Panton offers backing to LGBT community
Wayne Panton, Minister of Financial Services, Commerce and Environment
(CNS): A Cabinet minister has taken a stand against comments condemning homosexuality made in the Legislative Assembly last week during a private member’s motion on traditional marriage. Saddened by the content and tone of the debate, Wayne Panton said he did not want to be associated in any way with much of what was said and is the first member of government to publicly offer his support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in the fight to end discrimination. Panton said it was time for Cayman society to respect and embrace all of its people, regardless of their sexual orientation.
“I do not want to be associated with the language used or the arguments made on Thursday,” Panton told CNS. “I was astonished that so much was said that was so hurtful to the LGBT community in Cayman and we have to be better than that.”
Panton took no part in the debate on the motion presented by Anthony Eden asking government to reaffirm the constitutional and legislative position on marriage as a partnership between a man and a woman. Given that it was a purely academic proposition, requiring no change to any law or even preventing government from creating future legislation for civil unions, Panton said he had no reason to consider the motion controversial until the debate began.
“I was so shocked by the language used and the statements made on the floor of the Legislative Assembly that I did not believe I would be able to contribute in a constructive manner on the day,” he said, as he expressed his hurt, disappointment, regret and anger over the things that were said.
“The movers of the motion are my friends and they are kind and genuinely caring people but I have no explanation for the positions taken and why the debate devolved to that extent,” he added.
Regretting deeply the message that was delivered to the LGBT community, Panton said that this type of language was the reason why many Caymanians were forced to live overseas because they did not feel welcome in their own homeland and he condemned the position that was taken by his party colleagues.
“Why as a society should we tolerate the need for our sons, daughters and other family members to leave their own country because they feel our society won’t accept them as they are?” Panton asked, adding that such discrimination tore families apart. “People are even afraid to love family members who are gay because of what society will say.”
With a reasonable estimate that some 10-15% of the Caymanian population is within the LGBT community, Panton said it was important that those who are discriminating understand that this is not an “outside thing”.
“They are our people, our sisters and brothers, our aunts, uncles and our sons and daughters,” Panton said. “And It is not a chosen lifestyle. Who in the world would choose to subject themselves to this kind of oppression, denigration and vitriol?” he asked.
Panton he said he wanted his government colleagues and everyone in the Cayman community that harboured misconceptions about people of a different sexual orientation to understand that members of the LGBT community are no different from anyone else who suffers unfair discrimination and injustice.
“They feel, they hurt, just like any of us and deserve acceptance, love and respect,” Panton said.
The minister talked about the importance of assessing all people on their character and not their sexual orientation and expressed his outrage that links were drawn by his colleagues between homosexuality with paedophilia.
“It is ridiculous and certainly not logical or supported by any evidence,” he added.
Wanting gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people to feel they are a part of society, Panton said it was time for those with irrational prejudices on sexual orientation to redirect their intolerance.
“If we are going to be intolerant, let us be intolerant of crime, corruption and injustice, not our own people,” he said.
The minister said, however, that he remained hopeful of a sea change in opinions on the matter, as he pointed to the younger generation in Cayman who are much more understanding and realize that the old mentality on this is wrong and will not prevail in the end. He said the current prejudices are no different from the gender and race prejudices that today are roundly condemned.
“We have gone through trauma in history that we must learn from and stop the discrimination against sexual orientation,” he said. “This notion that it is against our culture is wrong. Human emotions are not expressed differently in different cultures. People don’t hurt less because they live in the Caribbean.”
Panton added that despite government’s acceptance of Anthony Eden’s motion, there is nothing in the constitution that prevents recognition of rights for same-sex unions.
“I was prepared to support the motion before I heard the debate as it merely confirms what’s in the constitution but at some point we will have civil unions and it is something as a community we need to arrive at together. Public opinion is already way ahead of the political body on this and when it happens we will have a better society. Nothing bad is going to happen because of it.”
Panton said he was looking forward to a time when Cayman society can put such intolerance behind it and when everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, is accepted on equal terms.
Category: Community, Local News, Politics
I’ll tell you what – the gay lifestyle is so against divine reason that if this and abortion continues in America in another decade, there will be such a decrease in the American population and military, that senior citizens there will not have enough in the pool of financing their retirements and another army will outgrow their army. China, anyone? Yes. Large businesses will have to outsource jobs and go elsewhere. America will weaken because America has chosen a culture of death, a demonic path towards destruction! And “they” wouldn’t mind Cayman becoming one of their followers.
Businesses everywhere have been outsourcing jobs for some years now – yes, even Cayman. Call LIME and speak to Ecuador!
You are wrong in putting ALL gays in the same boat!
i demand a response from the governor……
I believe some people are born with homosexual tendencies, but the majority of those professing to be homosexuals are not like that. Most people just want sexual satisfaction and so they find out after experimenting that doing the homosexual way, is the way to get that satisfaction fulfilled. They are bored living an opposite sex attraction life. There are many stressors in life that causes people to all of sudden turn gay. Interesting the gay community are not saisfied and statistics show they are top in cheating on their partners, hence the reason why they are high rated in getting STDs.
I believe alot of people who choose this lifestyle are not happy with the common drug of sex, so they want to alter it, and choose a gay drug and that gives them that high they been looking for. Now as a Christian, do I shouldn’t never condemn people because I could fall in the same circumstances like them.
However, Christianity is hard. Christianity says in order to enter the Kingdom of God we must in the words of Jesus, “deny our self, take up our cross, and follow Him.” The reason for self-denial, is to not make selfish desires control your life, so that love can be selfless, a sacrificial love like expressed in Jesus dying on the cross. In a family a husband must love a wife by giving his life for the wife, and a wife must be submissive to her husband, and love must be mutual and no taint of “self” should come in the way of it.
The homosexual community will find it hard on how to arrive at such Christian love for others when their meaning of love is all about themselves and how they feel. That is one of the reasons why Christians call this lifestyle a sin… because first its against natural order, gays can’t bear children and raise a family, gays can’t contribute to society by giving life … but most of all, gays mimics a “love” that is of the world, that isn’t a Christ-sacrificial love as you would see in a family between parents (male and female) and the children. It is a love that doesn’t produce the fruit towards overcoming a sinful desires or being selfish.
Moreover, shall I say, it is prophesied in the Bible that in the last days, homosexuality will be associated with worldly standards that is against God’s will.
Peace and Love
Rubbish! ‘….a wife must be submissive to her husband’? You can be if you want to. Guess single people do not contribute to society as some do not have children and do not give life and are not gay. Christians have the monopoly on love and feelings do they? There are no selfish Christians are there? Christians never started any wars, did they? Don’t let selfish desires control life and not in self denial either! Love is from a person’s heart, some have it, some don’t!
True leadership at last on this issue from someone with the courage to shut out the angry rhetoric and be guided by his conscience. I was waiting for someone like the honourable Minister to say something like this. Wayne Panton will go down in history as the first member of our government to show compassion and humanity on this issue. The way we have dealt with it in the past has diminished us as a country; the way we deal with it in the future can restore our faith in ourselves and repair the harm that has been done. Thank you, Minister Panton. I hope this is the beginning of efforts to address the issue of LGBT rights in a sensible way. Change will come, even if it takes time and acts of courage like this one.
Thank you Mr. Panton for a being a leader that speaks up for an unrepresented & highly discriminated minority in this society. My gratitude is boundless. I am proud to finally see a fellow Caymanian of influence stand up against the backwards mentality of oppressing people for their sexual orientation. The absurdity of treating people inhumane because of an aspect of their identity that pertains to who they love and have sexual relations with is mind boggling that people don’t see how abusive they are.
The arguments that a civil union would infringe upon the sanctity of marriage is a guise for Christians to use their constitutional religious freedom to impose on the freedom of others. We as a minority are discriminated against daily in the workforce and in public spaces, and there are no laws in place that serve to protect us, that makes the discrimination we face unlawful… We need our constitution to protect us in these enviroments and grant us the rights of a civil union for our relationships to be recognised and protected by the law as well.
It is draining to have to prepare myself everyday for the direct verbal and emotional abuse and also the subtle microaggression as soon as I step outside, because the attitude of hatred and intolerance that is perpetuated by our government and the majority of our society for people of the LGBT community.
I’m a young person who is torn in wanting to help to push this movement forward and knowing that if I come out from the safety of being anonymous I will place a target on my back. I can not express myself as freely as I would like because I have to consider that people who are anything other than heterosexual are murdered everyday all around the world for simply being themselves.
The least our government can do for us, is to put in place civil rights that protect us as well in eyes of the law.
Meanwhile over in God’s Country another MLA found himself stuck in a hard place between the bluff and the beach and could only ask himself, “What do I do now? WTF do I do now??!”
Thank you Mr. Panton. I have never been more ashamed of my country than when I heard the comments made this week in the LA. Or my district. NEVER. You and I don’t agree on a lot of issues, but we do agree on the rights of human beings and I am glad to see it. So many people I know and love are gay and so many of them are from Bodden Town. I commend you for the courage it took to take the stand you took and I and a lot of your people are behind you 100%.
You’re right, the young people in this country know what time it is. And for the relics who choose to beat others over the head with the Bible (SHAME on you, Jesus would be horrified!) not to worry – we will outlive you. Change will come.
I am educated!
Can you scientifically prove to me that you have no choice in being a homosexual? Let’s start with presenting some facts shall we :))
if you’re educated, please show me scientific proof that being homosexual is not a choice.
waiting for your facts……
Who gives a rats a*&?? Why does it matter at all?
When did you choose to be straight?
There is no such thing as being in between a male and a female. You are either a man or a woman. If you are a man and look like a woman and your sexual organs are not how they should be, I can sympathize with you and say that’s HOW YOU ARE BORN, but other than that you do have a choice in the matter. I don’t think God intends for anyone having a male organ to gravitate to another male. No my dear … I feel outside ungodly influences causes that to happen.
Ever heard of hermaphrodites, so there is such a thing as being in between male and female.
Now are some people born to be ignorant or is that a lifestyle choice?
Wayne Panton, singlehandedly putting the honour back in honourable.
Joey, you there? Winston, shame on you.
Nope, no one gay in my Caymanian family.
Mr. Wayne Panton well done we actually do have a mla that cares about us , I say this all the time and I will continue to say it people down talk Gays lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people but fail to realize that every day that one of those same people being down talk, judge and harassed have our lifes in their hands . They are all arounds us and people even say that they are true friends then the straight ones, I know for sure they spend money and are friends for life til you do them something wrong . From the airlines , police, immigration, hospitals, bars, restaurants, helpers , grander, banks. And even government too have them dealing with us on a daily basis and you have no clue who is who thats just to show their no different from straight people. This law is going to pass and I can’t wait til it does because thats when everyone is going to stop living these double lifes and be more comfortable with who they really are, when it does pass divorce court is sure as hell going to be busy cause a lot going be wifeless and husbandless then they making all this noise for nothing get with the program we still rule be England so whatever they says goes , we are not independent and can never go independent cause if we do thats the end of Cayman
Mr. Wayne Panton well done we actually do have a mla that cares about us , I say this all the time and I will continue to say it people down talk Gays lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people but fail to realize that every day that one of those same people being down talk, judge and harassed have our lifes in their hands . They are all arounds us and people even say that they are true friends then the straight ones, I know for sure they spend money and are friends for life til you do them something wrong . From the airlines , police, immigration, hospitals, bars, restaurants, helpers , grander, banks. And even government too have them dealing with us on a daily basis and you have no clue who is who thats just to show their no different from straight people. This law is going to pass and I can’t wait til it does because thats when everyone is going to stop living these double lifes and be more comfortable with who they really are, when it does pass divorce court is sure as hell going to be busy cause a lot going be wifeless and husbandless then they making all this noise for nothing get with the program we still rule be England so whatever they says goes , we are not independent and can never go independent cause if we do thats the end of Cayman
according to an ‘expert’ Professor Robert Wintemute, who is a senior human rights lawyer, the population of gay people in Cayman is about 2%. (about 1100 people).
See the link:-
http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2015/01/19/Cayman-may-have-to-sanction-same-sex-unions,-expert-says/
He made this public presentation in Jan 2015. Minister Panton says its now 15-20%.
Wow that’s a major jump in just five months!!! It means if the population of Cayman is 55,000 approx, we have around 8200 to 11000 gay people on the Islands.
For such a large segment of the population to remain silent over all this anti LGBT uproar is an anomaly in itself.
More questions then answers as usual.
Nothing the Professor said should be taken as gospel. The noted person and the persons that brought him here had their own agenda and is still fueling the fire from overseas! I would post the twitter link but CNS would delete it.
To each his own. Those are Panton’s views and he has his reason’s for taking that stand and that’s fine. He nor Wintmure, nor any school lecturer that was at the event will force their ways onto me. It doesn’t bode well with Panton nor the law school heads but yet they allowed it…confused set if you ask me. playing politics.
The saying goes stand for something or you fall for anything yet when the gays stand for their beliefs its heroic but when others stand for their beliefs they are bigots or racists? Each one should be convinced in their own mind and heart as to how they should live their life but that does not mean that the way in which one chooses to live is right. Sin is sin and all have committed it but some have been acquitted due to a change of heart. The truth is we can fight to change laws and fight to keep them and some laws will stay and some will change depending on who is in power, but in the end it is God who will judge not man and it will be based on his laws not the laws made by man. Choose wisely as each will have to give account for the life they lived.
“God who will judge not man and it will be based on his laws not the laws made by man”
Obviously you have a turtle farm in Cayman which is an Abomination in the Laws of God
Mr. Panton just to let u know that God love the sinners but hate the sin, who will take a stand for Gods words.
Man of God, just to let u know that God still loves you despite your misinformed “stand” or judgement against homosexuals. But if you wish, please feel free to go ahead and cast the first stone. Mr. Panton has drawn a line in the sand for you.
So God is misinformed? We are not making any judgement just agreeing with his.
I don’t know about anonymous’s God, but my God doesn’t view homosexuality as a sin or homosexuals as sinners. Are you going to now tell me my God is inferior to your God? If that’s the case, let’s declare war against each other and hate each other. That’s religion’s way, right?
God is not misinformed, but “Man of God” above is. Agree with God’s love, but don’t try to act as his judge. Leave that judgment to him. Please try and understand that a person cannot choose to be gay any more than they can choose to be black or white. Have as much love and respect for a gay person and their cultural suffering as we all do for the 19th century slaves. God will love you for taking a stand.
I think the dinosaurs already did
I’m sure God will sort it out and doesn’t need the governments of mankind to worry about it. If it’s a sin then it’s up to God to decide and judge…. NOT you. As if God needs you to speak on his behalf. Seriously?!
The God of the Bible has no problem with slavery. The first mistake made in Cayman was to end the traditional Caymanian practice of slavery in 1835. Good Christians had long taught that God made the races to be separate. But you turned your backs on this Christian teaching, and look where it has gotten you.
Well done Wayne – common sense at last coming from a MLA…. where is Winston and Joey Hew on this issue – I’d expect the new blood and more sensible ranks of government to come out in similar support. The dinosaurs were extinct for a reason…
The dinosaurs all turned gay and couldn’t reproduce. That’s why they are extinct. Shame we learned nothing from their mistake.
If we allow this type of behavior to take bold, next thing you know Caymanians will be dancing and watching R rated movies on Sundays!
Thank you Mr. Panton!! Yours is the sole voice of reason and compassion.
I personally didn’t like the way they went on in the LA over the same-sex marriage issue. I think Marco’s views are more fair and reflects the beliefs of many Caymanians. Just pass laws to provide a win-win situation for those who want to marry traditionally and those who don’t. Like what Marco Archer stated, I think we can peaceably enact laws and still not infringe on anybody’s religion and rights. I am a Christian and I don’t condone the gay choice of lifestyle, but as a Christian I also believe in democracy and not condemning the sinner, because we are all sinners and must repent in Jesus name. My 2 cent
It is not a choice, I was born this way.
I’m not sinning, I’m living in a healthy loving and committed relationship.
I hope some day you are lucky enough to get to know a gay couple really well. You will learn a few things.
Well, God thinks you are sinning but apparently you better than him what sin is.
Many married or unmarried heterosexuals wish they were in a healthy loving and committed relationship!
May your relationship continue that way.
Can we please just have ONE BIG MARCH AGAINST STUPIDITY?
There is too much nonsense going on for individual marches:
– GT cruise dock/destruction of environment
– McKeeva Bush
– Homophobia
– Government wastefulness
– McKeeva Bush
– Green iguanas
– Corruption/NBF
– Opposition to OMOV
– McKeeva Bush
This list is not exhaustive of course……
I’ll make the signs
If only all the green iguanas could catch the gayness then that would solve one of the problems pretty quickly.
I’ll bring the beer!
Make mine a Babycham
Yes, you should concentrate your efforts and only have one stupid march…
Satanism is next in a country that turns its back to the creator….prophecies fulfilled….repent and you’ll be saved from sin…I love you all!!!!!
You already have a turtle farm, when the eating of turtle is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.
You have already legislated money lending, which under the biblical law is a capital offence.
You seem fine with that though
I see the intentions of your post. Don’t misrepresent my faith as some fanatical “repent or die” decree is placed on human beings.
First and foremost, God is a loving God and He is full of mercy patient towards everyone entangled in their habitual sins. He died on the cross to prove His love for us and that we may have the grace and inner power to live a godly life. We may have fanatic people in Christianity like you do anywhere else, but the gospel message is not harsh and fanatical. Its not all about do or you burn in hell.
And there are other sins other than homosexuality that threatens us and our society that we all should be mindful of – like sleeping with a married person, adultery, robbery, child molestation, pornography addiction, greed, pride of opinion, lust, jealousy, hate, doing harm to others … All these things can destroy our society unless we repent and receive the power of God’s grace through Jesus Christ to overcome these things. And God knows people have many inner difficulties, so as Christians we should never be so easily to judge any one.
“unless we repent and receive the power of God’s grace through Jesus Christ to overcome these things”
At what point in human history did God ever give any society the power to overcome these things.
You live your life, and I will live mine, each according to our consciences, as whom I love does not involve you.
An outstanding, courageous contribution from Minister Panton. True leadership on a complex, controversial issue. Mr Panton’s public statements will go along way in balancing the disgraceful rhetoric from a number of MLA’s that should not only know better, but also appreciate the legal and social consequences for Cayman failing to take appropriate steps.
Not to mention the economic consequences.
That’s what wrong with all of unna now all you think about is money F the money. If standing up for our beliefs and values as a Christian society going cost us a few bucks then so be it government wastes money all the time at least on this issue it will be well spent defending this country from outside interests trying to force their unnatural ideals on us. Everyone knows it’s wrong but yet your trying push it as the new norm. Your basically saying if you don’t agree with this gay movement your evil and you might as well accept it because there’s nothing you can do about it your sadly mistaken I can assure you there’s more people against this thing than for it.
I was not surprised by Mr. Eden’s or Mr. Suckoo’s comments… people are a product of their environment so when a 70 year old man from Bodden Town makes bigoted remarks I am as surprised as I would be if I were growing up in 1950’s Alabama and heard someone say something racist! Mr. Suckoo, being the younger would (one would hope) be more enlightened but “enlightened” is a not often used epithet for a Caymanian politician who looks to a 2000 year old book for guidance. It is therefor with great relief to read Mr. Panton’s comments and his use of words like “tolerance” and “acceptance” which are far more Christian virtues than those which his colleagues purport to extol!
Anthony Eden is an old dinosaur. That’s not to excuse him, just to explain why I’m not shocked by his actions.
But Al Suckoo is an educated, intelligent, forward thinking man and what I heard on the radio today from him both shocked me and deeply saddens me. Not at all the kind of backward and hateful thinking I thought I would hear from him.
Do you still think he is an educated, intelligent, forward thinking man????
I am rethinking that position and am very sad to be doing so. So disheartening.
Yes he is !! He took a stand just as Wayne took a stand. They do not have to agree!! The bunch of you seem to want everybody to fall for th Gay and Lesbian trap. Al God is on your side please always stand up for truth and justice. we in the ?Christian community applaud you for your stand. God Bless you always.
Wayne: “And It is not a chosen lifestyle”
Oooookay , then what is it?
Of course this lifestyle isn’t chosen. The members of the LGBT+ community suffer intense discrimination and rejection- some are kicked out from their homes and forced to sever ties with their own families. Some are never spoken to again by their parents, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. Children commit suicide and self-harm because of this lack of acceptance and their inescapable feeling of them living their life pretending to be someone they are not. Would you CHOOSE that lifestyle? Can you explain to me why someone would?
Obviously it is chosen. Your orientation may not be chosen but your lifestyle certainly is.
It’s called nature. Did you choose to be heterosexual? Do you think these people choose a lifestyle of being outcast and ridiculed? They are what they are by nature. Stop casting your stones. It is a society and culture like the one promoted in Cayman which can’t understand it and in turn judges and demonizes it. Please educate yourself on the nature of sexuality and then take a more informed position on this issue. Kudos to Wayne for stepping out of the dark ages in spite of the bigotry surrounding him.
Since it’s all a choice, why don’t you choose to be gay for a year and see how it is. But I bet it doesn’t work that way for you. And neither does it for anyone else. As he said, who would CHOOSE to subject themselves to the abuse and discrimanation of society by stepping outside the hetronormative status quo.
It’s the natural orientation of the person!
Like it is the natural inclination of pedophiles to molest little children. Doesn’t mean it is right though.
Wow, your analogy is way off base. What happens between two consensual adults is no one’s business but their own. Go crawl back under that rock you came out of.
Exactly, God will deal with them, but when they want to change the definition of marriage that should be our business. That is what this entire debate was supposed to be about but some of you twisted and distorted it to it to fit your own agendas.
The natural inclination of serial killers is to kill. LGBT’s are not pedophiles or serial killers. They are humans who are in consensual relationships. Try using a logical analogy next time.
So what if it is a ‘chosen’ lifestyle?
Since when did God give any one of us the right to judge others? In fact, if I remember correctly, the bible says:
Judge not lest ye be judged
Treat others as you would have them treat you
Why don’t we all try to live by these rules, I think we would all become nicer and happier people. 🙂
These gay sympathizers here are all about misrepresenting our leaders. It’s how they roll to push their policies. This is nothing new!
Yes, we family and friends are an organized conspiracy out to convert you.
Thank you Mr. Panton!! You have my respect for taking a stand against the hate fueled rant given by Mr. Eden.
Well done Mr Panton ! excellent response. Wish there were more tolerant, caring and fair individuals such as yourself in Government and as leaders and counselors in the country.
Panton
You of all persons!
That gays are here by record numbers of 10/15 percent of our population??!
That it’s not their choice??!
You’re not getting my vote. Not from me and my family!
I genuinely can’t believe their are people in this world who actually think this lifestyle is a choice. Who would choose rejection from their family, their friends, their entire country?? Who would choose to be kicked out of their houses, sever ties and never speak to their families again, to be left on the streets? Who would choose the bullying and discrimination that comes with this life style? People who are a part of the LGBT+ community commit suicide because they are sick, tired and scared of living every day pretending to be someone they are not to avoid discrimination and rejection. In other countries there has been progress, in this country, this is still a reality. As Mr Panton said, these people are forced off of their own ISLAND, their HOME, by our community, because they feel they will never be accepted. So please enlighten me, who would choose this lifestyle???
Open your mind for a minute.
Oh my what a breath of fresh air from the Honourable Minister! In my opinion the only truly honourable MLA in the current Parliament. A pity he didn’t challenge his so-called friends during the debate, I can only hope he has done so since.
What with Mr. Eden’s vitriol, Suckoo’s support for it and the previous f’ing driftwood comments, seems like Bodden Town has some MLA’s that should never see the inside of the LA again unless its from the gallery.
They can do what they want in private as long as they don’t try to force it down my throat in public and interfere with me and my family. That is what I think about Christians.
I give a damn!
I hope you have enjoyed your term, Wayne. It will be your last. I will work to ensure that.
Hilarious how you think your family votes to what you dictate.
Huh? You must have posted that under the wrong post.
Panton, my respects, but I just have to wonder how in the world can you say CHOICE has nothing to do with people choosing to live a gay lifestyle … ???
Yes … some people are aphrodisiacs, some unusally born a way, but whilst I agree everyone should be respected, I don’t agree that “uncontrolled passions” make us who we are … and alot of gay people I know are that way because of other conditions. They wasn’t born that way!
I think it is dangerous for an MLA of this country to head down a road that supports this same argument that pedophiles are using. They are born that way. So if we support the gays like this, we must support them. We must respect their pedophile uncontrolled behavior to minors, and pass laws to give them their freedom to be a pedophile.
IT IS MIND BOGGLING THAT YOU PANTON CAN SAY WE ARE MADE A WAY AND WE HAVE NO CHOICES IN THE MAKING. THERE IS NO RECOGNIZED MEDICAL INSTITUTE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM !
“Some people are aphrodisiacs”. I did not know that. How does that work, exactly?
I am not sure, but whatever it is, those girls on the Caymanite Pink ads certainly are aphrodisiacs.
Orally I believe.
Some people are just naturally born with unusually high levels of ginseng and viagra flowing through their blood. It seems to affect about 10/15% of our population. It’s an epidemic really.
I am gay and I assure you I was born this way. Nothing happened to me as a child to make me this way. GOD made ME this way. And GOD LOVES me just as I am.
The law will pass in our favor my friend
Please show me some proof that your god exists.
God did NOT make you that way. Do not blaspheme!
Can you please let me know who would choose a lifestyle that comes with possible rejection from family, friends and your entire country? Can you let me know why so many people, often children, who are a part of the LGBT+ community commit suicide over the fact that they feel they will never be accepted and never be able to live THEIR life being who they really are? Can you let me know who would choose bullying, rejection, discrimination and depression over being accepted by the wider community??? Is it not EASIER to be heterosexual than homosexual? So who on earth would choose the hardest path if they did not truly feel that this is an inherent, natural part of them. I know as a heterosexual female who I am attracted to is not my choice- there are some guys out there who are not stereotypically good looking and I can’t explain why I’m attracted to them I just am. And I’m sure this is a common experience with other heterosexuals. WE, as in heterosexuals and homosexuals, do not CHOOSE who we are attracted to. It is purely natural. And this is supported through experience.
I cannot wait until this younger, educated generation comes up and runs this island!
WOW!!!, you can’t even use the right words, no wonder you mind is Boggling, perhaps you are an “aphrodisiac” person, is that what it means?
Is being an ignorant bigot a choice? There is much proof from “recognized medical instittutes” to support the FACTS. Google it, hate-face.
How can being gay possibly be a choice? You look in Syria where people are getting thrown off buildings by ISIS for being gay – how can you genuinely think someone would, for the sake of dying a terrible death, choose to be gay. This is the problem with some people here. I just really hope one day you can see how ignorant a statement like this really is…
Without in any way trying to undermine Wayne’s brave stand for which he must be congratulated, he is no doubt acutely aware that the sort of bigotry seen from the likes of Eden, Osbourne and Archer run real risk of harming Cayman’s position in international capital markets.
Apparently your definition of “bigot” is anyone who does not embrace homosexuality as a wonderful thing.
I think anyone who says what Eden said or supports it in later speeches is a bigot with a capital “B”.
ie your definition of “bigot” is anyone who does not embrace homosexuality as a wonderful thing.
Does your God embrace Mormonism as a good thing?
Does your God embrace Seventh Day Adventism as a good thing?
Does your God embrace Catholicism as a good thing?
How about Hindus or Buddhists? Surely, the Christian God does not approve of them. Why do you let Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews, who reject Christ as savior, practice their lifestyle in Cayman?
I am not a huge LGBT fan myself but I absolutely defend everybody’s right to a private life and to make their own choices in life. As such, I was absolutely appalled at the comments made recently, which would be nothing short of criminal if made elsewhere. To quote Patricia G Ramsey in her 2015 book Teaching and Learning in a Diverse World:
“Most politicians and community leaders, regardless of their true feelings, avoid making overt derogatory remarks about race and gender because they know discrimination on those bases is illegal. In contrast, many vociferously denounce LGBT individuals and seek to exclude them from equal protection under the law. Although they often base their arguments on religious and/or moral beliefs, these condemnations create a climate of hatred in which homophobic insults and violence occur with frequency and inpunity.”
Most of Cayman’s politicians fall under the latter definition, and as they by their very nature and stature lead by example, this hatred is the trend they are setting for young Caymanians. How deeply saddening.
Personally I think this is definitely something the Cayman Human Rights Commission should be referring to both Brussels and the OT Minister in the UK, as well as all the echelons of UK government. There is so much racism, discrimination, corruption and complete disregard for the law in Cayman, particularly at the level of our politicians, that surely action should be taken to best protect the Caymanian people, who will be the only ones to suffer when the rest of the world catches wind of this and slams Cayman for its archaic attitudes.
Cayman’s biggest problem has been its constant fret over “where we stand internationally”…
There is nothing going on outside our waters worth chasing, so why is everyone so concerned about the rest of the world? We were better off turtling and fishing; then we opened our shores to the “world” – they came and turtled us out, fished us out and now they are trying to kick us out too!
The whole world is in major problems and our government wants to chase the world… we are inheriting the same problems seen everywhere because we are trying to adapt every other country’s principalities and lifestyle instead of sticking to the one that was actually working in Cayman! Our country became torn at the seams when Caymanians turned against Caymanains “following backa” everybody else… what a pile of S*t
Catching turtles to eat is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, and you want to go back to it, very Christian of you
Thankfully I am not Christian.. yes, there are Caymanians who are not Christian… people act like we force them to be here, there are a lot of international flights coming in and out… why does everyone want the flight that is coming in???
If the LGBT community wants freedom; there is the BIG USA who is happy to welcome them with open arms.. why impose it on us if we are unwilling to accept it? I believe people can do whatever they wish… if men want men and women want women, that is their business… just like it is my business if I want to be around it or not!
Yes, the class of “Ethical Investments” could leave.
I certainly understand why Mr. Panton took the stand that he did and it is his prorogative but to assume that 10/15 percent of the population is in the GLBT is far fetch. I don’t remember any survey being carried out. He has a right to the way he feels as everyone else.
That is a propaganda tactic of LGBT activists: to exaggerate the numbers of LGBT in the population.
Everyone knows a gay person and has a homosexual within their own family’s in Cayman, if you disagree with me and say I am wrong, I’m not, they just havent come out yet because of fear.
Your statement is not accurate. I know some one who is gay but I do not have any gay person in my family. The way some of you express yourselves is as if the GLBT lifestyle is like a flu and everyone is or will become get it. Most of you are deluded and I really feel sorry for you. You all need much prayer.
I feel sorry for you, you definitely have someone gay in your family, remember you’re all relates somewhere down the line, with all the incestuous relations in the good ole days, don’t think so? Look very closely at some of the “Caymanian” families, look objectively, you won’t be able to deny it.
Minister Panton, spoken like the true statesman and leader that you obviously are. Thank you for your fair and balanced comments that seek to bring Caymanians together instead of divide us.
I echo your words when you say “They are our people, our sisters and brothers, our aunts, uncles and our sons and daughters,” and may I add nieces and nephews. “And It is not a chosen lifestyle. Who in the world would choose to subject themselves to this kind of oppression, denigration and vitriol?”
It is quite easy to address the issue of civil unions and equality among people who choose to love each other without changing the meaning of marriage in our constitution and this has to and will happen.
Your leadership qualities stand as a shining example for future and present political “leaders”. This attitude of “I am right and to hell with you if you are different or do not agree” has to stop.
Well he definitely won’t be voted back in bodden town..
Yes he will, 9:12, the only one who is. Brave sensible man.
Yes, by the youth, who are becoming more engaged in the electoral proccess now that there’s a candidate who speaks for them.
No he won’t I’m a young Bodden town voter and he won’t get my vote and I know for a fact a lot young people in Bodden town feel the same. I don’t know too much about Wayne Panton but whenever there’s a problem and you contact Mr. Suckoo he will do his best to help you. We stand behind him and Mr Eden %100. It ain’t right and it ain’t natural I can’t believe people are being condemned because of their stance against something so unholy it come in like people going crazy done here and we got to follow everything the rest of the world doing some of y’all need do better..
Did God entrust you to make decisions for other people?? Why does what consensual adults do behind closed doors have anything to do with you??? Get with the times buddy, change is coming whether you like or not.
God didn’t entrust that one to write a coherent English sentence. Of that I assure you.
There seem to be alot of Christians on this thread that must cheer when watching another BBC report on IS throwing people from buildings and cutting off their heads.
Bodden Town, a ready made set for zombie movies.
I agree the language of Eden wasn’t a Christian one at all. However, I disagree with Panton in adopting the myth that ALL gays are born gay irrespective of the sexual organ between a person’s legs. Panton quoted, “And It is not a chosen lifestyle. Who in the world would choose to subject themselves to this kind of oppression, denigration and vitriol?”
This is a false teaching. They did polls in the United States and about 50% or about half of Americans believe this myth. I challenge anyone reading this excerpt to comeforth with any SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE that it can be proven ALL gays are born gays.
Nevertheless, I do respect Panton for standing up for decency and respect of all Caymanians. However, I do think he is a bit misled.
Who gives a damn if they are born that way or they turn that way by choice? That is their business!
It is absolutely NO different than when a straight heterosexual person decides to live his or her life without getting married or shacking up with anyone in their lifetime.
That is their business and we do not judge them for what they choose to do. Why judge the LGBT community for their choice?
No one is born with either sexual attraction. Merely a Y or X chromosome. That is the only science of it. The rest is bred in you through the experience of life. I happen to be attracted to females when life’s journey reached a place where I was attracted to someone. That is why the whole “born with it” argument is BS. You don’t even think in sexual terms until adolescents for the most part (unless molested, etc., which is horrible). So your life is what molds you into being attracted to the people you are attracted to. In the end… we are all looking for companionship.
You are showing your ignorance. #1 – there is a difference between gender (what’s between your legs) and sexual orientation. #2 – there are other possibilities besides XX and XY chromosome pairings and as we become more familiar with human genetics we are finding out all sorts of things that make your views about human sexuality outdated. #3 – No one actually thinks you come out of the womb physically attracted to a certain gender. What born that way means is that when you were of age to realize sexual attraction is a thing, you didn’t decide to be gay, you just were. Just like you just happen to be attracted to females when the time came. No one chooses to “be gay” if they are actually attracted to the opposite sex. If your upbringing is the determining factor then how do you explain gay boys and girls who were brought up in a totally straight environment? These are the kinds of people that usually experience the most shame and guilt about being gay and try to hide it the longest or at worst commit suicide because of it. If it were as simple as deciding to be straight, wouldn’t they have just done that?
Were you born heterosexual or made the choice?
The issue is not whether it is their choice or if they are born that way. The issue is equal treatment for everyone regardless of sexual orientation. Discrimination can not be tolerated.
Mr Panton should be congratulated for speaking up against the other MLA’s and their bigotry.
He was spot on when he said “If we are going to be intolerant, let us be intolerant of crime, corruption and injustice, not our own people,”. We need to focus on the important issues and let people do what they want in the privacy of their homes.
If you base arguments on what 50% of Americans believe to be true, then I think you have bigger problems than what some homosexuals choose to do with their lives.
I like and respect Al Suckoo (well, maybe my respect has gone down a bit), but I cannot believe what he was saying on Rooster today. His excuse is that the majority of his voters don’t like gay people so he doesn’t either. What the hell kind of leadership is that? If the majority of his voters didn’t like black people would he just go along with them on that too?
He did not say that, you must have listened to a different talk show.
Pleasantly surprised to see that not all politicians in Cayman are stuck in the 19th century. Mr. Panton has shown the courage to take what will be an unpopular stand on this issue; speaking up for right in the face of adversity is the mark of a true leader,
Leadership means taking a stand. For what is right. Mr. Panton is on the right side and has taken the right stand.
If the rest of the PPM want to move forward and move the country forward, they had better align themselves with Mr. Panton on this and many other issues.
Big up Wayne. Nuff Respect.
LOL for your name
This a brave stand by Mr. Panton. I think the homophobes are a minority in Cayman but they are a very vocal minority and it takes some courage to state his convictions this way. Convictions which i also wholeheartedly hold.
By the “homophobes” you mean people who are morally opposed to it, right? No, we are the silent majority. You are the vocal minority.
Take a look the likes and dislikes. Looks like a small majority for LGBT supporters.
Outstanding response
I’d like to say I’m moving to Bodden Town just so Wayne Panton can be my MLA, but unfortunately Suckoo and Eden would also be my MLA’s.
What say you Mr. Ossie Bodden? Are homosexuals also just pieces of driftwood?
finally, someone with a sensible opinion
Eden still probably agrees with the burning of witches…
Only gay witches.
There goes my vote for you…
‘Says the guy with the gay internet name.
Bring me your Mommy, Sister, Grandma, Auntie, Daughter, Wife, and you will see how Gay I am
So are you threatening to rape them to prove you’re not gay? Why are we not surprised…
Rape?!…when they see the “Big Whopper” they won’t be able to resist ?
Ewwwwww….