Head of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) Brother Harrypersad Maharaj says while the issue of gay rights and same-sex marriages is a “very big sensitive issue,” respect must be paid to individuals regardless of their personal choices.
He was referring to statements by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in New York last week Thursday, that T&T remained divided on the issue of removing anti-gay laws; that a referendum may be needed to determine how the population felt about such laws being removed; and that the citizens, rather than Government, should be the ones to decide. In a telephone interview, Maharaj pointed to changing trends in the world.
Adding that it was important not to discriminate against anyone choosing to enter into such relationships, Maharaj said: “While I don’t support gay marriages, at the same time, these people have made a choice and although it is against my personal choice, they should not be discriminated against.” Highlighting the hijra caste in India and other countries where transgender communities were continually growing, Maharaj said it might only be a matter of time before this too was observed in T&T.
Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris has referred to Persad-Bissessar’s insinuations that a Roman Catholic group had opposed the draft national gender policy as untrue and reckless. In a release last week, Harris said the statements suggested the Catholic Church was leading a campaign for continued discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
The Archbishop said the Catholic Church was only one of the religious organisations in the country that had raised objections to the policy, and to single out his denomination was regrettable. On the issue of homosexuality, the release said the Catholic Church was clear that it was “contrary to the natural law.”
However, the release emphasised that persons of all sexual orientations must be accepted with compassion and sensitivity. Meanwhile, executive director of the Coalition Advocating for the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (Caiso) Colin Robinson has said Government should be the one to decide on the issue.