By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
THE local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community has taken another step toward formalising a means of public sensitization and education through the formation of the Bahamas Organisation of LGBTI Affairs.
Pointing to the influx of Bahamian LGBTI people to Canada, spokeswoman Alexus D’Marco said there is a need now more than ever for a formal office as a means of advocacy against stigma for the community.
The Bahamas also needs structure in order to have a seat at the table at respective regional levels, Ms D’Marco told The Tribune.
“The impact is dissemination of information, education and sensitization regarding LGBTI people,” she said in an interview Friday.
“People should know that it has nothing to do with a person’s sexual preference. It’s a basic human right. Everyone can get service at Princess Margaret Hospital, but some still face stigma receiving medical care. Again this is a basic human right that all should be afforded. So some sensitization is needed in this regard.”
“So we need structure and to have a paper trail so when we do sit in regional forums we have proof that we did, for example, reach out to the government or do certain things.
“When the government goes into international arenas they say we don’t have LGBTI issues, but there are some and they sign all these conventions, but in this country there isn’t any work being done.
“So we say we need a structure.”
The office also will be used as a means for formal dialogue with the Bahamas Christian Council.
“The church poses the greatest opposition to the LGBTI community. We do have some allies, but there is still some opposition.
“We have reached out to them before and they acknowledged our email but that’s it.”
The local LGBTI has been busy in the last several month doing ground work for a greater presence in the country.
Earlier this month Ms D’Marco said there has been a “vast improvement” in the general treatment of transgender Bahamians adding, however, that more still needs to be done in terms of mental health services and other areas.
She is also the lead spokesperson of the D’Marco Group and the newly launched United Caribbean Trans Network (UCTrans).
Referring specifically to several ongoing discussions on ways to improve legal frameworks and health policies that presently discriminate against transgender Bahamians, Ms D’Marco said the Bahamas was now “setting the pace” for “inclusion and understanding”.
“There is a vast improvement,” she said. “As far as respect for trans persons goes, and how they identify in The Bahamas, people are now realising and understanding that there is a difference between sexual orientation and gender identity.”
Ms D’Marco said a streamlined education strategy alongside a steered public discussion on the transgender lifestyle has aided an overall campaign of understanding. She said based on this education, there has been a shift in culture.
To that end, Ms D’Marco said local trans persons are “blessed” to sit at the table with local “decision makers and gatekeepers,” namely the Office of the Attorney General with whom discussions concerning rights, protections and avenues to communicate perceived bias or oppression have been had.
“For them to open their door to us is a step in the right direction because back in the past you wouldn’t have had that,” Ms D’Marco said. “I think we are moving and progressing slowly, but we are making some headway.
“We have our seat at the table,” she added.
Attorney General Carl Bethel later confirmed that legal officers attached to his office had spoken to community representatives on a “technical level”.
Comments
joeblow 4 years, 12 months ago
Common sense, truth and reason, not the church, poses the greatest threat to the LGBT agenda. Only a flawed mind could agree with its nonsense!
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 12 months ago
Is this a harbinger of more debauchery to come to our society? This group's basic premise that most of us need to be sensitized is most presumptuous and quite telling. This grouping seems to have a difficult time understanding that many of us are offended by their incessant desire to talk openly about their sexuality. Unlike most of us, these LGBTIQXYZ people love putting their sexuality in the public domain, in fact in your face, at every opportunity they get. Perhaps they themselves need sensitizing to the decorum one would ordinarily expect in public. And before others start ranting and raving about this post, I have a gay nephew, a transgender niece and plenty of friends whose sexuality I could not care less about. I might add, not that it's anyone's business, that I like to chained to my bed and whipped by my wife at least three times a week. LMAO
banker 4 years, 12 months ago
.....
ABOMINATION 4 years, 12 months ago
Christian hamartiology describes sin as an act of offence against God by despising his persons and Christian biblical law, and by injuring others. In Christian views it is an evil human act, which violates the rational nature of man as well as God's nature and his eternal law. Ten Commandments list You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall make no idols. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Keep the Sabbath day holy. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet.
ABOMINATION 4 years, 12 months ago
GOD CREATED ADAM AND EVE, NOT ADAM AND STEVE. Pray for all SIns, but lest we forget the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Christians would do well to take note of what God labels abominations. Such things, be they actions, attitudes or objects, have no place in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ. Some of the most notable abominations before God include:
Dishonesty (Proverbs 12:22). Arrogant pride (Proverbs 16:5). Ignoring God’s law (Proverbs 28:9). Devising evil and sowing discord (Proverbs 6:16-19). Eating what the Bible calls “unclean” animals (Leviticus 11:8; Leviticus 11:11; Leviticus 11:13; Leviticus 11:23). The act of homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22).
The book of Revelation explicitly states concerning the New Jerusalem that God is preparing for His people, “There shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27).
In the world that God is preparing for us, there will be no room for abominations. If we want to be a part of that Kingdom, now is the time to look to God and, with His help, rid ourselves of the things that could keep us out.
ABOMINATION 4 years, 12 months ago
Genesis 14:10; 19:24; Deuteronomy 29:23). An earthquake with associated fires ("brimstone" is sulfurous fire) may have ignited these deposits, producing an explosion that "overthrew" Sodom and neighboring cities (including Gomorrah). In other words, this was an ecological catastrophe occasioned by the geology of the region, but clearly linked here to human wickedness.
What were the sins of Sodom? God's initial report regarding the sins of Sodom refers to an "outcry" (18:20-21; 19:13), language also used to describe oppressed Israel in Egypt (Exodus 2:23; 3:7). This language suggests that the sins of Sodom essentially involve issues of social injustice, as do the references to Sodom in Jeremiah 23:14 and Ezekiel 16:49. A wide range of behavior is mentioned in these texts, including neglect of the poor and needy, lies, greed, and luxury. Jesus' single reference to the sins of Sodom refers to the inhospitable treatment of the visitors by the townsmen (Matthew 10:14-15; 11:23-24). Of the nearly thirty references to Sodom and Gomorrah in the rest of the Bible, only one text explicitly refers to sexual behavior, and that seems to have reference to sex with angels, the visitors to Sodom (Jude 7).
Many traditional interpretations of the sins of Sodom have focused on same-sex activity (19:5-8). At the same time, the text specifically states that the threat against the angelic visitors comes from every man in the city (19:4). If all these men had succeeded in doing what they had threatened to do, the result would have been gang rape, abusive violence, and savage inhospitality. The text thus does not speak of nonviolent sexual behavior or of homosexual orientation and activity as such. The abusive activity is thus best seen as parallel to male/male rape in time of war (witness, say, Bosnia) or in prisons, where the resident prisoners thereby seek to dominate newcomers (see also the similar story in Judges 19).
Genesis 19:1-29 The Depravity of Sodom 19The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2He said, ‘Please, my lords, turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you can rise early and go on your way.’ They said, ‘No; we will spend the night in the square.’ 3But he urged them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, sur
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 12 months ago
You know I'm certain if Jesus were on earth today he'd be walking into the gay club to see how many lost souls he could win. The worst way to get someone to change behaviour is to tell them they're despicable. The best way is to show love.
There's a reason his born of man story ended with him accepting a thief.
ABOMINATION 4 years, 12 months ago
Really hope they find a cure for this disease! Father forgive them for they know not what they do. The time has come for all these LGBT, whatever, to find their own country to live peaceably, instead of persecuting those who do not agree with that life style. We are the majority, and in no way should any young child have to be subjected to this perverse, vile lifestyle. It is just wrong. PERIOD. All these Governments that's promoting this, should move there with them, and leave normal people to live the life God created....Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
ABOMINATION 4 years, 12 months ago
Mental Disease.
banker 4 years, 12 months ago
And that is why we have religion.
ForegoneConclusion 4 years, 12 months ago
Ditto! Religion is for crazy people who can't think for themselves and have to be told what to do and how to think! The subject matter here brings out all the religious perverts who pay no attention to "Judge not, lest yee be judged" anf "He who is without sin,cast the first stone!" which also just happens to be in their Bible. They are perverts because they have reinvented religion to suit their own agenda! You can really yank their chain by bringing up this subject. They probably have sexual identity problems themselves as they make the best "homophobes!"
ABOMINATION 4 years, 12 months ago
You do not have to even be Religious or a Christian to know that this is a mental disease, is there anyone out there finding a cure? No they are pushing it as Natural to the World, to our innocent children, where Parents who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Messiah, have to expose their children to this vile, perverse lifestyle. May they all be forgiven, for they know not what they do!
ABOMINATION 4 years, 12 months ago
People conclude that, persons who do not agree with the LGBT blah. blah have no love....it is far from the truth. Love the individual hate the vile, immoral disease. Lest we forget Jesus also said ...........Go sin no more!
banker 4 years, 11 months ago
It's not a disease. It is the way that they are made. If you think it is a disease, do what Jesus would do -- help the sick, not condemn them.
sheeprunner12 4 years, 11 months ago
Give ALL of these alphabet sex fiends their own Bahamian island to cavort and enjoy their base lusts ....... until they all die ........... They cannot naturally reproduce - based on their reprobate lifestyles ........ If they think that God's natural process is so bad, then we can easily eliminate them.
milesair 4 years, 11 months ago
Just more of that good 'christianist love' shining through, but then, what else would you expect? It's what religion will do for you! Absolutely NOTHING!! But hate is ALWAYS in the equation, that's for sure.
sheeprunner12 4 years, 11 months ago
Read your Bible ......... Sodom & Gomorrah were evacuated and then destroyed for its sexual sins. Homosexuality and its related unnatural sexual deviations are grossly against God's order ........ That's TRUTH.
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