LGBT people face toxic rhetoric
(CNS): Activists from the local organisation promoting equality for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community have raised concerns about the escalation of “toxic rhetoric” they are facing with an increase in rallies and events targeted against them and their demands for their rights to be respected.
But one of the community leaders is continuing to speak out and urging those in power not to add to the discrimination but speak out against it.
Billie “Bee” Bryan, the founder and president of Colours Cayman, said that LGBT people are hearing more and more from those who object to their demands for equality, “If you don’t like it, leave.”
Bryan said that while this is part of the misconception that all gay people in Cayman are either foreign or somehow unduly influenced by foreigners, it is hard for Caymanian LGBT people to constantly hear. She added that it is “a hurtful sentiment, particularly when it’s directed towards those who only want to feel safe and secure wherever they live”.
But Bryan stated in a release this week that it’s the kind of rhetoric that the community is all too familiar with and is because its members have started speaking up in hopes of being heard, respected or at least tolerated. But she said LGBT people are instead “reduced to some kind of pariah”.
She added, “No longer seen as fit to live amongst others in our own country, we’re told to simply pack up and leave, as if we’ve no attachment whatsoever to anything or anyone here. Never mind the job we may have secured or our friends and family or the countless memories made, we’re expected to sacrifice it all for want of a more accepting, more progressive society.”
She lamented the spread of the “toxic rhetoric”, which she said had infected “our own churches and government” and fuelled the calls for LGBT people to leave their own country.
Still hopeful that the Constitution protects the rights of minorities, Bryan pointed to the effort by Caymanian attorney Chantelle Day, who has stood up against the establishment and successfully secured the right in the Grand Court to marry her same-sex partner. While the decision by the chief justice to recognise marriage equality was challenged by the government, reacting to populist pressure, Bryan noted that the Bill of Rights is there to support everyone, not just the majority.
“Its purpose is to minimise injustices and secure fundamental rights and freedoms for all to enjoy,” she stated.
Bryan urged those who hold public office to speak accurately about the law and if they do not, they should be held accountable for false or inaccurate statements upon which others rely.
Confident that the issue of marriage equality will be upheld when the case goes before the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal next month, she accepted that many people are still going to disagree with the outcome.
But it is not acceptable for those who don’t agree to continue making LGBT Caymanians unwelcome in their own home, Bryan stated.
Category: Community, Local News
I love Wendy and CNS!!!
Religious beliefs USE to be a large part of our culture CAYMANKIND but MONEY REPLACED GOD in the home church and govt .they have taken our culture from us replaced by concrete and blocked by foreigners to our very beaches and literally our very homes Many of my foreign family and friends say it makes no sense to fly home because our Cayman has gone .
So the same religious people will parade around half naked and dance provocatively along seven mile beach, in front of children I might add, during Batabano but will come on here and bash LGBT people because of their beliefs? That makes zero sense. So Caymanians will: watch porn, masturbate, divorce, cheat on their spouses, eat shellfish, curse, etc, but will act like the world is ending just because two people wanna legally marry? In Jamaica people are MURDERED for being gay, and at this point it looks like Cayman wants to do the same. I don’t get why religious people think gay people choose to be gay! If they had a choice I’m pretty sure they would choose to be straight to avoid the hostility and verbal abuse from these people! Nobody chooses their sexual orientation! And the Bible doesn’t condemn gay people, the original text is “Man shall not lie with boy”, talking about pedophilia, but the Bible’s been changed over the centuries to accommodate man’s agenda! I just will never understand how people can be this pressed about A MARRIAGE LAW. God made gay people the way they are and he loves them very much. The day we all love each other and embrace each other’s differences is the day Jesus will come back because by then his work is done 🙏
All my dislikes are butt hurt conservatives who think they can control and change someone they don’t like! Same sex marriage will be legalized and by then, tell me if anything REALLY changes in YOUR life. The answer will be not a damn thangggg!! This is the equivalent of black people not being allowed to vote in America until 1965. Many white people used the BIBLE and said they are the dominant race. I’m a Christian, I’ve been to church all my life, and I know God doesn’t hate these people because he is not a hateful God, he said himself. The hate in people’s hearts is what God frowns upon, not two people who love each other. I don’t know how people can call themselves people of God then go around chanting “batty man haffi dead” and crap like that! That’s makes no sense and y’all just be confusing at this point… Just give these people the same rights you have, that’s all their asking.
Yep … read well … ssm is a gate way
CNS: I deleted the link because it is garbage. Same sex marriage does not lead to paedophilia. That’s like saying shopping will lead to shop-lifting. Understand these words: consenting adults. If both are consenting and both are adults, that is their choice and does not hurt anyone, therefore it is not your business. Sex with children hurts those children (even if the adult thinks they have consented – they are too young to have done so) and it is society’s responsibility to protect them.
Thumbs up are for cns
Thank you CNS.
Yeah exactly that’s what I saying, that text in the Bible is originally about pedophilia and not gay people, but many people believe it is about gay people which is wrong
I STAND WITH THE LGBT COMMUNITY OF CAYMAN AND WE WILL WIN THIS FIGHT AGAINST HATE AND BIGOTRY
Same old story. Just religion stirring up fear and hate among the ignorant. It’s been doing this for thousands of years.
Question: Does Cayman have hate speech laws? If so, could the Bible be considered illegal hate speech? After all, it literally calls for the execution of gay people. That sounds pretty hateful to me.
#lame
We are a BOT. The UK won’t allow Cayman to be a bigoted, backward, throwback part of their empire. Same sex marriage is coming and hopefully soon. Never mind dragging yourselves into the 21st century Cayman. Try and drag yourselves into the 20th century first and work from there.
Get a life
The LGBTQ community will never be excepted respected or tolerated on this rock for a longtime to come, this hatred is imbedded in the majority of caymanians and continues to be taught by who supposed to be spreading love the most, the churches I wish them all the best because I believe everyone is entitled to a happy life unless they choose otherwise, but we do have some bad mind people here, and by the way I’m caymanian and heterosexual but I do try to respect everyone regardless of their path
Thank you for your heartfelt view. I agree.
I assume you meant “accepted” rather than “excepted”…
Here is an example of the bigotry here in Cayman. Someone or some group voted 100+ times against the comments made in the original statement by “itscoming”. I am repeating the original statement because it is worth repeating.
Not everyone in the world is a biggot, and not everyone in Cayman is either, however, in a island nation that is as small as Cayman, the Biggots do stand out. – I only have one question. What are you affraid of — do you whink your spounce will divorce you to marry someone of the same sex?
“Although many of the older, currently-in-power generation are rabidly homophobic (shamelfully including the entire Assembly, as we saw with the two days of hatemongerging on the Assembly floor), the same can hopefully not be said about the up-and-coming generation, who have been exposed to new ways of thinking. It’s likely that this younger generation is a lot more gay-friendly than we know. So the notion that the older geneation speaks for all of Cayman is pure nonsense. In any case, Vickie and Chantelle WILL WIN the fight in court, no matter how many courts it takes and no matter how much of the people’s money the government wastes on vain attempts to prop up bigotry. More power to Vickie and Chantelle!”
The smallest minority usually has to scream the loudest.
You might be focusing on the least important aspect of this issue. What seems important to me, is that if we can’t support the smallest minority, then we aren’t good for anything. We stand up for ALL Caymanians, including those that are different from the majority. That’s the way equality works. The alternative is to plunge backward into the dark ages.
LGBT Are. You don’t have to like it. I don’t have to like it. They are people who deserve every single bit of equality before the law as you and me. It’s just that simple.
I was saying the bigots are the smallest majority….
But they pay for bots to look bigger!
Completely agree with you; what does it hurt any of us to allow people to love whomever they choose.
I had to walk a crooked path to find the love of my life. I would have gone to the ends of the Earth if that was necessary.
If you are lucky enough to find love, you are blessed.
Now, I wonder………… why would anyone thumbs this down. I think that wherever a person finds love, they should be able to live relatively unemcumbered. I really don’t care a whit about the sexuality of my neighbors.
Do you??? ew.
You don’t cause me problems, I won’t cause you problems. We can help each other; that’s what neighbors do. We should talk out our differences.
Wrong answers. We all have kids who we wish to grow in the CORRECT manner. Not fraud to shcct. 😉
I don’t know what the answer to the LGBT community’s desire to be freed from bigotry really is, but, I do know that their answering every negative comment on their preferred status does not help their cause. You are what you are and if you truly believe in yourselves, in your way of life then go forth peacefully ignoring stupid comments, focus on education rather than confrontation, act with kindness assist where needed, show love to others not public amorous demonstrations but genuine love for your fellow humans. In time and one by one you will see changes in time the older folks will either pass on or become more understanding before they move on, yes even government will have to accept your contributions as citizens of this land.
Your fight and your Load will be easier if you just stay calm and live. Nothing occurs before it’s time.
Gaybashbots out! In force! Normal people get that it’s none of our damn business what consenting adults do. It does not affect us. However that hate element just has to stick its nose in, not good when they mostly are bullies.
Straight man married to a beautiful woman here for 21 years.
By all means if you want the misery of marriage, have it. I love my wife and can’t imagine life without her though. Their marriage will have zero effect on my life.
On the other hand you have Katina Anglin with her holier than thou stance writing letters to the compass telling homosexual Caymanians to leave their own home if they don’t like her bigotry.
And imagine she tries to say I’m the bigot! I don’t care if two Caymanians want to be gay it none ah my business!
One love Billy and all. Thank you for standing up for fellow Caymanians.
Love, a straight Caymanian.
I don’t know who Katina Anglin is, but I support your view; It’s not of my or your business what consenting adults do in the privacy of their homes.
I think there will come a time when LGBT couples will be able to show affection in public. I am fine with that, as long as the same standard applies to all of us. ALL of us. People should be able to show affection. They should not bonkeybonk in public, but affection should be their own business.
Can we please have a referendum for the country as a whole (those with voting rights) to decide if we want to legalise gay marriage or not? Why should this decision be left to one man to decide?
CNS: The case is decided on the law, not on “one man deciding”. The law in question is the Cayman Islands Constitution. Section 70 of the Cayman Islands Constitution reads: “70.—(1) Without prejudice to section 69, a law enacted by the Legislature shall make provision to hold a referendum amongst persons registered as electors in accordance with section 90 on a matter or matters of national importance that do not contravene any part of the Bill of Rights or any other part of this Constitution.”
2:06 ,I agree with you ,the elected member for George town central suggest that and more ,,’,so why don’t they give it the go, I’m not gay ,nor im i agreeing with same sex marriage ,but I do not believe it should be decided by one ..
Its one thing to simply be gay, its another thing to be boisterous, obnoxious and down right irritating- like a lot of the individuals in this movement. That’s what puts a lot of us Caymanians off…
CNS: Lots of heterosexual people are “boisterous, obnoxious and down right irritating”, lots aren’t. Either way, that is not an excuse to bully them in any way, or say they can’t get married or that they should live somewhere else. Again, this is bigotry talking.
Perfectly said, CNS.
Just as irritating as it is to see those proclaimed married “Christian” couple be so boisterous, bold and obnoxious when they are out carrying screwing around on their husband or wives. But I guess that’s not a problem because they’re NOT GAY /
If you ever visit Cayman, then I suggest you take in Batabano, for some interesting straight behavior. Straight people parade down the streets simulating sex acts and shaking their various body parts to amuse one another. That is how the straight Christian people behave in Cayman.
Thank you Billie for your bravery and lending a voice to people who have been forgotten by government, churches in their own birth country. The LGBT community is only trying to get what should be a “given” to any human being, which is equality. The bible says it is sinful to wear blended fabrics, divorce, be an adulterer, eat shell fish, so why don’t we gather all the people who have and are breaking these laws and take their rights away too? After all you believe and live by the word of the bible right?
i am a single straight native male…i do not want to get married…nah sah…nope…nuttin but stress…
the key point is that you have the choice..
Seriously, what is your point?
Yes, but how many children do you have?
Although many of the older, currently-in-power generation are rabidly homophobic (shamelfully including the entire Assembly, as we saw with the two days of hatemongerging on the Assembly floor), the same can hopefully not be said about the up-and-coming generation, who have been exposed to new ways of thinking. It’s likely that this younger generation is a lot more gay-friendly than we know. So the notion that the older geneation speaks for all of Cayman is pure nonsense. In any case, Vickie and Chantelle WILL WIN the fight in court, no matter how many courts it takes and no matter how much of the people’s money the government wastes on vain attempts to prop up bigotry. More power to Vickie and Chantelle!
Cayman is too small for the LGBT lifestyle to become mainstream. LGBT persons have always been around in Cayman, but previously did not force the issue or desire to be frontal in the face of traditional society. If they wanted behave like those in metropolises, then they migrated to larger countries.
CNS I hope you print the above because more than one side of this issue requires to be shown.
CNS: I did almost delete this comment. However, I decided to publish in order to point out that what you have written is bigotry, pure and simple. Do you understand that? What you are saying is Caymanians you don’t approve of must move away because you say so.
I think I know what this person said here. CNS, just don’t understand, and never will.
CNS: It’s not that we don’t understand. It’s that we don’t accept bigotry – and never will.
We do not agree and never will.
What about bigotry against guest workers. Doesn’t the Bill of rights apply to them also?
Yes, LGBTQ Caymanians have always been in the country, but do you realise why the community remained hidden for so long and the “issue” not “forced?” It was out of fear. Fearing the same type of commentary you are posting on this site. People were apprehensive and fearful about taking a stance, so they hid themselves instead of being able to enjoy all of the things which straight men and women get to enjoy so naturally without any repercussion, such as holding hands while walking down the street. Such a small, innocent gesture in public by a member of the LGBTQ community would trigger hate.
Caymanians who are a part of the LGBTQ community had little voice (until recently) and understood that attempting to have one would mean ridicule, rejection, bullying and potential discrimination. And now we finally have a collective voice, which deserves to be heard and respected.
As a Caymanian, you actually have no right to tell other Caymanians to leave their own home because they are a part of the LGBTQ community. Perhaps start exercising that “CaymanKind” which Caymanians are so proud of. What good is a concept if it remains only a concept and isn’t practiced on a daily basis?
Wake up Cayman! You can’t stay sheltered in ignorance any longer. It’s time to take a closer look at our community and all of those who are a part of it. Tolerance, respect, and equality will go a long way.
I find it so very interesting that there were 90 thumbs down (so far) to your wishe for Tolerance, Respect, and Equality.
Who wouldn’t want those ideals spread throughout the land?
I don’t know whether to downvote the Bigot or upvote for the CNS response.
So here is this comment to upvote for the CNS comment.
Many many scared people here. Sad.
Agree with CNS, poster… you should be ashamed of your bigotry! Very sad your parents didn’t teach you better.
It is not that easy to ‘move’ to another country. If Cayman can’t take care of it’s own, then is it really a country?
Well there you have it. The most ignorant post of 2019. So basically if you are Caymanian and gay its okay – but we just need you to move somewhere else!
In your mind where. Maybe like a penal colony. Or concentration camps. Or maybe a re-education facility run by the church.
Here’s a better idea for the poster. Seek professional help. You are sick.
Cayman ran out of closet space.
Most humourous comment of the month! (so far)
What???? that was funny!
I do not have an issue with the LGBT community. They are human just like everyone else.
I do have a problem though with the word “Marriage” being used for the purpose of joing two persons of the same sex.
The word “Marriage” was based on the joining of a Man and a Woman ONLY, nothing more and nothing less. It is based on religious beliefs. Its like so many words of language that are based on something.
To allow a selected group of people to change the meaning of a word just for the sole purpose of their own gain is wrong.
The word “Civil Union” is not religious based. Therefore it can, and should be used, for the purpose of the LGBT community.
If we keep eroding the foundation that these Islands were built on, then when we are through there will be nothing left.
Cayman is accepting of people from all over the world but these people that come here need to accept “OUR” way of life. If you want “YOUR” way of life then find somewhere where it is accepted.
Just because Brothels and Casinos are an accepted way of life in some countries does that mean that we, the Cayman Islands, need to accept that here?
Some religions allow marriage to more than one. Do we now allow that here too…….
If you dont stand for something then you fall for everything.
It also used to be the case that a black man or woman could not marry a white person of the opposite sex and in some places that a Jew could not marry a person of the opposite sex outside their religion. Would you say that it is “wrong” to now allow a black person to marry a white person of the opposite sex or a Jew to marry a Christian, for example?
What occured in other countries is just that. OTHER COUNTRIES. NOT CAYMAN. The culture of Cayman was, is, and ALWAYS WILL BE different.
We never had those issues. There was no racial tones, so dont EVEN try to bring that to the table.
Nowadays we have people from all over the world attempting to ram down our throats what is the culture and heritage of where they came from.
I said it before and I will say it again. Hold a referendum on the matter. Simple easy way to know what the people of these Islands want.
CNS: See section 70 of the Cayman Islands Constitution here. It reads: “70.—(1) Without prejudice to section 69, a law enacted by the Legislature shall make provision to hold a referendum amongst persons registered as electors in accordance with section 90 on a matter or matters of national importance that do not contravene any part of the Bill of Rights or any other part of this Constitution.”
The point of the Bill of Rights is to protect minorities. This is why it is not subject to referendums.
Fine.
Then the government should get out of the marriage business FOR EVERYONE.
– The government stops issuing marriage licenses (certificates)
– The government issues a “Certificate Of Civil Union” TO EVERYONE applying for one.
– EVERYONE is considered legally partnered via this document and all rights, responnsibilities and privleges are afforded to all with this document.
– People with “marriage Certificates” issued by the government, can apply for a new “Certivicate of Civil Union” to replace the invalid “Marriage Certifiacte” which would be no longer recognized by the governemnt”.
– If couples with “Certificates of Civil Union” want to proceed to a church, and participate in a religious ceremony, they can, and the CHURCH can issue a “Marriage Certificate” that has no legal status, but can be hung on a wall somewhere in their home. This certificate will indicate the people are married in the eyes of the church.
I’m actually all for this. Church has no place in legal everyday life.
THANK you!!! We need to level the playing field for everyone who wishes to be legally entangled.
I think that all sounds quite awesome! Well done!!!
I don’t care who wants to be married. Do you? ??? Really?
The government AND churches should get out of the marriage business. I mean, before there was Christianity (yes it was not ALWAYS around) and for those who didn’t worship Christianity, how were they joined? Oh that’s right they simply got the parents approval or the village chief if that and boom they were joined as a new family. Government and churches need to stop using it as a business and source of income.
“The word “Marriage” was based on the joining of a Man and a Woman ONLY, nothing more and nothing less. It is based on religious beliefs.”
So, you believe it should also be illegal for people with no religious beliefs to get married?
When my wife and I got our marriage license and were married by a judge, nobody asked us about any “religious beliefs”.
Atheists get married every day. The notion that marriage is based on some kind of religious belief is total nonsense.
Hindus and Buddhists get married. Does the Christian religion recognize those other religions as being from God, or from Satan? My Bible says that other religions without Christ are lies from Satan. So, we shouldn’t let them get married either, right?
The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. …
Why do Marriage Officers (who are all affiliated to churches under Cayman law) marry non Christians in Cayman? [Under our law a Civil Registrar is a marriage office not affiliated with a religion].
The Cayman Ministers Association (CMA) is aware of the practice of their membership conducting non Christian marriages and is yet to comment on it. Time for CMA to speak up.
Careful Al Catraz your truth will create a disturbance in the holy force.
So you said “Our Way” but what you fail to realize is that the LGBTQ ” Your Way” is “Our Way”. Who are you talking about with “Our Way”?) You haven’t commented about the acceptance of “rapists” “Drug Dealers”etc. So what I want to know is that is “Cayman’s way aka Your Way”? The LGBTQ community didn’t hurt anybody… We just want to love who we want to love. Just like how you can love who you want to love and build a life together.
I wanna know wa you going do if your child/ren turn out to be apart of our community. Will you love them the way they are? Or would you disown, use churches, medication and others ways to try and change them.
I must confess, I’m really not sure what you’re trying to say here. Would you care to clarify?
2:13 am, 100% agreed, i was going to write the same thing about what is marriage and for the others civil unions, yes you are right all the way.
Can you remember the moment ……. the precise instant in which you met the love of your life? Did you know right then, or did it come to you later. Fore me, it came to me muuuch later.
That friction, that magnetism, it happens between all critters on the Earth. Among humans, you can hope that your attraction is mutual, and if so, smart people form a union. Who cares what it is called???
If two men or two women want to marry, you may have the power to keep them out of your church (for now), but you don’t have the power to keep them out of their own personal commitment to each other, and if they have a relationship with God, that is their business, as it is with mine.
So straight people can parade half naked and dance provocatively along seven mile beach during Batabano, in front of children I might add, but two people of the same sex who love each other can’t marry? People here: watch porn, masturbate, cheat on their spouses, eat shellfish, curse, slap women’s asses (Mckeeva Bush) etc, and they are the same ppl coming on here bashing LGBT ppl because of their religious belief! NOW TELL ME HOW THAT MAKES SENSE! U CANT PICK AND CHOOSE TIMES TO BE RELIGIOUS! Might as well cancel Batabano and all these events if u are people of God. Damn hypocrites..
#imahypocrite
#caymankind
what???
aren’t we caymankind???
Lol
Thank you Billie for your continued efforts on bringing to light ridicule, bullying, hateful slurs Caymanians continue to face in our own countries. As gay Caymanian it very unfortunate that our own people continue to spew such hate. The constant reference of a gay person being evil, nasty disgusting etc is beyond the definition of hurt. My partner and I have been together for over ten years, we will be getting married overseas in the coming weeks and will not be able to enjoy what we both want which is to have all of our close friends and family to be present at our union. We can only continue to spread the message of love and hope that the representatives and people of our Islands will just love and let love.
No hate, but marriage are for a man and woman , husband and wife. The others should satisify with civil unions, partners and parterns with the same rights and we all should move on.
1:32pm. Drivel. I’d be more concerned about my writing skills and spelling if I wear you. Obviously schooling is a bigger issue here than who one chooses to love!
I love the irony!
My daughter is gay and she has always had issues with jobs.
If this is the same gay daughter that goes to work late, leaves early, calls in sick every other day, makes excuses for absences from her desk, texts on her phone all day long, then gets fired for doing nothing, then it is these reasons why your daughter has difficulty and nothing to do with her being gay.
If this does not describe your daughter, it does describe someone I’ve had to painfully supervise at some point and who the financial services community is very well aware of her poor work ethic.
Brilliant! Being gay is not an excuse for laziness.
CNS choking on corn flakes here. Let’s just all agree to tell the truth.