By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes said if Bahamians vote against gender equality in the forthcoming constitutional referendum “the Bahamas would be listed among those backward peoples of the world who still believe that accidents of birth like colour and sex should forever assign some people to inferiority status”.
Speaking at the launch for Citizens for Constitutional Equality on Thursday night at Holy Cross Parish Hall, Sir Arthur said there is no convincing reason why all four of the equality Bills should not be passed by Parliament and approved by the people in a referendum.
Last year, debate began in the House of Assembly on amendments to the Constitution that seek to institute full equality between men and women on matters of citizenship and also eliminate discrimination based on sex.
The fourth bill has sparked much controversy throughout the country as some critics believe the Bill may be an attempt to get support for same sex marriages.
“I have heard no convincing argument as to why the entire political directorate of the Bahamas should not be unanimous on the issue of equality for women. If some are hearing contrary noises from some of the people they represent, then they should go to their people and explain why it is the right thing to do,” Sir Arthur said.
“If we fail in this enterprise, the Bahamas would be listed among those backward peoples of the world who still believe that accidents of birth like colour and sex should forever assign some people to inferiority status.
“Both the call of history and the demands of justice require an end to this discrimination, and for the granting of access to the full fruits of freedom and equality for all.
“Never forget how a creative minority of citizens can help the majority eventually to do the right thing. Indeed, this is more often than not the only way that meaningful change has come about.”
Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney, QC, said last month it is doubtful the referendum will be held in June and admitted that despite the efforts of the commission, it is unlikely the Bills will gain the unanimous support of parliamentarians.
Despite the push back from some members of Parliament on the wording of at least two of the Bills, Mr McWeeney said he does not think there will be further amendments.
Mr McWeeney did not say when he thinks the referendum should take place, but noted that the commission will be ready to focus its attention on education efforts in New Providence and Grand Bahama, to a lesser extent.
• Read the full text of Sir Arthur Foulkes’ address in Insight on the back page of Business today.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
"Backward people", would that include people who would tax food but not illegal gambling transactions? Hmmm
Greentea 9 years ago
I have not read Sir Arthur's full speech but he sounds like a true statesman with these words. Kudos. Our parliamentarians of both stripes are playing politricks with this bill along with (And I hate to say it, because I consider myself a Christian and not a Christian in name only) these backward thinking churches led by insecure men and deluded women- yes I said it. We are equal in the eyes of God.
duppyVAT 9 years ago
Gender equality ................. by whose standard????????? God or man??????????? The root word of "gender" reveals the danger with the phrase ............. we know what sex means in our Constitution ............... but "gender" opens another can of worms .............. I am sure a well-read man like Foulkes knows that as well ................. he is a part of the hidden agenda
Greentea 9 years ago
If we want to be technical "sex" refers to "male" and "female," and "gender" with cultural designations of "masculine" and "feminine," but today the terms are used interchangeably. It seems as if Bahamians think that removing one or the other term from the law will have different effects. But let me give you this scenario- A Bahamian- born a man who has had gender reassignment survey - When "she" returns to the Bahamas- "she" who was born male is now recognized as a female and thus is able to come to the Bahamas and be married to a man under law- today, tomorrow and forever. Laws "protect" only to an extent. I doubt there will be a rush for gay marriage in the Bahamas since all the gay people I know who want to be married - already are. They may not be married in the eyes of the Bahamas but they went where they needed to go to achieve their desired goals. We can't police these decisions by grown folks- nor should we want to. All people are equal in God's eye. When we depend on man's determination of equality is when we go wrong.
Sickened 9 years ago
Uh... you can stop at gender reassignment surgery! Such a person has more serious issues than most highly trained psychiatrists can deal with.
DreamerX 9 years ago
If gays were to marry. What does this to us straight people?
TheMadHatter 9 years ago
Too bad he didn't use his POWER while he was in power. Now his talking is no more useful than any of us breathing hot air talking and talking and talking and talking.
Anybody can talk when they don't have the power. Why did he sit around for years as Governor General and let the country go to hell?
Greentea 9 years ago
I am so tired of Bahamians talking about woulda, coulda, shoulda-in politics- why didnt they pass it when they were in power. all just remember the politically convenient side of the story. he is but a man- one that will die like all of us. When the FNM was in power the PLP derailed the referendum and now that the PLP is in power many FNMs won't vote for it because they don't want to have it on the record that it became law under a PLP government- Lets be real. It is all politricks at the expense of the people yet again.
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years ago
The vast majority of Bahamians want the sanctity of a 'marriage' between a man and a woman preserved in our country and not torn down for political expediency as has been the case in the U.S. Most countries in our world today and most of our world's total population remain firmly of the view that the institution of marriage must by definition be the matrimonial joining of a man and woman to the exclusion of all other forms of union or companionship between men and women. The very origin of the word "matrimony" is rooted in the word "mother". Equal rights for men and women can be had without destroying the sanctity of marriage by simply changing the proposed constitutional amendments as currently drafted to define marriage as the legal union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all other forms of union between men and women. Doing so would in no way negate or nullify the "equal rights" deserved and being sought by women in our country today. Sadly though, we have a relatively small (but loud) number of individuals in our society who would prefer to see the equal rights of men and women derailed if they cannot also force on the rest of us their own preferred much wider definition of 'marriage' which runs contrary to the essence and sanctity of that important institution as enjoyed from time eternal by 'married' couples consisting of a man and a woman. No one group of individuals in a clear minority in our society should have the right to interfere with the contract of 'marriage' as it has been known and legally defined since the time of Adam and Eve. Allowing this would be no different than allowing someone to interfere with the well protected McDonald's or Coca Cola brands and the legal contracts these companies have entered into around the world with others. Sean McWeeney needs to sharpen his pen and do the right thing by the wishes of the majority of his fellow Bahamians and the free-world, i.e. clearly and unequivocally define the term 'marriage' in the proposed changes to our constitution as currently drafted to avoid the possibility of same sex 'marriages'. Gays and lesbians can have same-sex 'unions', same-sex 'companions', same-sex 'whatever', but not same-sex 'marriages', the definition and sanctity of which the vast majority of Bahamians and free-world want preserved as is.
Sickened 9 years ago
Well said. I believe that all of us want and respect equal rights for women but we don't want our Government to knowingly include same sex marriage as well. This is underhanded.
DreamerX 9 years ago
Christianity existed after marriage existed, before Judaism. Our laws allows many "sins", so how can this be different? It isn't. It's just a matter of hate.
newcitizen 9 years ago
What sanctity of marriage? Do you really think that the Bahamas has any leg to stand on with regards to dictating what the institution of marriage is?
DreamerX 9 years ago
What does opposing it mean to you? In any law, we should ask, what is being protected?
DreamerX 9 years ago
This is a true political issue. The anti-gay support to clarify has no weight on, finances, security, happiness, nothing to anyone beyond hate. I do not see the wording that allows such gay rights movement, but if it did, so what? Are so many of you afraid that once it is acceptable to be a gay person in our country, you won't be able to hold back your life long struggle with being in the closet? Or is it anger, that you repressed yourself for a lifetime of shame of what you are, so how dare a new generation be proud of being gay. Update your worldview, learn something about human compassion and empathy. Y'all yester-slaves love the masters bible. The master beat all y'all straight and christian. Keep up with the masturbatory self satisfying train of discrimination, as the educated middle class students continue to apply and be received to emigrate away from the pseudo-conservative slave think.
Dissappointed,
mangogirl01 9 years ago
Well Rasta, that’s your damn business if you disappointed but you have your views and I have mine! Too, am not afraid about coming out of the closet because I was never in one, I know who and what I am as a straight, God-fearing woman. No, there is no hate towards gays just that I am sick and tired of them pushing their agenda knowing fully well that the majority of Bahamians do not agree with and do not want to see this lifestyle in our little country! We, the Bahamas, is just too small for that shit and cannot compare ourselves to what the United States and others are doing! If the World is moving in that direction then let it move right along; no one, no government, no worldly views, no international agreement is going to change my beliefs when it comes to marriage being between a man and woman only! This government today is just too stink and arrogant with its agenda by using the constitutional amendments to try and pass this shit; too, these so call ‘amendments’ are not even needed but because the prime minister wants to say he did something while in office and juice up his so call legacy that he is always bragging about, he wants to make these changes but he needs to keep it mind that he is only one man, in the long run it is the voice of the people, his employer, that counts! And if you are already out the closet good for you but don’t try to force your lifestyle on me and others because you are proud of who you are and I too am proud to be a straight, God-fearing woman but I’m not rubbing it in your face! My 5 cents!
newcitizen 9 years ago
God has no fear of the gays, so why do you? Nor should you be fearful of god, for god loves all, including the gays. So what in your life has brought about such bigotry and hate?
henny 9 years ago
You are so right.
Jonahbay 9 years ago
Men and women should be equal-full stop. I want to pass my citizenship on to my child no matter who I marry and where I live. I don't want to be discriminated against because I am female. If men and women were equal in our constitution we might not be so backward. Man I am starting to cry for The Bahamas. This pimple of a country with such potential for greatness but stuck in a timewarp It seems. Men and women should be equal - full stop. Let's make that happen and then talk about Gay marriage. And just a heads up, men and women who are gay will benefit from equal rights in the constitution, but only because they are men and women first.
henny 9 years ago
I agree with you.
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