DG: Cayman will need to tackle LGBTI issues

| 07/03/2018 | 80 Comments
same-sex civil unions, Cayman News Service

Deputy Governor Franz Manderson believes issue of same-sex unions must be dealt with

(CNS): Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has echoed the comments made by Governor Helen Kilpatrick before she left the Cayman Islands about the need for the government to address the inequities surrounding the relationships of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. Although the issue remains controversial, Manderson said this was something that was “not going to go away”.

Speaking to the press at Kilpatrick’s farewell reception at the airport Monday, just before she left the country, Manderson said that the issue had been at the forefront of her agenda as it was part of her mandate from the UK to ensure human rights across the territories.

“So it means that this is something that is not going to go away and something that we are going to have to address …at some stage, fairly quickly. We are going to have to turn our minds to it and make some hard decisions,” he said.

Manderson said that Cayman will likely look at what Bermuda had done.

That territory opted to introduce marriage equality, but just months later became the first nation in the world that had introduced same-sex marriage to overturn the legislation, replacing it with same-sex civil unions. Although this move was was heavily criticised, the UK assented to the bill, indicating that this would be an acceptable compromise for the territories to introduce.

The majority of the Legislative Assembly membership remains adamantly opposed to same-sex marriage. But although most MLAs do not want to be seen supporting the concept of legal same-sex partnerships or civil unions, a number of them, speaking off record, are beginning to accept the idea that it is only a matter of time.

There has been a marked shift in the national conversation on the issue of same-sex unions, which was once dominated by staunchly conservative views. There are now clear voices in the community calling for equality, especially from activist groups like Colours Cayman.

There also appears to be a generational divide in Cayman, as is the case in most countries where some form of legal civil unions has been created for the LGBTI community or where activists are campaigning for marriage equality.

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Category: Policy, Politics

Comments (80)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    This is not a scientific poll and the results cannot be considered, although they can lead to entertainment.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I couldn’t help but notice how no one is asking in the comments to the article regarding the DART tunnel extension why we aren’t focused on crime instead of that issue.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    The 50 LBGTIQ’s are going to have to wait, maybe a long time.

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    • Anonymous says:

      why you worried?!?

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    • Anonymous says:

      How about decriminalizing ganja and letting individuals be. After all, the facts and stats on record globally of the damage and death cigarettes and alcohol vs none for ganja. Before these Europeans agendas are forced on us ateast let straight men and women be able to deal with the after effects of passing this bill, so when we see two men holding hands and kissing or two teams doing whatever we don’t lose our minds and say something. People want to talk about equality well the cigarette smokers are winning meanwhile passing on second hand smoke to the non cigarette smokers. If it’s equality for humans then let it be straight across the board. Stop sleeping and wake up.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Low hanging fruit for low energy management.

  5. Edgar A. Poe says:

    Passing a bill to legalize same sex marriage does neither condone or discriminate. It simply gives the right to choose. No matter whether a law is passed or squashed it will not make the issue disappear. We have no right to condemn anyone for the right to choose as they are man made laws. No-one at all follows ALL of the laws of the Bible.

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  6. West bay Premier says:

    Mr Manderson , there are higher priorities that will benefit the overall Islands. What about talking about the crime and criminals that is destroying the Islands and every kind of human . Why not talk about get and giving the RCIPS more power to deal with these criminals and crimes . Get your priorities straight.

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    • Diogenes says:

      Of course, he isn’t talking about what you want right at the minute so you attack him
      These comments made before the most recent incident of violence on our streets but you are going to act like he is ignoring the violence to address this.
      Unless you are claiming the DG is prescient to all events on these islands, then you already believe in an invisible omnipotent, omniscient omnipresent tri-personality desert sky God so wizardry and sorcery would be nothing out of the ordinary for you.
      He isn’t agreeing with your brainwashed anti-intellectual mindset and series of arguments using a legal standpoint so you criticize him for bringing light to another issue
      Can the DG not be aware of more than one problem on these islands at once?
      Is he going to devote his entire shift to LGBTQ rights as DG?
      Is he going to amend the constitution and pass laws unilaterally that apply equality on these islands?
      If he ever does a speech in Cayman in his function as Deputy Governor does he have to mention every single problem on these islands, or just the ones you want to talk about while ignoring the ones you dislike?

      Take a moment and think
      The Police Commissioner surely should be the one making statements and assertions about crimes, not the head bureaucrat
      The DG is responsible for the Civil Service (look it up since you clearly don’t understand what it means)
      The Governor oversees the police and National security (a position the DG happens to be filling for the next two weeks)
      The Premier oversees Immigration and is meant to provide advice to the Governor through Cabinet and the NSC for matters of national security
      But here you are criticizing the DG for something not even within his purview

      Why are you acting like crime is a part of the DG’s regular portfolio?

      Of course, as you spend time commenting on CNS pretending like the equality issue isn’t important. If this is inconsequential and doesn’t matter then why have you personally written many comments week after week on articles relating to this.

      The frailty of this comment is only matched by the stupidity and ignorance you display on a daily basis

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      • Mokes-for-all says:

        I wish I could give more than just one thumbs up to your response. Intelligent, and well written.

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      • West bay Premier says:

        12:04 am , Is Mr Manderson acting as the Governor at this time ? yes , until the new Governor arrive . What was he doing yesterday , acting in the powers of the Governor.
        I am saying that the criminals that going to be robbing and killing you are more important than your issue, that’s why I said he need to get his priorities straight.

        About your comment on the stupidity and ignorance I display everyday , more people agreed with my comments than they do yours . Unless you’re going to be like Hillary when she called every American “Deplorable ” when she seen that they were going to vote for President Trump .

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        • Diogenes says:

          Your comment was earlier than my reply (obviously) which means it has been up for longer and seen by more people, once an article comes off the front page of CNS it rarely gets any clicks unless linked to in another article.
          So is it surprising your comment got more attention than mine, no.
          The part you are leaving out is my comment has a much better like to dislike ratio than yours, 13:6, more than twice as many likes to dislikes, while your comment has 19 likes to 13 dislikes
          As much as I love an arbitrary size competition, my comment was many things your comment was not grammatically correct, logical and actually correct

          But you can continue to act like some bastion of intelligence
          The rest of us have a good laugh

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    • Anonymous says:

      Solving the crime problem is a complex issue. Solving LGBT discrimination under the law takes a simple act of the LA. If you really want to focus on crime, then grant recognition of same sex unions under the law so we can move on to more pressing matters.

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    • Anonymous says:

      West Bay Premier might be happier if the police have powers to arrest, judge, sentence and carry out whatever punshiment they decide fits the crime. As for what the DG should be talking about, a previous report indicated the gentlemen was responding to a question. Only a small percentage of Caymanians have learned to accept gay rights, the rest will have to be tolerant.

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      It’s not like it will take a lot of time. The issue is incredibly basic: Should (a) ALL people of the Cayman Islands have the same and equal rights or (b) different level of rights for various people?

      Simple as that.

      p.s. If you’re debating with yourself, the right answer for everyone is (a). We should all have the same basic human rights.

  7. Cayman Stand says:

    How about dealing with the crime issue and make Cayman safe again and then onto LGBT? Pointless to have civil unions when no one is safe. You are Governor now and this comes directly under you.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The crime and collapse of our way of life is way more important than getting these rights together for a small minority. Typical of a bureaucrat, fiddle while Rome burns. Luckily our Honorable Premier and the Unity team are on the job.

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  8. Beaumont Zodecloun says:

    I am all for equal rights — marriage, health care, insurance, etc. — for all of us.

    Refresh me. What does the “I” stand for? I get the LGBT.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Intersex – please educate yourself

      • West bay Premier says:

        Intersex – could you please educate us , because I believe when you engage into to sex , it’s then intersex , it’s not outersex . And it can’t be internationalsex , because sex has been happening internationally before time .

    • Anonymous says:

      There is another letter. LGBTIQ

      Strong lobby behind this worldwide.

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    • An Unimpressed Youth says:

      Intersex. According to the article.

    • Anonymous says:

      As can be read in the main article above – Intersex (whatever that means)

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    • Anonymous says:

      The I stands for people. As do all of the other letters.

      The letters don’t matter. What matters is that these are human beings, deserving of respect and equal dignity under the law, regardless of whether you or anyone else understands them.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    I see the deflecting bigots are trying to stop work being done to end discrimination by dragging up local criminality. Simple legislative reform to protect gay rights takes little effort, certainly if the bigots did not put so much energy into impeding it.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Presenting this survey on CNS is akin to surveying London on the Brexit referendum.

    In other words; interesting, but horribly misleading.

    – Whodatis

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    • Diogenes says:

      Then I would assume you wholeheartedly support a referendum on the issue, seeing as an the result of a small impromptu mixed poll with Caymanians, Expats and outside persons is not to your liking
      Oh wait… the government has no interest in the opinion of the people no matter the potential (and likely) result
      Blissful ignorance, or in your case just ignorance

      Diogenes

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    • Anonymous says:

      Who is referring to the cave dwelling Bible bashing bigots.

      • Anonymous says:

        Apart from the Bible-bashing bit, it sounds like you are referring to my reference to the Leave voters.

        Funny how “bigotry” manifests eh?

        – Who

  11. Anonymous says:

    Gay people are just that – human beings deserving of equal rights no matter how trivial some may think this issue is. 99.9% of gays living in the Cayman Islands are law abiding, hard working, tolerant, loving parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends colleagues, Christians, neighbours, politicians, teachers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, hotels workers, nurses, policemen, customs officers, firemen/women ,nurses, flight attendants,bus drivers, gardeners, construction workers, pilots and on and on and on. Yes we deserve the same rights as heterosexual couples. It’s the 21st Century Cayman.!!! I want my fourteen year partnership recognised like yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Thank you Franz for demonstrating to these hateful and backward folks that you have to be concerned not with what is popular but what is right and in the best interests of this country and ALL of its PEOPLE.

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  13. Slacker says:

    People keep talking about the CS being the largest voting block. But, when it comes to issues like this, it is actually the Churches. So, I am not holding my breath for any political action. If there is to be any changes in the foreseeable future, it will come from the Judiciary branch.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Cant be serious. Especially when people are doing drive by on cyclers in Prospect……?

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  15. Anonymous says:

    If we include expats in the numbers (like the survey does) I am sure that it would come out with a plurality of support for the LGBTQ community
    But with something like a referendum it would be only Caymanians voting, and out of that group the two largest voting blocs are 50-59 and 40-49, we have an abysmal youth voter rate which would mean in all likelihood the vote would go maybe 70-30 or 80-20 in opposition of at best 60-40, which would just be used as an excuse to support this legalized discrimination.

    Sadly persons refuse to see this is not an issue where approval by the majority is necessary or should be expected, the mobs interests are in the mob, they will trample all others
    Minorities need protections and they need recognition by the state, this isn’t something that should be left up to popular opinion

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    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly. If the majority could be relied upon to protect minorities, human rights legislation would be unnecessary – but it is necessary, and I applaud Mr Manderson for his leadership on this.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Mr Manderson, I hope you enjoyed your tenure as DG, this might just be the end of that arrangement, I hope for your sake the churches don’t catch whiff of these comments. Thankfully Anthony Eden is about 200,000 years old, so you don’t have to worry about him finding this article, probably doesn’t even know how to turn a computer on much less navigate the web.

    In all seriousness, these aren’t the kind of comments that are going to win you much support on these islands and while this isn’t anything concrete, acknowledging the discrimination is a first step in the right direction (I’d love to see people try to rationalize it away now, though I have no doubts they still will) Cayman has the opportunity to come to a logical agreement with the LGBTQ community, whether that is protections and acknowledgements under the law and civil unions or straight up equality.
    Make no mistake, if our current laws are challenged in court, they will be deemed discriminatory and likely ruled against. Either support the end of this discrimination or have it ended by the judiciary as it has been done in multiple states around the world.

    Mr Manderson, you seem to be one of very few withing the CIG willing to fight for Caymanians, all caymanians and not just the majority

    People of Cayman
    Your choice,

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Helen didn’t mention doing anything about addressing the crime issue before she bailed , I think that while the LGBT rights are an important one , the gangsta-crime issue needs to take priority .

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    • Anonymous says:

      And what is the brilliant solution then?
      What is the simple fix all for crime?
      Where is the panacea?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Enforcing the Immigration Law would be a great place to start!

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        • Anonymous says:

          I’ll set the bar real low, I’d be happy to just see blacked out license plates and darkened car windows outlawed as a first measure.. I was just reminded of these two by the low rider Honda that blew past me doing 60 by Savannah school, in a school zone no less.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Convenient answer, all your personal experience in immigration and your intimate relationship with the current system isn’t useful enough.

          Why not just join Immigration since you are such an expert

          Valid criticisms are different from a vague bullshit response, with your Sandra Hill-esque misplaced exclamation point on a statement

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Guns and Crime are more important that this at this point.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That is the issue, always an excuse to delay it…

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      • Anonymous says:

        Guns and crime will take many months if not years to solve. Recognition of same sex unions could legitimately be accomplished in days, through act of the LA. If you truly want to see this island move forward to address more pressing issues (as I do), then you would support this simple, human act of giving same-sex couples equal dignity under the law.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    I think we have much more important issues to worry over than what people are doing with their long or short John’s. Who needs sex with the way our gov’t f@#%’s us!

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    • Anonymous says:

      No. I think this needs to be addressed finally instead of always being put on the back burner as it always has been. Let’s focus our energies on the little things that we can achieve relatively easily that will have positive impacts on the Cayman Islands.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Let’s tackle gun and crime problem first shall we? The oddballs do not take priority at this time.

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    • Diogenes says:

      aka let’s never do anything about this issue that could be resolved with a simple bill,

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    • Anonymous says:

      Guns and crime will take many months if not years to solve. Recognition of same sex unions could legitimately be accomplished in days, through act of the LA. If you truly want to see this island move forward to address more pressing issues (as I do), then you would support this simple, human act of giving same-sex couples equal dignity under the law.

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  21. Leviticus 18:22 says:

    Scribes and Pharisees

    “You shall not lie with a man as with a woman. It is an abomination.” – Leviticus 18:22

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    • Leviticus Schmiticus says:

      Do you eat conch, lobster, whelk?

      Leviticus 11

      9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

      10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

      11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

      12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

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      • Leviticus 18:22 says:

        No I do not nor swhine the word is law

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        • Anonymous says:

          If you were held to biblical standards we would all be imprisoned for the rest of our lives, then again that is what you mindless drones want

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        • Zak loves shoes says:

          Lets not forget these other no no’s – eating fat, tearing your clothes, unkempt hair, don’t trim your beard, cutting your hair at the sides, eating fruit from a tree planted less than 4 years, selling land permanently and also one of my favorites – mistreating forefingers.
          Also please remember you can’t go to church for 33 days after having a boy and 66 days after a girl, also don’t forget the salt in your offering.

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          • Anonymous says:

            777 is the number that smites your type by night heathen. Tour false degrees mean nothing to the dready controller.

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    • Anonymous says:

      1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
      2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
      3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

      Matthew 7:1-3 KJV

      * Historical footnote The KJV, a bible authorized by a bisexual man (King James being that bisexual man), who had multiple noted relationships with men and women, all the while outlawing sodomy in true hypocritical christian fashion. (of course all this history is left out by the bible toting evangelicals)

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      • Anonymous says:

        You must one of his men lol there are other versions of the Bible were they all authorized by gay people ? Maybe you should be vex with them for not making same sex marriage ok instead of blabbering off about hypocrites. If king James was in fact gay at least he had the send to recognize that he shouldn’t try to force his lifestyle on the rest of the world

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        • Anonymous says:

          Nope. just someone who appreciates that Christians today are just as hypocritical as Christians 400 years ago
          King James was in fact bisexual it is a historical fact there is no “if”

          He did in fact force his lifestyle on the rest of the world, the christian lifestyle of course that is perfectly fine to you, because you are allowed to enforce your beliefs on other people.

          We see you, hypocrite

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      • Jar Jar Binks says:

        That is a double-edged sword me thinks.

    • Anonymous says:

      Was he talking to a woman?

    • Anonymous says:

      Okay then don’t. But stop trying to tell everyone else what they can and can’t do. I respect and defend your right to follow whatever religious mores you see fit, however nonsensical I find them – now respect my right not to.

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    • Anonymous says:

      oh…buzz off…I almost didn’t even want to dignify you with a response…

  22. Anonymous says:

    we can’t even dance on sunday…..zzzz
    cayman islands is run by poorly educated, backward, small minded, genetically challenged individuals….
    face facts.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    The Cayman Islands not only has the current obligation to recognize and allow same sex civil unions, but also to protect all LBGTQ from opposition to their civil rights. In other places in the world, many of our MLAs, religious ministers, and police officers would be locked up for hate crimes. The despicable behavior needs to not only stop, but at our point in human history, should be going 180′ in the other direction.
    – An educated Caymanian

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    • Anonymous says:

      Which politician has denied you any queer rights ? There has never been a vote on a bill seeking to legalize gay marriage

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yet the MLAs have still made their opinions known, refusing to hold referendums, refusing to acknowledge the issue, appearing at government endorsed rallies supporting “family values” all the while gambling, whoring and having a merry old time

        Their inaction is vote enough
        and the hypocrisy needs to end

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    • Anonymous says:

      Remember Sodom and Gomorrah. Jus sayin

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Interesting survey. I had to click yes to supporting same sex civil unions, but I have to wonder if at least some of the people who selected no did so because they would support same sex MARRIAGE. Which is the selection I would have preferred to make has it been an option.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yet conversely some people may/do support same sex unions but not same sex marriage.

      Personally I think the Govt. should get out of the Marriage business. Leave that to whoever wants to define it socially/religiously/etc. Got. should set up a separate ‘domestic partnership’ law moving all of the privileges & duties of the marriage law into it. So you can identify anyone you want as your ‘domestic partner’ and the Govt. doesn’t care. If you want to get married in church X or social group Y that’s between you and them, again Govt. don’t care.

      (anyone you want does not include people unable to also legally sign the partnership contract, so no cats, children or inanimate objects)

      • Anonymous says:

        Gays don’t want civil unions, they want to the government to force total acceptance on the public, not just legally but socially. That’s why they insist on the word marriage.

        • Anonymous says:

          I don’t think that’s correct.

          Gay and lesbian people want equality under the law, and must insist on the word “marriage” in order to actually achieve that equality, since both domestic and international laws require “marriage” as a condition to the conveyance of certain legal benefits.

          As just one example, if a same-sex couple is in a “domestic partnership” or “civil union” and emigrates from Cayman to the United States, they are not treated as married while they are abroad because the application of international law does not recognize those unions as conveying the same benefits as marriage. Accordingly, civil marriage and civil unions are inherently unequal under the law.

          No gay or lesbian person I have ever met has insisted that churches be forced to perform same sex marriages or that people be forced to accept anything different than they do today. We merely want to be treated equally under the law and in places of public accommodation, so that the simple human act of falling in love does not force us into status as second-class citizens.

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