The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

THE vice-president of the Bahamas Christian Council says he is “very concerned” about the arrival of a cruise ship that will see celebrity drag queens visiting Nassau, next week.

As reported yesterday, contestants of the popular television show RuPaul’s Drag Race will be visiting on board the Carnival Glory as one of their stops on a cruise that is being billed as the “largest gathering of drag stars ever”.

Bishop Victor Cooper said yesterday, while visitors are always welcome – “we always want to protect those ideals that are unique to us as a people.”

When visitors arrive, he said, they often tend to “leave a spirit” which can negatively “invade” society.

“So while we are very appreciative of persons coming to our shores we must always seek to guard the values that we hold dear as a people so that our young people are not negatively influenced and then develop those habits that are unbecoming as it relates to the word of God,” he said.

“That’s clear in the word of God that he made the male and female and that we ought to appreciate that and do all on our part to develop qualities as good men and good women and in turn pass that onto generations yet unborn.”

Bishop Cooper added: “We’re very concerned about that (the cruise). We want to protect the things that are unique to us as Bahamians and often when people bring in vices of that sort, it tends to leave impressions that are not always helpful for us as a people.”

The eight-day cruise, entitled “2012 Caribbean Adventure – Revenge of the Wench cruise” will feature stand-outs Latrice Royale and Shangela who have become fan favourites on the hit Logo TV show.

The cruise was put together by Al and Chuck.travel – a travel agency that provides travel itineraries, tour packages to Pride events and tips for gay travellers all over the world.