely used to refer to same-sex unions, which are contrary to existing laws. The lawyer also contended that lawmakers’ failure to clearly define the term “sexual orientation” could result in confusion between employees and employers.
“The Family Faith Freedom Barbados would like the Parliament of Barbados to do three things: remove the word “partner” from the Remote Employment Bill, define the term “sexual orientation” in the Employment Prevention of Discrimination Bill, 2020 and remove the term “domestic partnership” from the Employment Prevention Discrimination Bill, 2020,” he demanded.
Executive Director of the group Dr Veronica Evelyn described the language used in the new laws as a “fundamental shift” from the country’s core values.
“The very least that we would expect as a maturing society is that there be adequate public education and consultation. When we listen to the media and online. . . it becomes clear that we have quite an incomplete understanding of the macro issues involved in what would seem a very innocuous insertion of these two terms [‘domestic partnership’ and ‘partner’] into the law,” she said.
Prime Minister Mottley last month spoke of “difficult discussions” that would have to take place on the issue, which many have interpreted as a promised referendum on whether changes should be made to sections of the Sexual Offences Act that target members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities.
When asked whether the group would accept the results of such a vote on the issue, Reverend Leacock and Dr. Evelyn responded in the affirmative. They however declared that a period of national dialogue must first address the repercussion of such a significant moral shift.
“What impact will it have on the educational system as teachers transition between one gender or another or as children do? The sociological impacts must be weighed before we have a referendum. We must understand that we are based on Judeo-Christian principles here in Barbados, and you cannot just shift a person’s set of values willy-nilly, because morality cannot be legislated,” said Reverend Leacock.
The group currently represents more than 52 churches, including Pentecostals, Baptists and other evangelical denominations. (kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)
