Activists for homosexual rights are encouraging gays and lesbians to put the Bahamian laws to the test by getting married.
Spokespersons for the Rainbow Coalition, a gay rights group, pushed their calls for constitutional reforms up another notch Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Dr Kriemild Saunders, a social activist for homosexual rights, urged homosexuals who are not allowed to marry to file a lawsuit.
“According to my interpretation, as the law currently exists we (homosexuals) have the right to marry now but the only thing barring it is a judiciary that may not allow it,” she told radio talk show host, Jeff Loyd on ﾓIssues of the Day.ﾔ
“I think that homosexuals should simply apply and if they are denied the right they should make a challenge of a class action suit against the state because according to the constitution there is no discrimination and it can be properly challenged in the court of law.”
Dr. Saunders added that there is only the “assumption” that same sex marriage is illegal.
However, Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez told the Bahama Journal that the Bahamas and the church have always viewed marriage as “a union between a man and a woman.”
“We will resist with every fiber in our body any attempt by any group in this country to establish same sex unions as the order of the day,” he said.
Although the Bahamian society might be considered more homophobic than most, Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party Raynard Rigby said he “honestly does not think same sex marriage is an issue.”
“If it is an issue the best place for it to be aired is during the process leading to the amendment of the constitution and the constitution describes us as a Christian nation and the Christian church would be opposed to same sex marriage,” he told the Bahama Journal.
Calls and faxes from Bahamians eager to sound off on the issue of same sex unions poured into Love 97’s radio station Tuesday.
One fax labeled the subject “sickening.” Another read: “Woe unto this government, should they change the Constitution to allow these people to have their way. We are living in perilous times as it is and it would become worse.”
According to Rainbow Alliance representatives, Mindell Small and Erin Greene, allowing homosexuals to enter into a legally binding relationship is a sign of real democracy.
Ms. Greene said that as the laws are written, some Bahamians are being cheated out of their privacy, because of their sexual preference.
Mr. Small noted that the Bahamian society is hypocritical and confuses morality with legality.
“If a heterosexual couple is on the beach having sex with one another that is deemed unoffensive to the public,” he said. “They are not committing an offence, but if a homosexual couple [is having sex]…it is a crime,” he said.
However, one listener said homosexuals can argue “until hell freezes over”, but they will never win over those opposed to the issue of homosexual marriages.
Tosheena Blair, The Bahama Journal
