LGBT activists ask who is minister for rights

| 13/12/2016 | 106 Comments

(CNS): A local organisation standing up for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Cayman has asked the governor to identify who, if not Gender Affairs Minister Tara Rivers, is responsible for human rights. Having receiving no response from Governor Helen Kilpatrick to their enquiries about a request that the UK minister intervene over the legal discrimination faced by the LGBT community, Colours Cayman has written asking for an update. In the letter they posed this new question.

In the clearly articulated correspondence, the organisation that represents the interests and seeks to protect the rights of members of the LGBT community in the Cayman Islands and its coordinator, Billie Bryan, asked the governor about the request, which was made via her office.

Colours Cayman wants the governor to request Baroness Anelay to issue an order in council to address the ongoing discrimination against their community and the lack of any provision for legalising same-sex partnerships. Three months since they set out their issues, there has been no response.

But the bulk of this latest correspondence focuses on the declaration earlier this year by Rivers that she is not responsible for issues relating to the LGBT community.

Bryan pointed out that in Rivers’ view, neither sex discrimination nor gender discrimination includes sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination.

“Beyond the point that her understanding is contrary to case-law decided long ago by the European Court of Human Rights, which is binding on this jurisdiction, it seems also a blunt slap in the face to Baroness Anelay,” Bryan wrote.

She added that the baroness had warned the members of the Legislative Assembly when she came here on her first OT visit in October that the continued discrimination puts the Cayman Islands in breach of its international obligations and there was a legal imperative to change. Suggesting that the gender affairs minister’s position was “incomprehensible, both legally and politically”, Bryan asked the governor who, if not Rivers, is responsible.

“Notwithstanding the poor knowledge and understanding that Tara Rivers has shown regarding matters of discrimination law—given that she is also a lawyer—and setting aside the issue of whose responsibility LGBTQ issues fall under in the current government, her statement has inexorably led me to enquire about a much simpler issue,” Bryan wrote. “Under whose portfolio do human rights fall?”

This is a question that many people in the community have asked since Rivers made the statement in the Legislative Assembly, distancing herself from the controversies surrounding the same-sex partner question. Rivers had declared that she did not think gender issues related to the rights or concerns of the LGBT community. So as a representative of the LGBT community, Bryan asked the governor to assist because, she said, it “is imperative that someone within government be responsible”.

CNS asked the governor’s office and we were told that portfolios are allocated by the premier. Even though Kilpatrick sits in Cabinet, it appears that she does not know either.

In a statement her office said: “The allocation of ministerial portfolios is the responsibility of the premier under Section 54 (1) of the Constitution. Human rights is an issue for everyone. It is the responsibility of all government servants including all ministers in the Cayman Islands to uphold the highest standards of compliance with human rights and international obligations. As you are also aware, the Cayman Islands has a Human Rights Commission established under the Constitution whose function it is to promote understanding and observance of human rights. Our excellent judicial system provides independent safeguards where human rights standards are not met.”

CNS has also contacted the premier asking him which Cabinet member is responsible for human rights and we are awaiting a response.

The letter from Colours Cayman can be found on the CNS Library

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Category: Community, Local News, Politics

Comments (106)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Anonymous says:

    The indifference shown towards the advancement of our Human Rights and civil equality obligations was a choice made years ago by this Cabinet and most of our Legislative Assembly. One needs only to look upon the pile of unanswered PR applications for proof of this. They don’t represent the Voters that prefer not to equate “being Caymanian” with being a closed-minded stone-aged idiot. None of those that lobbied to fight the HRC decision deserve our vote in May, and they (and we) know who they are.

  2. Proud Gay Caymanian says:

    I want to make a general shout out to the entire LGBT Cayman community. As you read through some of the homophobia on display here, please remember that part of their strategy is to make us feel that we are somehow “abnormal” and that we should be “ashamed”. If somehow, we are to be tolerated, it is only to the extent that we deny who are and live in silence.

    I encourage all of us to Live Out Loud. We are by no means abnormal. We are just as beautifully and wonderfully made as everyone else. We are not a mistake, we are intended. We have a role to fill on this planet just like every other human being.

    There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. I love another man…So what? My male neighbour loves a woman…So what? Provided all parties are of age and the relationship is consensual – do your thing! To each his own.

    Bottom line – The fact that we are a minority is no more proof that we are abnormal or have something to be ashamed of, than is being black.

    For those of us who are spiritually inclined, please do not allow these unenlightened folks to lead you to believe that you are somehow outside the will of God. That is only but one interpretation of the Bible that is not without its flaws. There are others.

    Liberate yourself. Cast off the chains that this society has given you to wear. Why live a life of denial in order to please them. Live Out Loud! It is time for this society to grow up and accept that there are those who are different, and different doesn’t mean less deserving.

    • Proud Parent of Gay Caymanian Child says:

      Couldn’t have said it better 12:49pm!

      • Anonymous says:

        In the U.S. (where most of the homophobic Protestant religions in Cayman originated) there was a time these religions cited the Bible to keep blacks from having rights. Interracial marriage was outlawed citing the Bible. Catholics outlawed marriages subsequent to a divorce in states they dominated. Religion is a coward’s excuse to bully others in their community.

        1
        1
    • Anonymous says:

      @12:49 – well said!!

  3. Anonymous says:

    This May, we will NOTvote for anyone running on a platform that limits Human Rights or invites public liability for continued breeches. That includes deliberate stalking of 800 PR applications and pretending that those with different sexuality are not human beings. It’s a disgraceful and indefensible way to be in 2017.

    • Anonymous says:

      7:45 can you really vote ?

      1
      1
      • Anonymous says:

        Yes, believe it or not, an entire household of voters in West Bay South, with like-minded neighbours all around us. Hard to believe, but there are many thousands of Caymanians that are actually decent intelligent human beings. Clear to us Ms Rivers doesn’t know her audience.

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly who are we,! I hope you are speaking for yourselves. I will speak up for me.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Tsk tsk, all this controversy over a god no one can prove exist.

    • Anonymous says:

      I think you’ll find it’s only the ultra-right wing branches of religions that believe in selective, intolerant, and vengeful interpretations of “God’s Will”. It’s a very dangerous and costly way to think, and totally incompatible with contemporary legal obligations.

      • Caymanian Atheist says:

        I think you’ll find confrontational religions like christianity are in fact the root of this bigotry and discrimination toward “alternative lifestyles”

        • Anonymous says:

          That statement couldn’t be farther from the truth. Of all the global religions, mainstream Christianity is among the most accommodating on the planet with openly gay ministers, bishops, etc. We can agree that mainstream Christianity is not practiced in this puritanical right wing microcosm. The exhorters of Cayman preach a radical gospel pentacostal version of Christianity whose global ahearants number only around 4 million (actual Church of God stat). This is not mainstream Christianity here.

          • Caymanian Atheist says:

            Thank God

          • Anonymous says:

            You are correct. For generations now, Caymanians have been subjected to foreign missionaries and their religious beliefs. They have been subsequently been passed down. But hopefully, this backward bigotry will eventually be “outgrown” by the younger generations.

    • Unison says:

      But if there’s no God, then anything goes… there is no accountability for the wrong you do. And when governments and systems fail, every man is a law to himself… such is the atheistic utopia!

      • Caymanian Atheist says:

        “If there is no god anything goes”
        That is the mindset of mentally unstable individuals who are unable to critically think and account for their own actions. This is why we have prison. For people just like that who thinks “anything goes”

  5. MM says:

    It is a constant rhetoric that the LGBT community have no rights and suffer discrimination in Cayman – but I would just like to put this out there and ask someone from that community to specify EXACTLY what is being sought?

    I understand that one of the primary topics is that the legal unions be accept in Cayman; which would also mean they can be conducted in Cayman – but there are so many more places in the world to go and get this done.

    Then, there is the issue of land transfers and property ownership – most banks in Cayman now allow additional persons on a mortgage without having to be legally married.

    As for discrimination, for pete’s sake everyone gets discriminated against one way or another here in Cayman! You get discriminated for being Caymanian, for being expat, for being fat, for being skinny, for being ill, for having children or no children and the list goes on and on.

    So exactly what, and please specify, is Colors Cayman asking Government to do? LGBT can attend school, can get great jobs, can buy property, can live, kiss, mate etc; and even adopt children, get mortgages and the list goes on.

    What more, precisely, is being sought?

    • Anonymous says:

      Equal rights for all.

    • anon says:

      Although we are a minority, as gay Caymanians, we are not afforded the same equal protection under the law as our heterosexual counterparts.

      In other words, an employer can make me redundant for liking other men. Legally speaking, I cannot take them to court and seek damages because there is no legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

      That is just one example.

      If such a legal framework existed, we would’ve seen evidence of more same-sex discrimination cases brought before the courts. But we haven’t…

      All we want is equal rights which are mandated and safeguarded when enshrined in legislation.

      • Just Saying says:

        For goodness sake, am 60 yrs old, born and raised in the CI, lived in foreign lands for over 30 yrs. When I left Cayman I left queers (as they were so effectionately called) here. Some were relatives, some were friends, teachers, lawyers, policemen, doctors, nurses, etc. Hell, some were even married with children and nobody cared. People just went on living. They lived freely as everyone else. In other words, who they consented to exchange bodily fluids with were their business and it was kept that way. All of a sudden they want to be recognised for their unnatural behaviour. Come on, if nothing more, have some shame and dignity. It is obviously not normal why there is so much controversy.

        You call yourselves LGBT community, go find a deserted island to cohabit and then there won’t be any problems as everyone will be of one accord and life goes on as it should for the rest of us, a man, a woman and their children.

        There are way to many important things going on in the CI and the world on a whole to waste even one breath talking about this. When the people of the LGBT community start procreating within their own union, then we can talk about their rights.

        • Proud Gay Caymanian says:

          With all the respect that I can muster for such asinine commentary, who the hell are you to tell me, a born and bred Caymanian to find some deserted island. No Sir, absolutely NOT. If in all of your years you have not learned to respect and tolerate others who are different from yourself, then YOU MOVE. I am NOT going anywhere.

          Your commentary suggests that you are a very limited individual – intellectually and otherwise. I do not suspect for one minute that you have anything meaningful to contribute to this or any other topic, but I would rather you found some other topic where you didn’t have to engage in hate.

          You sir are no authority on what is no authority on what is “normal”. If by use of the term you are suggesting that the gay community is a minority, then yes we are a minority.

          Most importantly, it is clear that what you want is for gay Caymanians, who by your own admission have been around as long as you can remember to continue to live like second class citizens. No sir, not in this country which is just as much mine as it is yours.

          No longer shall we live in silence to make you feel comfortable. If you don’t like it, you go live in the closet. In the prophetic words of Dianna Ross, I’m Comin’ Out!. Equality is my right. Equality I shall have in spite of you.

          1
          1
        • WTF? says:

          Wow, just WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        • Proud Parent of Gay Caymanian Child says:

          Just Saying….

          You should consider going for counseling. It is not normal to feel so hateful toward individuals who have done you no wrong just because they are different in some way.

          It has got to be tough living with such heaviness which is what hatefulness does eventually. I really do hope you seek the help you need.

          As human beings we must live and let people live. As long as we as people be it gay or heterosexual, are of age and in a consensual relationship then its nobody’s business but the individuals in the relationship.

          Your or my consensual relationship with someone of the opposite sex who is of age is nobody’s business, so why are you stressing.

          No one’s rights should deprive another person of their rights.

          2
          1
      • Caymanian says:

        Be thankful my friend as a Caymanian I would not be hired to be made redundant.

        First and let’s be honest here. No employer is going to tell you up front I am firing you because you are gay and that’s the same way no employer is going to tell me to my face I am not hiring you because you are Caymanian. So it’s speculation as it would be with me so taking someone to court for that won’t really solve anything. He/she will find another reason for getting rid of you.

        The ONLY and I say ONLY thing I can see is a Civil Union situation here. Not a marriage but a civil union which could be performed only by a JP. A marriage officer would only be able to perform if he/she was a JP also as this is not a marriage which is a religious event.

        So in saying that ALREADY you are discriminated right? Well yeah. Would you expect to get your accounting done by a doctor? Same theory applies.

        I can’t really speak to what you encounter discrimination wise as a gay because I am not but I say this and I have gay friends and family. I think you should expect some weirdness in the community for being gay, it’s simply not the norm and in my eyes I say God forbid that day ever come.

        I really and honestly don’t think this scale will ever be EQUAL to speak of and this is anywhere you go in this world. There will always be discrimination to your community on one level or another.

        The simple fact is you have chosen a off the beaten path style of relationships and that brings with it certain consequences. Is it right? Maybe not but it’s just part of life at this time and place. In time I expect it will become more palatable in certain location and maybe even here. I only hope I am dead and gone by then.

        • Proud Gay Caymanian says:

          In specific response to the wishes expressed in your conclusion which have now been communicated to the universe “I only hope I am dead and gone by then”, I can only say, Godspeed.

          Your ignorance is really astounding. There have been a plethora of successful cases of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, including and well beyond the area of employment. In Salgeuro da Silva Mouta v Portugal, was concerned with parental rights. The Grand Chamber held in favour of Mr Salguero with respect to his complaint that he was discriminated against on the grounds of his sexual orientation.

          Please, our Caymanian community is already suffering from a lack of knowledge (not to mention love and tolerance), do not add to it by unloading your nonsense.

          You are also wrong to suggest that gay Caymanians should “expect some weirdness”. It will only be “weird” for a little longer while us Gay Caymanians choose to accommodate your demands that we live our lives in silence. As you can see, those days are coming to an end. This my Caymanian brother, is something that YOU should expect.

          You choose to believe that God has an issue with us Gay Caymanians. You are entitled to your beliefs, however twisted. But I have a strong relationship with my creator and I do not agree with your views on God/the Bible and homosexuality. There is absolutely nothing, let me repeat, nothing about your views on God and homosexuality that should trump mine. PERIOD.

          In closing, with respect to your tiresome – and I do mean tiresome assertion that we chose this lifestyle. Perhaps you are speaking of your family or friends – and if that is the case they certainly do not represent the majority of us. Bottom line is, your assertion is unsupported by any scientific data.

          Continue to hold your heads up high my Caymanian Gay colleagues and Live Out Loud!

          • Anonymous says:

            I was refused a job because the previous man doing the job was straight. I did not admit to being gay, the interviewer simply assumed and told me directly that I would not be hired. Employment discrimination exists.

            • Caymanian says:

              This kinds of sounds like you are assuming. Why would you think the previous person being gay had to do with anything? Did he actually say “I am sorry sir because you are gay we cannot hire you”

            • Anonymous says:

              11:56
              How do you know the previous man was straight?

          • Caymanian says:

            Our Caymanian community is suffering from having stupid crap from all around the world pushed on them if you ask me.

            We are not changing our laws for you. Marriage is between a man and a woman, deal with it or move on. This is OUR laws. It is what the majority of Caymanians desire. Again, if you can’t deal with that move on. This is MY country also.

            And by the way, normal is what the majority of people do and until the LGBT community out weights the heterosexual community then YES what you are doing is NOT NORMAL.

            So make your darn choice.

            • Anonymous says:

              You represent the hatefulness that the majority of people find so offensive and ugly. You truly need love in your life; you sound miserable and mean.

            • Proud Gay Caymanian says:

              Wow 2:29pm – umm… with respect to the term “normal” in the context you have used it, we agree on that point – I’d say that’s pretty clear in all my posts on the site – so I am not sure why your knickers are in a twist.

              For the avoidance of doubt, I accept that if the normative of sexual relations are heterosexual relations, then every other form of sexual relationship would be in the minority, including: lesbians, gays, bisexuals. I don’t disagree, or have a problem with that. I am a very proud sexual minority.

              It is when the term “normal” to suggest that we are somehow bio-chemically deficient let’s say, then you would be wrong – if that is what is meant by your use of the term.

              On the issue of OUR laws – you do not have a monopoly on the situation. News flash – laws are susceptible to change. Give up already on the idea of my moving, cause it ain’t happening.

              You have no proof to say that it is the majority of what Cayman desires – but even if that were the case, the central theme in my postings which you somehow seem to have missed, is that your desires (irrespective of how many of you there are) must not infringe upon my rights. It really doesn’t matter what you think about me or “my lifestyle”. I have entitlements that the law must provide and/or protect.

              Oh and please, while you’re complaining about importing stupid crap that is pushed on Caymanians – let us not forget, shall we, that homophobia in the Western Caribbean was imported and indoctrinated during the Colonial era. That is a fact! Similarly, the religious nonsense that so many of our people believe was imported from the Southern Baptist in the United States. So yes, if we’re going to complain about the imported crap, let’s not be selective, let’s remember to include all of it.

              Proud To Be A Sexual Minority of Caymanian Birth and Decent.

          • Caymanian says:

            I expect that for the next 50 years you will be saying this with limited to no change.

      • MM says:

        I have not found any companies on-island openly opposed to LGBT – in fact, many companies love hiring from this community because everyone is bubbly, friendly and especially are excellent with client relations. Personally, I have LGBT friends and family and they are the most wonderful bunch in my circle.

        I do not know companies laying people off because of liking the same sex; unless of course it is causing issues at work, which goes for heteros too and there are laws against it if coworkers are making inappropriate advances at work whether LGBT or not.

        • Proud Gay Caymanian says:

          Excellent MM – If there are no companies in the Cayman Islands who are currently discriminating against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation, then there should be zero resistance to the pursuit of legislation to that effect, as at present, there are none. We could consider it a Just-In-Case measure, if that is more palatable. Thanks for your tacit support.

      • Anonymous says:

        Anon, you are not seeking rights, you are seeking extraordinary rights. A employer will never tell you that they are firing you because you are gay. If That ever happens you can go to the labour office and complain or take them to Court. However they can fire anyone of us for ligit reason and if you are gay you no doubt will conclude that that is the reason for your dismissal. If you are treated unfairly the law is there for everybody.

    • Anonymous says:

      Hospital visitation rights?
      Ability to make medical decisions?
      Ability to have the person you love as a dependent?
      Inheretense of pension and other funds and assets on death?
      Basic respect and acceptance?

      • Anonymous says:

        No hospital will refuse you to visit your partner, friend, husband wife child providing you go during the visiting time. Either one of you you can make decisions in compliance with the other persons wishes, you can consign the documents .didn’t one of the infamous couple put his partner as dependent, you can get around the pension, and other assets by your partner making a will, or a living trust in both of your names. Basic respect and acceptance should be between the two of you.. no one else can be bound over to respect or accept either of you. Instead of railing up every now and then about not having rights go see a lawyer and sort it.

    • Anonymous says:

      They cannot add same sex spouse as a defendant for health insurance or as a beneficiary for pensions

    • Anonymous says:

      Can you read? The question that Colours Cayman asked was who is responsible for ‘human rights’? In other words to put in place policies the aim of which would be to educate and eventually prevent all the different types of daily discrimination to which you referred in your comment …

    • Anonymous says:

      You are correct on the discrimination for all except the filthy rich, (unless gay) however accepting that will never make it better and we all need to fight it in whatever form it takes.

  6. Anon says:

    No offense, but we’re simply abiding by the C.I. Constitution – marriage is between one man and one woman. Most Caymanians are very happy with this, and had the vote to have the referendum on this subject passed a few months ago, the results would have been to keep this section of the Constitution as is.

    It is only on this website that you would believe that the majority of Cayman is pro gay. This is mainly because the type of the comments that the moderator chooses the approve and deny, in spite of the comment policy.

    CNS: In accordance with the Comment Policy, comments that promite hatred are deleted. Some comments on this particular topic fall into this category. If you were being honest, you would see that comments expressing a variety of opinions are posted, including this one.

    • Anonymous says:

      Oh my God just stop it, it’s embarrassing! I hope you don’t actually talk like this in real life.

    • Anonymous says:

      So, if the majority of Caymanians supported race discrimination, and slipped that into the constitution, then local apartheid would be OK too, according to your logic.

    • Anonymous says:

      The Cayman Constitution (CC) is a fundamentally flawed document, chiefly because the committee consisted of way. way too many Christian ministers who ensured the document had a significant Christian bias. Eventually, the CC will be legally challenged on the basis that it breaches fundamental human rights, forcing essential changes.

    • Anonymous says:

      Apparently not CNS. Comments about the validity of the so-called gender identity issue are not printed. Your policy is actually censorship of points of view that in your opinion cannot be politely discussed. Fortunately that will not settle the duscussion except on your own pages.

  7. Anonymous says:

    A major road block to LGBT rights must be laid at the feet of religion who seem to have taken it upon themselves to be the arbitrator of the bedroom.
    As a response the churches represent a sizable vote so the politicians ignore doing what is right and work to stay in office instead.

    • Anonymous says:

      This used to be true, but religious voters are no longer as numerous as everyone assumes. They are a loud outdated minority.

    • Caymanian says:

      Marriage is a religious right not a civil right. A Civil Union would be a right a LGBT would be seeking. Same also for atheist.

      • Caymanian says:

        Religion has nothing to do with marriage. Marriage is the socially recognised union between two individuals and people have been doing this long before religion came about.

        • Anonymous says:

          Caymanian makes an interesting point. There is no reference to marriage ceremony in the bible, organized religion made it part of religious life.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s a good thing the bible doesn’t tell you to hate black peo.. Oh wait…

  8. Anonymous says:

    the governor is busy doing other stuff….(don’t ask me what that stuff is…)…….

    • Mokes-for-all says:

      Her Excellency is just having fun, making no decisions and not getting her hands dirty, until she leaves next year. A nice little jolly in the Caribbean, and then back to the real world.

  9. What is good for the goose.... says:

    LGBT community will have their rights; this is Cayman, we are behind and usually take longer than the others to get it together.

    On the other hand though, while waiting patiently on equal rights for sexual orientation, we now have a serious issue whereby ponies and horses are being molested….dogs being burnt to death etc.

    As you can see we have our fair share of disturbing issues plaguing this Country.

    Crime is nothing to ignore. Murders happen several times a year now, and becoming normal.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Right on the heels of international human rights day…what a joke this government is.

  11. rollin says:

    I agree with anyone”s hesitation to put this show on play.

    The workforce and society have discrimination laws in place for everyone regardless of your color, background, gender or sexual preference. Why the need for special provisions? This is only going to create more reason for large and intrusive government.

    Under Christian values same sex marriage is a no-no and last i checked this is a christian nation ; regardless of our hypocritical actions* Has this changed, if so I would really love for open trade on Sundays.

    Perhaps same sex union?

    Next they will want their own pronouns and everyone will be responsible for hurting their feelings 24/7 with even a notion of curiosity or perceived ignorance. Oh god can you imagine the new direction of reformed education and political correctness after all this.

    This is a huge step and one that should be considered carefully.

    • Cognitive Dissonance says:

      7:32 it’s called human rights. We don’t need to complicate progress.

    • Al Catraz says:

      “Under Christian values same sex marriage is a no-no”

      Under Christian values, so is worshipping false gods and following false religions. Do you allow Hindus and Muslims to be married?

      Why should worshipping false gods be allowed in a Christian nation?

      • An Atheist says:

        There are no gods.

        • Just Sayin' says:

          Even God admits there are other Gods. He just insists you choose him over them.

          Exedous 23

          • Anonymous says:

            Actually no, he ‘admits’ there are other “gods”, but asserts that there are no other “Gods”. He points out that bowing down to lumps of wood vs. an actual being doesn’t make much sense.

          • Anonymous says:

            “Even god admits there are other gods” You got a youtube link?

      • Vulpes Vulpes says:

        Spot on Al Catraz. It would seem that the deluded use christianity as a license to spread bigotry. Who would have guessed?
        We cannot be certain of anything but, we can be as certain that the christian god does not exist as christians are certain Zues and Thor do not exist.

        Confrontional religions like christianity is the root of this discrimination, bigotry and controversy over a god no one can prove exist.

    • Anonymous says:

      I think you are confused that our islands will become like the USA where political correctness and all that crap (excuse me) about hurting someone’s feeling is taken to the extreme. These things move the population’s focus from the fact that the US is imploding under the weight of unthinkable debt and endless rules and regulations. You should look at other countries such as the UK, Ireland or even Amsterdam all where gay marriage has been in place for some time. There are no noticeable changes to the culture or morality other than GLBTQ people can now enter into lasting relationships focusing on a commitment based responsibilities. While I strongly support gay marriage, I do not support in any fashion forcing religious institutions being forced to perform such ceremonies. I believe such ceremonies should be performed either by the government or licensed individuals willing to perform such ceremonies. For example, in the state of Florida, Notary Publics are empowered to perform such ceremonies. These individuals of high character and credibility are already determined by the government to be entrusted with important legal verification of identity and authority to sign legal documents.

    • Robert says:

      Christian society ,you are joking Right , Let them get married , to hell with it , why should we just suffer the agony of marriage , I’m kidding , before the inevitable attacks come , well kind of kidding .

      • rollin says:

        hahaha

        I love that you had to retract a point because of potential P.C. backlash .

        My point exactly

  12. Allar says:

    Don’t worry guys I am your minister, you can reach me on my email gogetalife.com

    • Allar says:

      Sorry forgot to give the street address for my office, it is on the corner of get a life and F**k off. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Probably because there are more serious issues to take care of than worry about the gsy agenda

    • Anonymous says:

      like not getting the dump sorted..
      like not getting the port done
      like not dealing with the immigration issues…….etc

    • Anonymous says:

      The nonsense of religions would go away without the brainwashing of children and force of governments. Then we’d have to own our bigotries and not blame easter bunny, santa clause, allah, jesus, (your favorite supernatural being here) . . . . for our cowardice.

  14. Cognitive Dissonance. says:

    “Human rights an issue for everyone” but, not if your Tara.

  15. Oh boy says:

    Here comes the death blow for the PPM! Alden and Wayne’s views on this are complete opposites. Pass the popcorn please

  16. Anonymous says:

    Who cares! We have more important things to think about.

    • Foo foo says:

      Human rights aren’t important enough?

      • Anonymous says:

        Other countries already have gay rights, they can go there if it means that much to them

        • Anonymous says:

          You know they have a name for that fallacy, its called Ergo decedo.

        • Anonymous says:

          Or you can leave here and go somewhere where ignorance is bliss. o wait. Never mind.

        • Anonymous says:

          You are absolutely correct. There are other progressive countries thankfully leading the way on upholding the universal value that ALL human beings are deserving of dignity and respect. Regrettably, I as a Caymanian, can only claim this rock as my home. And as a Gay Caymanian, I am deserving as the same rights under and before the law as every other Caymanian. No more, NO LESS.

        • Proud Gay Caymanian says:

          You are absolutely correct. There are other progressive countries who have demonstrated a commitment to the universal principles of r e s p e c t i n g the dignity of all human beings. Regrettably, this is the rock that I have to call home. I breath, bleed, love and hurt, just like you and I am no less deserving of equality than you – irrespective of your supposed traditions. My right as a human being to equal treatment by the law and equal protection of the law must trump your traditional values. It is that simple.

          • Anonymous says:

            A pedophile could offer the same argument. Sorry my gay friend, I can’t accept that sexual relationships are normal, it is not how nature allows us to re-produce, no bible or religion needed. Marriage has to be between a man and a woman.

            • Caymanian Atheist says:

              You don’t have to accept it, love is love and we don’t get the chance to choose who we love. Homosexuality is not only a “sexual” relationship but also a form of love. That love deserves our respect. If people we’re more accepting and not full of hate and bigotry this place would be a lot better for all genders.

              Sorry my bigot friend but you are part of the problem.

              • Anonymous says:

                What
                We do choose who we love- normally we choose who we love and want to spend our life with.

                • Anonymous says:

                  5:38. You don’t have control of what emotions you feel next the same as you don’t have control who you’re attracted to or love. Homosexuality is a form of love.
                  If homosexuality is a choice when did you choose to be straight?

            • Proud Gay Caymanian says:

              I am at least happy to know that you are able to distinguish between a homosexual and a pedophile. I see that making that distinction used up all of the rest of your brain cells because the rest of what you wrote is rubbish.

              Quite frankly dude, it really doesn’t matter whether you think sexual relationships between men are normal are not. It is not for you to say. Sexual relations between men has existed as long as mankind. Sexual relations between the same sex also exists in other species of God’s wonderful creation.

              There is no universal authority that marriage has to be between a man and a woman. Look beyond these 100 square miles and you will find that homosexual couples are being married every day.

              You are very much in need of enlightenment. I welcome you back to the conversation when you are better informed.

        • Anonymous says:

          I think you mean other countries acknowledge human rights instead of promoting bigotry and hatred that divides nations.

    • Proud Gay Caymanian says:

      If only the white people of old had maintained the attitude you are espousing “we have more important things to think about”, then you and I would be in the same boat. But with old attitudes resurfacing, as was evidenced in the US recently, perhaps it may not be long now before you are relying on the same universal principles of equality that I am relying on.

  17. Anonymous says:

    This is what happens when persons with no track record of leadership or management are put in charge of a Ministry. Classic Peter Principle if it ever was.

    • POV says:

      I hope you are not referring to Minister Rivers, because you can say a lot of things about her, but one thing you can’t is her understanding of the law. She knows her stuff. Perhaps they piled her plate a bit high, but she has made changes to laws that were very out dated.
      What the country is lacking however, is enforcement of the laws we do have. So creating new ones is not going to solve our problems without the backbone to enforce them. Thus all her efforts are going to fall by the waste-side, simply because we now seem to be living in a lawless society.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Tara is useless on all sides of the coin…..from education to Labour/employment to gender affairs and pensions, she is about the worse this country has seen. With the exception of education, her ministry is possibly one of the easiest to be successful with and she has done absolutely ZERO in the 3+ years she has been in.

  19. Anonymous says:

    And the Governess says: CNS asked the governor’s office and we were told that portfolios are allocated by the premier. Even though Kilpatrick sits in Cabinet, it appears that she does not know either.

    Unbelievable!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Even the Governor is a typical civil servant. Whatever the issue, a shrug followed by: “not my job.”

  20. Eden Rocks says:

    Is Eden busy? Maybe he could take this one on.

  21. Anonymous says:

    “Folks i got this”, said Tara never.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Come on CI Govt. get your act together! How are we to be taken seriously on the International stage or anywhere, with silliness like this? Tara is useless!

    • Cognitive Dissonance. says:

      There could be public floggings and much worst if the wrong people are elected into power. We might not be taken seriously internationally and set a bad example for our neighboring caribbean countries but, at least it has not got to beating people in the streets for being born different.
      It is clear that discrimination is coming from both the public and government servants, government servants who have taken an oath to uphold the human rights to it’s highest standards yet spit in the eye of their own people and go against their duty. They don’t even have to do their job and will still be paid in full with benefits.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s hard to disagree with this. Nice enough person and all that, but I have never heard a single person say that Ms Rivers is an effective minister. Mention her name and all you get are sighs and eye-rolling – including from other ministers!

    • Anonymous says:

      No, she is not ueseless. To the contrary. Minister Rivers is one of the few that is actually getting things done. She has demonstrated that she isn’t afraid to take on and deal with the tough issues – such as pensions, state of public education, labour and employment, etc. – regardless of the political consequences. This is the kind of leadership that is needed, and more of it! If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. One thing is for sure, she isn’t afraid to stand and address the needs of the country head on.

Leave a Reply to anon Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.