Veteran MLA calls homosexuals evil

| 17/08/2015 | 402 Comments
Cayman News Service

Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden

(CNS): One of the oldest sitting members in the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly, Anthony Eden, has derided rights for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community and warned that the next step would be bestiality, as “people demanded the right to make love to their animals”. Debating a private member’s motion asking government to preserve “traditional marriage”, Thursday, the 23-year political veteran was vehement in his condemnation of homosexuality, which he said was “evil”, and launched an outright attack on LGBTs.

In a speech focused on the Bible, he said Satan was working through educators and others, including the media, who used words to describe “deviant behavior” in a way to convince people it was acceptable.

“A social and moral evil is being promoted as normal behavior,” he said, adding that those who believe in the Bible are accused of hate speech.

He said his motion was one of the most important ones he had brought, insisting that marriage had to be between a man and a woman.

The first elected member for Bodden Town, who was one of the founders of the ruling People’s Progressive Movement, said that “what liberal progressives don’t understand” is that the Bible had predicted what was happening today.

In a speech in which he attacked not just the gay lifestyle but homosexuals themselves, in particular men, the MLA quoted from the religious conservative press and asked when it was that “child molesting had become man-boy love and crushing a baby’s skull and sucking out their brains had become a human right”.

Eden also threatened the possibility of violence as he warned homosexuals to stay away from his children or grandchildren.

Angered by the lecture series organized by the Truman Bodden Law School examining the inequities in Cayman Islands legislation relating to the LGBT community, Eden said the focus was misplaced but then, ironically, spent almost an hour of parliamentary time attacking the gay community.

The MLA said people were losing their homes, kids were going hungry, the country was in desperate need of a mental health facility and improving education standards but claimed that “people that come here” were focused on gay rights. He was particularly enraged by the implication from a visiting lecturer that Cayman needed to equalize the age of consent for all, regardless of sexual orientation, to sixteen years.

Immigration law needs to allow same-sex dependents

Eden implied that allowing rights for homosexuals would lead to multiple husbands and man-boy love and various other behaviour, which he described as “wicked and immoral”, that he claimed, without explanation, would ruin people for marriage between a man and a woman.

Dismissing the idea of any reforms to protect the LGBT community from discrimination because of sexual orientation, the local politician also described medical problems that he believed were common among gay men because of the act of anal intercourse.

Taking an ultra-conservative position, the veteran MLA dismissed any consideration of rights for homosexuals and called upon government to “affirm to maintain the definition of marriage to be as expressly provided for by the Constitution and Law as being between persons of the opposite sex”.

The position taken by the 70-year-old member was echoed by some of the younger members of the Legislative Assembly.

His Bodden Town colleague and the youngest MLA, backbencher Alva Suckoo, seconded the motion. While his speech was less extreme than the one presented by Eden, he offered his support for what he described as the “important points”. He said it was a discussion that the country had to have because the rest of the world was promoting the idea of same-sex marriages and, as an overseas territory, Cayman would have to address the issue. Suckoo said that any decision made by political representatives in relation to the matter should not be made against what the people want.

He said he did not support a “lifestyle” or concept that goes against the local culture and said same-sex unions were a sin. Cayman, he maintained, was a Christian society. Suckoo also said he believed that members of the LGBT community were choosing that lifestyle and government “could not legislate for a sin”.

The only other MLA to speak on the motion, although it was supported by the members who were present in the Chamber when it went to the vote, was Finance Minister Marco Archer, who also pointed to his religious position for condemning homosexuality. Taking a ‘condemn the sin not the sinner’ approach, he was still keen to ensure that marriage remained between two people of the opposite sex. While acknowledging the fact that no formal legal petition has yet been made from the LGBT community, he was clearly fearful of the idea of marriage equality.

The minister said he liked to think he was a fair person. He said the LGBT community “shouldn’t be persecuted” because they are “humans just like we are and they have feelings just like we do”.

He said if there was a desire in that community for equality regarding property ownership, laws could be passed to provide for that without changing the definition of the marriage law or the Cayman Constitution.

The motion was largely academic as it simply reaffirmed what is already law, which would not prevent government for passing separate legislation for civil unions for same-sex couples.

The Human Rights Commission has advised government to begin addressing legislation because, given precedent already in the European Court of Human Rights, the Cayman Islands would struggle to defend its current position to continue discriminating against the LGBT community.

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Comments (402)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Brought to you by the same group of people that want to build the dock… What else can they do to screw up this country from moving into the present? (forget the future…They sure have!!!)

  2. Anonymous says:

    Meanwhile in the rest of thee world https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnDgZuGIhHs

  3. T11 says:

    ARE GAYS BORN THAT WAY … sorry to burst some of y’all bubble, but I did a bit of reading about the subject from an article …

    PRINCETON, NJ, May 20, 2015 (LifeSiteNews.com) — For the first time, a majority of Americans say that homosexuals are “born that way.”

    According to the latest Gallup poll, 51 percent of Americans say that people are born gay or lesbian, while only 30 percent say outside factors such as upbringing and environment determine sexual orientation.

    However, science would not bear that out. No fewer than eight major studies from around the world have found homosexuality is not a genetic condition.

    Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council says that these numerous, rigorous studies of identical twins have now made it impossible to argue that there is a “gay gene.” If homosexuality were inborn and predetermined, then when one identical twin is homosexual, the other should be, as well.

    Yet one study from Yale and Columbia Universities found homosexuality common to only 6.7 percent of male identical twins and 5.3 percent of female identical twins.

    The low rate of common homosexuality in identical twins – around six percent – is easily explained by nurture, not nature. …

    Source: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/for-the-first-time-a-majority-of-americans-believe-homosexuals-are-born-tha

    :)) I am just curious … why are some people so adamant to defend that gays have GAY GENES and they have no choice in the matter of their sexual orientation???

    • Anonymous says:

      I did a bit of research also:

      Origin of HIV & AIDS

      The origin of AIDS and HIV has puzzled scientists ever since the illness first came to light in the early 1980s. For over twenty years it has been the subject of fierce debate and the cause of countless arguments, with everything from a promiscuous flight attendant to a suspect vaccine programme being blamed. So what is the truth? Just where did AIDS come from?

      The first recognised cases of AIDS occurred in the USA in the early 1980s (more about this period can be found on our History of AIDS page). A number of gay men in New York and California suddenly began to develop rare opportunistic infections and cancers that seemed stubbornly resistant to any treatment. At this time, AIDS did not yet have a name, but it quickly became obvious that all the men were suffering from a common syndrome.

      The discovery of HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, was made soon after. While some were initially resistant to acknowledge the connection (and indeed some remain so today), there is now clear evidence to prove that HIV causes AIDS. So, in order to find the source of AIDS, it is necessary to look for the origin of HIV, and find out how, when and where HIV first began to cause disease in humans.

      – See more at: http://www.avert.org/origin-hiv-aids.htm#sthash.EYXKy16X.dpuf

      • Anonymous says:

        Actually, your source is incredibly incorrect. HIV developed in humans after genetic changes occurred in a similar virus that was plaguing primates in Africa. At that time (and still now) individuals in many African countries participated in the illegal bushmeat trade – hunting, killing and eating monkeys and other primates. HIV and subsequently AIDS developed from this practice.

        • Anonymous says:

          Ironically, my source identifies with your version. What is most intriguing of all is How did it (HIV) make the jump to humans? The answer to this question is vested in several theories (READ THE ARTICLE) with no factual conclusions.

          Further, the excerpt of the article I posted at 10:34 above states the word ‘similar’; which mains ‘alike’ but not the same. Hence is why there are non-factual theories as to how it came to us.

          Finally, the article also states that “The first recognised cases of AIDS occurred in the USA in the early 1980s” which involved “a number of gay men in New York and California”.

          Are you saying that perhaps those men (and every man or woman that have/will become infected by this virus) “participated in the illegal bush-meat trade – hunting, killing and eating monkeys and other primates?” Is that why they are infected with AIDS?

          Just making a point!

  4. Anonymous says:

    this should be all over the media… caymans elected politicians have effectively supported a bigoted, ignorant hate-filled statement by one of its memebers….
    where is the compass response?where is the debate on the talk-shows?
    where is the response from the governor?
    this would not be tolerated in any other civilised society…
    thank you cns for covering this issue….

  5. Soul Grabber says:

    Some of you need to stop promoting homosexuality like its the norm Mr. Eden is merely trying to keep and preserve the foundations for which you fools have come into existence.Your behavior and comments are merely trying to mask the great shame of it. Stop trying to bring more wrath upon this little place. In fact if this place is so bad and non tolerant or conducive to your sexual behavior please feel free to move to other places which do.

  6. Anonymous says:

    I hope this does go international. I hope instead of boycotting cayman that gay couples all over the world plan their vacations here. I hope our restaurants shops and supermarkets are so full of gay people that minister eden is afraid to leave his house to walk amongst the evil.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Maybe we should be like ISIS and start throwing gay people off roof tops

  8. Anonymous says:

    He might as well have said “I am a dinosaur”. Unfortunately that’s what quite a few of the voters want.

  9. Bob Guccione says:

    I am pretty certain that even the staunchest of these MLAs will agree that there ain’t nothing wrong with a little female on female action. Everybody likes that. C’mon now. Hand on breast. Tell the truth.

    You all love it and you we know it!

  10. Anonymous says:

    Eden is a narrow minded dinosaur. The approval of this by Suckoo and Archer is the most disturbing part of this story. They should be ashamed.

    • anonymous says:

      actually Suckoo boxed clever. He said Cayman is a Christian nation and homosexuality is a sin and you CANNOT legislate against sins as it is a freedom/choice. Irony is, of course, Cayman has legislated against this ‘sin’ already which is why it HAS TO change its law on the matter.

      • Cass says:

        Who brought the 2009 constitution to order? Which says all this garbage in it. Trust me I read it. Junk, if you ask me. Who brought it in? PPM, Alden! They all agree with Eden, it is very clear. But lets watch out tourism sector bleed to death because we refuse to acknowledge that Gay people deserve rights as does anyone else. If gay people know how homophobic we are they will NOT come here and they will tell EVERYONE they know not to come here. It’s not rocket science; church cannot dictate to the country. Religion is a choice; you cannot force people to believe what you believe. I am heterosexual and have many friends who are homosexual. They are lovely people with great hearts who have never hurt me or offended me or my personal beliefs. One love people.

  11. John Doe says:

    Believeing that the bible is inspired is an argument lead completely by faith first of all. Second- picking and choosing what to follow and disregard in the bible is a joke. Once the bible can be proven as inspired then maybe you can start justifying arguments with bible verses. Until that day comes.. Let me just come back at you with quotes from the rainbow fish because there is just as much proof that this book is inspired as there is for the bible being inspired.

  12. Anonymous says:

    I would have thought Marco above such bigotry. But apparently he is not.

  13. coprophagiac says:

    I like you Tony, but am very disappointed in you and the others. It is already in THE CONSTITUTION, but you wasted time babbling about, what in the long run, is inevitably a losing cause.

    In case you have failed to notice, there are employment, housing, poverty, uninsured health care, retirement, education, etc., issues that are a little more important.

    These clowns get paid big time, to spend time on an issue that is already settled until there is a legal challenge, instead of working and doing their jobs.

    Tomorrow at work, I will play video games that I always lose at, as well as chatting about the NFL and Olympics, instead of actually doing my job.

    I model myself after my “Leaders”.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Mooooo

  15. Anonymous says:

    Well, Cayman, now you’ve done it. Once the international press gets ahold of this you’ll be clowned mercilessly. You’ve got to hope you don’t show up on John Oliver’s gaydar.

  16. Anonymous says:

    any comment ms governor?????

    • Anonymous says:

      Your Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick

      As a Caymanian, and a Gay Caymanian I call on you in the name of Her Majesty the Queen of England, to force Anthony Eden to apologize to the country and the people of these islands, this sort of behavior cannot be tolerated by a elected member of a British ruled territory, it is insinuating hate and violence towards the gays and lesbians in this country.

      In-fact I strongly believe he should be removed from his post for such behavior, as he will continue to hold us in the same regard no matter what. How can the British government stand up for human rights world wide, and not here in Cayman?, it is time for the Cayman Islands to fall in line with the rest of world, as our leaders do not seem willing to make that move, it is now up to the powers that be to make that decision for us

      Yes there will be resistance, but the sooner the process is started the better, my government can define marriage how they want, all we want is equal rights as human beings, and not subjected to this sort of verbal abuse, and in some cased even worse

      Sincerely yours

      Cayman Islands GAY Movement

      • Anonymous says:

        Why does there have to be a movement? Why can’t you just be gay in the privacy of your own home? Do you see any people having straight movements? I don’t understand your need to throw your gayness in peoples faces. Just chill out and be a good little gay.

        • Anonymous says:

          I know! It was the same when black people started demanding rights. We don’t want a repeat of THAT…

        • Anonymous says:

          There is no need for straight movements as there is no one actively trying to prevent straight people from enjoying their rights as citizens. When straight people become overtly oppressed by government officials then they too will probably want to have a movement. It’s not that difficult a concept to understand.

        • Anonymous says:

          You need to ask Anthony Eden that question! He is the one that started this movement, and one day it will end up in the UK high courts, you will, and can read all about our movement then, just a hint, it is a movement of rights and our freedom to be who we want o be withing the law, quite simple really, just like every other human being, or is that too hard to comprehend for you; you do not need a movement, you do pretty much what you want,with all the rights to go with it. We were being gay in our private homes, and we do have homes! until the member from the Bodden Town cave opened his mouth, so there little straight person, and thanks mister cave man, you just started a battle that we will win 🙂

      • Anonymous says:

        You gotta be kidding!

    • Anonymous says:

      Anthony Eden homosexuals aren’t evil. What is evil are child molesters, husband beaters, adultery, parents/girlfriends/boyfriends beating and molesting their own children, rapists, that is what is evil I wish you and all others would have been as passionate about saving the Island from the crime, poverty, unemployment that you are in passing judgement on homosexuals. Isn’t this against the Human Rights Law???? Are you not breaking the Human Rights Law? Wouldn’t it be something if CNN or BCC got wind of this? How would their countries feel? Boycott Cayman? Better watch what you say cause it could come back and bite you in the a…

    • Anonymous says:

      it wasn me.

  17. Anonymous says:

    One thing gay people generally do not have is children, other than by adoption when they have considered the move carefully. That my friends would be a blessing in Cayman and reduce the unwanted pregnancies. What is all this crap about the sanctity of marriage, when there are ‘baby mamas’ by the thousand with absent fathers. Quite a few other teachings in the bible to rant about before you get to the one that probably would bring economic benefit. And MR EDEN, how dare you judge my peaceful friends and pigeon hole them with child and animal abusers. You are the worst kind of bigot, one that has influence. And don’t get me started about the churches role in this.

  18. Anonymous says:

    I just woke up and read all this. Think Doctor Who kidnapped me in his Tardis and took me back 100 years…

    • Anonymous says:

      Could you go back another 200 and plant a rainbow flag on the islands so that the first settlers just kept on going past!

    • Anonymous says:

      One small devolutionary step for Anthony, one gigantic step backward for Caymankind.
      The Kimpton Hotel is dependent on catering to many gay marriages. Google it!

      • Cass says:

        So, as a heterosexual I cannot get married at the Kimpton? Is that what you are saying? I ask because I intend to get married one day….hopefully and always liked the idea of a beach wedding. 🙂

        • Anonymous says:

          Not saying that, but Kimpton IS openly pandering to gays. If you want to get married at Kimpton in GC remember that you will be on what used to be known as public Beach

          • The Truth be Known says:

            Wow. You must be smoking some really good stuff to think that the Kimpton is being built on Public Beach.

  19. Say Something says:

    As a born and raised Caymanian, I am ashamed of Anthony Eden. To those posters who are fueling the Cayman verses Expat line, please stop. There are many Caymanians tonight who are shocked and totally embarrassed by these statements.

    To regard what was said to be the “typical” Caymanian mind set is no more logical than saying Donald Trump’s recent statements represent the typical “American” state of mind… Or that just because Lord Sewel was filmed snorting some nose candy [cocaine], that that it is a common practice for all members of the British Parliment to get it on in this fashion … So let us put this whole matter in perspective, which we often fail to do in Cayman. And yes I know, I know it’s hard to do because we are oh so small. But…

    Anthony Eden does not represent every Caymanian. He does not even represent many of the people that call themselves Christians. So please avoid the generalizations. Remember whether you “believe” this is the majority view or not, the nonsense that has been spewed is by one utterer. One. Those ill informed, harebrained, debasing correlations he made regarding bestiality and pedophilia, are not to be regarded as a common point of view. I mean let’s get real people.

    Quite frankly, I feel sorry for Christians tonight. To have this ludicrous statement leading the charge for traditional marriage is a sad, sad testimony for a religion that is suppose to embody the love thy neighbor tenant. Having said that, the truly sad thing is that Anthony Eden is not a bad man. Many like me have known him to be a compassionate gentleman who has gone out of his way to help many people on Island. He’s never to busy to lend a person in need a listening ear and he is beloved by many, including his wonderful wife, children and grandchildren. Ask around, Anthony Eden is the consummate family man.

    And, I’m magnanimous enough not to forget his good work in the past.

    But tonight, I cannot stand by you on this one Anthony. You are very wrong.

    Friends, colleagues and family members of Anthony’s, help him out, please. I know you all must know better. And calling all Christians, get some pillows for those knees and pray for his soul… but please do more than that! Anthony doesn’t need your coddling or silent condemnation (yes you know who you are!). He needs to be confronted.

    He is wrong.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Why the hate towards your fellow man? Are they knocking on your door trying to convert you to their way of life? No? Mr. Eden, maybe you need a refresher on what else the Bible says…..

    Ephesians 4:32…Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

    Romans 15:7… Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

    1 Peter 3:8… Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

    James 5:9…Don’g grumble against each other, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

    1 John 4:20… If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

    and finally

    Mark 12:31… The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

    • Judge an people's front says:

      Brian. 6:35 …. At that time a man shall lose another mans hammer and those things left for us by our forefathers, only just the night before, will be lost also.

  21. Chet Oswald Ebanks. says:

    Oh here we go again. Boy I must say that I am a proud gay Caymanian. To read so much of gods Bible in one place is like just giving out hate. My my how the powers that be need to live and let live. I bother no one in this country. But I will say this the last election was they last time i will ever vote in my country. It begs to wonder why The Cayman Islands is stuck in such a crossroad so many politicians who are elected to serve the people but all the seem to do is put each other down and along with that their own Native Caymanians. If this country prides itself to be so God fearing why not run every member from each church who has sinned and divorced and remarried. the Bible states that marriage is till do do us part. as I recall a letter i wrote to the minister back in the year 2000 when the white paper was passed.

    Let me end by saying this once again. The time you MLAs take to bash your fellow Caymanians please start earing your wages that we the hardworking tax payers of this country have elected you to do. Instead of putting down your own Caymanians take that time, effort and energy and work towards a better Cayman Islands a country which I love dearly. I dont pass judgement on anyone and I will urge each of you who believe in God to do the same. As I look around this country many of my fellow Caymanians are unemployed, losing their homes, and can barely afford to go to the supermarket. i ask this simple question to all the churches where are you when your own people need you. How many churches help out the needy. instead I watch as bigger and bigger palaces are built on this Earth that God created and have afforded us to live on God no where in the Holy Bible has said to build such huge palaces to worship Him nor do I find any verse that says pastors should drive the most expensive cars.

    Please start helping your fellow Caymanians instead of stiring up hate for God loves no one who preaches hate. Live and let live and make God be the judge of all of us. we cant go back to the past to fix the wrongs that many members of LA have voted on bills that have made The Cayman islands truly the islands time forgot. We at one point in our countrys history could say that we are the islands time forgot no more. If your going to preach the word HATE please do so own your own time and stop wasting my tax dollars in the LA. Live and let live and make God be our judge, for all human beings are sinners. remember God preached LOVE AND NOT HATE. And if God grants me to see the next general election I pray and hope that all of you HATERS in the LA are sent a big message loud and clear AND VOTED OUT. If you choose to live in the 10th century by all means do so but I live in the present from day to day and I only owe I person that gift of LIFE AND THATS MY HEAVENLY FATHER.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Tony would your views be the same if your sons were gay? You need to apologize to the people of this country and step down. Al and archer you need to follow behind him, but not too close he might get upset..

    • Cass says:

      Mr. Eden, you need only ask yourself what would Jesus do? What would he say? And I can tell you he wouldn’t say that they are “evil”. There is only one evil entity out there and his principal office is right here on planet Earth. Peace to all.

  23. nauticalone says:

    What an absolute load of hateful rubbish from a supposed “leader”.

  24. Stroke the wookie says:

    Please do not fall for this as it is issued deliberately to take the focus of something running in the background.
    No person would issue this sort of statement as genuine belief or wear ignorance such as this as a badge of pride.
    If this is genuine, then I really do commend the politicians and people of the Cayman Islands for constantly supplying entries for the Darwin awards.

  25. Moss Media says:

    The corresponding story in the Compass has generated 3 whole comments. A very busy day over there.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Tony’s problem is that he cannot understand that Cayman has moved on (many would say thankfully) from the days of his hero Jim Bodden and his father in law, Haig Bodden, one of the greatest orators in the Westminster system. (Ahem, repetitive tedious mudslinging bore to many). Jim brought Texans in and some of them were quasi criminals (read Roy Bodden’s book about them) but they had money and they weren’t Jamaican or English which suited Jim fine. Of course Cayman under Jim’s personal rule was disgraceful but Tony doesn’t’ see that. He’s not bright enough.

  27. Anonymous says:

    Why is he so viciously outspoken and strong on this issue, using really dreadful language?

  28. Caymanian Pastor says:

    You all should be aware that homosexuality (as is the sin of witchcraft) is considered an abomination unto God. It’s interesting how some of you use certain scriptures to justify your ungodly deeds. Since you are so well versed in scripture, take a look at Romans 1:18 – 32 (which is New Testament) and tell me if you think God deals kindly with such sin. Also note that two well known cities were destroyed by fire for this very sin (Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 19). This is the only sin that makes a mockery of creation and is a slap in the face of God. The Bible also says in Galatians 6:7: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” For every choice there is a consequence. For those of you who desire to live your life careless and without moral discipline, there will be a price to pay.

    God will not wrestle with you against your will, but as Romans 1:26 – 27 states: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” HUMAN NATURE IS KNOWN TO (FROM TIME TO TIME) TURN ON ITSELF. So far, this can be evidenced by AIDS; which is a sexually transmitted disease (though many have discounted the well documented truth of its origin), and is as a direct result of disobedience.

    Mr. Eden, I am proud to know that we still have men like yourself and others who are willing to take a firm biblical stand for what is right and moral in the sight of God. After all: to choose otherwise will mean to renounce our Islands’ motto: “for He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods” (Psalm 24:2). THAT’S RIGHT: this age old motto was CAREFULLY and WISELY chosen by our forefathers; TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE WORD OF GOD.

    (Pastor Scott)

    • Savings Grace says:

      Hey everyone, come to our church instead. We love everyone, irrespective of their God given race, gender or sexuality. All are welcome and we only charge 8% of your income.

    • Straight Outta Purgatory says:

      You should be aware that the days of the church are numbered. I’m sure you can see it in your aging congregation but over time the people have become wise to your indoctrination attempts. Your constant efforts to have everyone conform to your warped views are tiresome at best. My arse hurts just thinking about it.

      • Caymanian says:

        You are absolutely right my friend, which is why you should decide now where you will spend eternity. We all must die one day.

    • Anonymous says:

      AIDS did not come about from “human nature turning on itself” as you would suggest. AIDS develops from HIV which was contracted by humans from a similar virus borne within primates after monkeys and their relatives were hunted and eaten by Africans as part of the bushmeat trade. Put down the bible and pick up a book that will at least give you a small amount of intelligence you can impart on the people of equally lacking intelligence that would ever follow you.

    • JTB says:

      Pastor Scott, I think you need to go back to your bible and read the bit about loving your neighbour. XXXXXXX

    • John Doe says:

      This would be valid if the bible was an inspired book. But you’ll never know if it’s inspired because you simply lead by faith. Your argument is invalid.

    • Judean People's front says:

      If we can get the De lorean tethered up to the church clock and up to 88 miles per hour, we can go back to the year 1660 and watch him first write this.

    • Cheese Face says:

      So you condone violence Pastor Scott? You are as backward as that old homophobe.

    • Anonymous says:

      The Bible says more against common banking practices and corrupt leaders than it does about homosexuality, and far more clearly, but modern preachers seem less bothered by all that going on in our society. I wonder why that is?

    • Caymanian Banker says:

      The bulk of your economy is premised on greed. That is the first and only God of the Cayman Islands that matters, and don’t you forget it.

    • Anonymous says:

      Legolas, Lord of the Rings, Two Towers 2:12
      “They’re taking the hobbits to Isengard!”

      Accept Legolas as your one Savior, or you shall burn in Mordor.

  29. Anonymous says:

    Legalize it, dont criticize it……. Hey people relax, jeez, I’m talking about the weed.

  30. Anonymous says:

    Yes 4.54, uphold the good book at all costs, especially the bits about stealing, lying, corruption etc…biblebashing hypocrites, the louder they cry the more double standards they have…

    • Anonymous says:

      Dead right but – you left off probable incest, fornication, adultery, murder, to which the Bible bashers on the island have turned a blind eye for centuries – oh, and let’s not forget slavery. Take another look at the good book as well, on the subject of ” judge not lest ye be judged “

  31. 4,000 Maniacs says:

    This is the kind of stunt politicians pull to wind up their voter base. Nothing unusual there and no different to what happens in other ultra conservative, medieval, religious countries ranging from Afghanistan to the USA.

    What I don’t get is the timing. Elections are far away. Why gin up your supporters at this time? Are we being deliberately distracted for a reason?

  32. Anonymous says:

    Dear Premier, do you have the guts and leadership skills to stand up in the LA and call out this man’s bigotry for what it is or are you too scared and spineless? I suppose the question answers itself.

  33. Dan says:

    Wow! Here we go again! I am reading now that homosexuality is NOT A CHOICE, YOU ARE BORN that way they say! Oh please … I understand the minister hurt your feelings, but don’t even go down that road. There are some you can say are born that way, I mean “some”, a small fraction, but to blanket all homosexuals and say they are born that way, to me is an excuse not to be tied in with the Sodom and Gomorrah story where they chose to live a lifestyle contrary to natural order.

    Anyways, peace and love 🙂

    • Anonymous says:

      Who on earth would make the CHOICE to set themselves up to be subjected to homophobic tirades from bigots like this old man? He is completely out of touch with reality. What’s he so afraid of?

      • Anonymous says:

        A lot of the teenagers I have worked with are seeking acceptance. They experiment early and find it hard to walk away from the lifestyle. You would be amazed at some of the things that goes on. There is one particular young lady who drank too much at a party, saw pics the next day of some activities she partook in but did not recall and was threatened to continue or have the photos sent around. She eventually adopted the lifestyle and made it her mission to “convert” others.

        It was in her attempt to “convert” me that got us talking about how she had arrived there. She carried hidden pain but lived a lesbian lifestyle because she didn’t want to loose her circle of friends.

        When someone is discovering who they are they can be easily mislead, they call their own sexuality into question and have to decide if they are going to give in to the influence of others or do what is inherently right.

        There are more people held hostage not because they are really homosexuals but because during the development stage they received the wrong message.

        Some boys develop feminine tendencies based on their upbringing – often raised solely by a single mother with extended support system made up primarily of other women. I commend single mothers (I was one for a very long time), but no matter how good a single mother is, boys especially need the influence of a strong male figure.

        I have had individuals here in Cayman tell me that they choose the gay lifestyle for various reasons. The young lady I mentioned previously went on to get help through counselling and has since been married and had children.

        • Anonymous says:

          Ugh I sincerely hope you are not an advisor or counsellor of any kind to our youth with that thinking. At which point in your life did you choose your sexual orientation?

        • Anonymous says:

          You should not be working with youth with that attitude and ignorance of education re: sexuality of teenagers.

          • Anonymous says:

            There is the ignorance and prejudice against Christians. You would exclude us just because our moral views do not agree with yours.

    • Sissy says:

      Let us play a game. Do you remember the moment you chose your sexuality? I doubt it. I remember being young and looking at a lifeguard. I didn’t know what I wanted, but I wanted THAT. I always knew I was heterosexual.

      Did you weight the values of same-sex vs. opposite sex? Pros and cons? Maybe made a list? No, you did not. You just knew. You were born that way. So it goes for virtually all humans everywhere.

  34. Anonymous says:

    He expressed what many in the Caymanian society believe but are afraid of being attacked. It appears when you defend Christianity and the words of the Bible you are being hateful. However, when others defend their “rights” to go against the word of God they are justified and the rules or mortality are then bent. We have some soul searching to do Cayman as we are either God fearing people that are willing to uphold the Word of the Lord or we are followers willing to “accept” whatever the world decides even if it is in contradiction of the Bible. God Bless these islands and may there always be persons willing to defend the word of the Lord. God is watching and he is also a forgiving God to those who wish to repent from their evil ways. This is not just to this topic but all the sins we as humans commit daily.

  35. Knot S Smart says:

    And I thought Donald Trump was getting in a lot of hot water for talking before thinking…

  36. Anonymous says:

    2.56 quite common in Cayman apparently. Its a prequalification for becoming an MLA.

  37. Andrew says:

    It’s also on compasscayman. I thought better of pointing out the many hypocrisies of the bible bashers on the island. I have nothing against religion, but picking and choosing which bits to believe is crazy particularly Old Testament. If we believe the sections about sodomy and gay relations we must also embrace no tattoos, no mixed clothing, no eating of pigs, no shellfish, no sitting on seats with women having periods etc etc. also Jesus is quoted about saying people who are free of sin should cast the first stone. Who honestly believes they are free of all biblical sin, if for no other reason than for the sins of Adam and Eve. If you believe you are then you are also guilty of the sin of pride. Congrats! We live in an enlightened world where we know some of the biblical stories are merely parables. Unless you honestly want to argue that the earth was formed in 7 days, the earth was formed sometime around 4004BC etc etc. I fail to see how people can argue things based solely on the bible in this day and age. You may never agree with it, and that is your right, but who are you to pass judgment on many others who live their lives as they see fit? Who are you to lecture on what is right and wrong? If you say no marriage for homosexual individuals then surely no divorces for straight people as that is also a sin!

  38. Anonymous says:

    People who spouted such hatred are evil.

  39. Big whopper says:

    Humans are not born with any sexual preference period!…so all of you making excuse for this nastiness needs to stop…and that crap about being born with more X than Y chromosomes is a farce. It all has to with environment, upbringing and exposure…and there are those who make the conscious choice for other reasons…if buggering is legal..why not prostituion or why can I not have three wives?….twisted world we live in.

    • Anonymous says:

      More X than Y chromosomes? Drop out quasi-science wont help you here, bud. Real science requires evidence foo. Throw me some sources, Dr. Rocket-Surgeon.

    • Anonymous says:

      Your IQ must surely be room-temperature level. Literally nothing you say makes sense. By the very nature of genetics, women have more X chromosomes than men do, but I’m not entirely sure why you would even bring that up since chromosomes have absolutely nothing to do with anything being discussed here. You want to know why prostitution or polygamy isn’t legal? Because of the church, idiot!

  40. Anonymous says:

    Tony you have had a good run, retire please.

  41. Anonymous says:

    Tell it like it is, Mr. Eden!

  42. JTB says:

    The Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands.

    You don’t have to be mad to work here, but it surely helps.

    Reading this speech – and even more so, the reader comments – I genuinely despair. Why so much hatred, from a country that professes to embrace Christian principles?

    • Anonymous says:

      I can’t get over the level of hatred in this man’s speech. I used to vote for him, thinking he was good person. He won’t be getting my vote any more.

  43. Anonymous says:

    I like the change of name of West Bay-1.48 Best Gay positively suits it.

  44. Anonymous says:

    1.47-we, the gay expats, are the source of your prosperity. You gonna give the money back?

  45. Anonymous says:

    Incest is incest, beastiality is beastiality and paedophilia is paedophilia. Please stop saying LGBT rights are the same thing only an idiot will think that. If you look at your history books incest is only illegal because of the genetic disorders caused; but it was once thought as a way to keep blood lines pure….sadly even paedophilia was once legal with 8-12 year olds being forced to marry grown men. The Bible bearers in those days had no objections nor did they object to slavery or segregation.

    At the end of day sexuality is not a choice, if it was no one would choose to deal with the stigma and hatred that come with being LGBT. I am Caymanian born and bred was indoctrinated into Christianity before I understood what religion was and told anything else was wrong and I would burn in hell. Well now I am agnostic bordering on atheist and the happiest I could ever recall being in my lifetime.

    People should have the freedom to be who they are, homosexuality is a common occurence in nature and many tribes embrace the concept of two spirit which breaks down western gender prescriptions.

    Oh and just to remind Mr. Eden that his god is one of love and mercy; not hatred and ignorance and also most paedophiles are heterosexuals. Please do check your facts.

    • Anonymous says:

      God love the sinners BUT hate the sin. He lovingly and mercifully give each of us an opportunity to chose righteousness as he prescribes it in His sovereignty.

      I too was indoctrinated into religion without truly understanding what it means. Sadly most people still don’t. My belief in God is centred on my relationship with Him not the ritualistic upbringings I received.

      I am a Christian who believes the bible to be true…God’s Holy word to His people. I know, am friends with and have worked with gays and lesbians. I don’t hate them or throw the good book at them. I show them the love of Christ. That’s what real Christians are suppose to do. That being said, everyone I encounter as it relates to this topic is fully aware of my stance based on my beliefs. We respect each other, get on with and can often share meals. Hey that’s what Jesus did with the sinners….the ones He got criticized for associating with.

      I love on, not hate the person BUT I hate the sin just as I hate any other sin. I pray for those who struggle in this area. Christians are called to do so.

      • Anonymous says:

        The bible is just a book, people….written by men thousands of years ago. Where’s the proof? Where’s the science? Why should we believe that book over any other book?

  46. Anonymous says:

    Obviously someone “crushed [his] skull and sucked the brain out” when he was a baby.

  47. Anonymous says:

    I’m not being facetious – if this guy genuinely believes what he is quoted as saying then he needs to get some proper help.

    • Anonymous says:

      Lol. Then, according to you, ALL bible believing Christians “need help”. To the contrary, it is morally reprobate who need help.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, we should try to send our MLAs on a refresher course every century or so.

  48. Anonymous says:

    Congrats Tony. Only man William McCoy known as Uncle Bill would have been proud of you.

  49. Anonymous says:

    Absolutely incredible – never seen such ignorance and hatred expressed by a political figure. Love between people – man to man or women to women… how do you turn that into having sex with your dog for goodness sake? Just plain crazy – hope he understand the hatred that he is espousing on our country and our visitors, many, many or whom are GL. Somebody stop the carnival please, guests are certainly going to do it for us!

  50. M. says:

    Well … there you have it folks! One of the longest serving MLAs, always been elected over and over again, condemns the homosexual drive behind changing our culture… declares he presents his motion “BASED ON HOLY BIBLE EVIDENCE”…

    And Marco Archer, I feel, sums up the way I see it, “If the desire is for equality with respect to the protection of their rights, with respect to the ownership of property and the transfer of that property to their loved ones… I believe it is possible for us to review our laws and see in what ways that can be done without considering or interfering or changing the definition of what God always intended to be marriage between a man and a woman, and what our constitution and our marriage laws currently provide for.”

    However, as a Christian, I must give my respects to Minister Anthony Eden. He knows our culture well. He knows what our coat of arms implies, “he [God] hath founded it upon the seas”. He knows the source of our prosperity. Now there is this spirit to change our culture that will affect generations to come. Well done!

    We need to educate more our young about this evil including ABORTION!

    • Anonymous says:

      “The source of our prosperity” interesting choice of words. Do you know the source of our prosperity?

      The pirates from the days of old or the illegal funds that helped us become the financial centre we are today. Much respect to the Caymanians before who were fishermen, seamen, shipbuilders ropemakers etc. But those things are not what we are known for; even though we have taken huge strides in the regulation of financial services it is still our sorted past that haunts us. So please forgive me as I laugh at your comment.

      • Nuttin says:

        Someone’s been watching way too many Disney movies…..

      • Hooky says:

        I think the main gain was the “Lyndon Pydling independence” debacle in the Bahamas. The finance industry and dirty money looked for the next politically stable, offshore base. This took off and made the wolf of Wall Street look tame and before you know it, people were arriving with suitcases full of cash.
        I am sure history will repeat itself and move to the next jurisdiction.

    • Anonymous says:

      So if Cayman source of prosperity is from Jesus then the Arabs prosperity must be from Allah. I guess you will never see the irony in saying your god has blessed you because of you wealth will others are praising there other gods for the same thing. If there is one true god or only one true way to worship god then there should only be one way to be blessed by god. Just sayin.

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