Former Guyanese President says the country is ready for gay marriage

By Devina Samaroo (Guyana newsroom) and others

Amid renewed calls for the decriminalisation of same-sex intimacy, former President and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo believes that the country is not ready for such major changes.

Jagdeo reminded that during related consultations, the public expressed disapproving sentiments towards the decriminalisation of same-sex intimacy.

“I don’t think the country, based on what our consultations show among large numbers of people, is ready for the same sex marriage and all of those things,” he posited during a press conference at his Office  on 24 May, 2017.

According to Jagdeo, there was a huge outcry about making same-sex intimacy a fundamental right.

“Because if it did, then the Marriage Act would have been illegal…and because of both sides – what the religious communities and NGOs came up with – we decided not to go to that level,” he stated.

However, he noted that Guyanese, based on feedback during those consultations, did not support discrimination on any grounds.

He also pointed out that the situation is similar to that of the death penalty matter.

“We’ve not had anyone executed since sometime in 1990s. So similarly, in the books, we have some of these provisions in place but people in practice, people have not been charged on the basis of these issues anymore,” he stated.

Nonetheless, Jagdeo said at some point in time, the laws must reflect the nation’ practices.

In this regard, he said he is prepared to engage in discussions with the government’s intention of ensuring persons are not discriminated against.

meanwhile another report from the Guyana Times said in part:

While the State has issued no official word on the issue, both Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams have publicly stated that Government will be moving to hold a referendum to determine whether same-sex intimacy should be decriminalised.

However, the local LGBT community has objected to such a move, and on Wednesday called on the coalition administration to fulfil its manifesto promise of ensuring that the LGBT community and other minority groups are not discriminated against.

In fact, Executive Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson, told reporters at a press conference that this referendum will not be supported by the three local LGBT groups — Guyana LGBT Coalition (Guyana Trans United), Guyana Rainbow Foundation (GuyBow), and SASOD; nor will it be supported by the Guyana Equality Forum, because the rights of a minority group should not be subjected to a popular vote.

“This divisive referendum will deepen the marginalisation and isolation of LGBT persons, as right-wing groups will undoubtedly heighten their homophobic rhetoric, as is already happening on social media,” he said.

The SASOD Executive explained that the move to hold a referendum will only serve to stress out and burden the mental health of the local LGBT community, instead of strengthening social cohesion and building national unity.

Reactions on Facebook by Caribbean activists have come in:

Vidyaratha Kissoon
"lol i remember when he first said this and i wrote a thing about it seems the sex was okay, but marriage was not.."

Caleb Orozco of UNIBAM
"Who the hell is talking about marriage when basic protections don't exist" he continued "One of many silly politician feeding the masses foolery"