Perkins scolded for his "tolerance"

A day after the International Day of Tolerance long time talk show host, former Gleaner and Daily News (now defunct) columnist, controversial opinion figurehead, political archiver and outpsoken tolerance to homosexual activist in a sense Wilmot "Mutty" Perkins has been scolded for his long time stance on private consensual same sex activity. His position was clear and he has been consistent on the issue for decades especially during the P. J Patterson years as Prime Minister when his private life and suspected homosexual orientation was brought into question juxtaposed to his leadership qualifications, Mr. Perkins then was resolute that someone's sexual orientation is not of concern so long as they are performing on the job, he still holds that view as echoed recently to callers who challenge his position. He has also said he has homosexual friends with whom he has stimulating conversations on art, theology, anthropology and other subjects. During the Sexual Offences Bill debates as well and the Charter of Rights furor he reiterated his position with regards to tolerance, privacy and evasiveness of the old laws obstructing consent between adults.

He has also expressed repeatedly his support for same sex unions rights to be afforded to LGBT people with more emphasis on the benefits afforded to heterosexual couples from the state equally shared with gay unions as well, such as pension and death/funeral grants.

Here is the letter:

No, Mr Perkins

Dear Editor,

I must respond to a comment made on Perkins Online on October 25 by Wilmot Perkins.

In his conversation with a caller, he happened to utter the unforgivable lines that if two consenting males happen to be in the privacy of their homes engaging in their acts of buggery, he has no problem with that and that in fact it would be none of his business.

He also challenged those who put forward the idea that young boys would be open more to abuse by older men who are homosexuals, if the laws relating to homosexuality in Jamaica should be discontinued. His line of argument was that both young boys and girls are being abused in society in other ways, so in effect buggery would be just another form of abuse. He went as far as to point out that heterosexuals should be glad that they were born with their specific sex tendencies and sympathise with the unfortunate homosexuals being born the way they were.

I am totally disappointed in a man whom I grew up listening to on the radio and for whom I've had deep respect. I can tolerate his open vociferous defence of the JLP, although I think that his position on radio as a talk show host should have tempered his political outpouring so as to preserve the integrity that goes along with his type of job.

It surprises me that such an educated individual seems not to see that we are all connected at some point in our existence and that the action of one individual or two or more for that matter, will have an effect on the rest of society. There is no deviant behaviour by an individual that will not have a repercussion on the rest of society. Hence one should always be mindful of their actions, even in the privacy of their homes.

Consider two men together as partners that will leave two women without a partner for themselves. These women will either have to choose between becoming lesbians, being celibate or sharing someone else's fellow. The latter choice will mean rearing children as single mothers or destabilising somebody else's family. There will be no guarantee of the full influence or presence of a father figure within that family. God forbid those two fellows wanting children in their union. Imagine the scenario that would ensue.

So you see, Mr Perkins, it does matter what other people do when they live in a community or a society. There are only two remedies for this situation in a country like Jamaica. It's either total isolation without any interaction with the rest of society, or total elimination for those considered deviants. That is why some people don't want such people in their environment, because they are bound to have an effect on other people. After all, you catch the fish from the sea and carry it home, but that fish is in the big sea along with others.

So Mr Perkins, every action matters. Think about the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.

Ras Roger

rastadeacon@facebook.com

ENDS

Clearly what we have here is a mad homophobe but more and more media personalities however seem to be more enlightened such as Elon Parkinson on CVM's Live @ 7, Simon Crosskill one half of the Smile Jamaica crew who was caustic back in the day towards LGBT subject matter and who seems to be in the process of making an about face, Ian Boyne from JIS, TVJ's Profile and Gleaner columnist and Religious Hardtalk has been balanced in his pronouncements on gay/lesbian issues despite his background in theology and his proclivity towards religious arguments. How quick some of us are to judge I wonder if when we turn the magnifying glass on this writer what will be unearthed? why do some persons feel they have greater authority to determine what is right and morally just for someone else?

Who are we to point fingers at each other when it's my private business that is of concern here?

Such is the nature of persons who are not one sided but can judge for themselves they get vilified by ignorant homophobes who refuse to think.

Peace and tolerance

H