Colours demands apology for HR lawyer

| 27/11/2019 | 62 Comments
Cayman News Service

(CNS): The local activist group advocating for LGBT rights has demanded an apology from Members of the Legislative Assembly after the human rights lawyer, Dr Leonardo Raznovich, was targetted by lawmakers last week who asked the attorney general to deport him. Billie Bryan, the Caymanian leader of Colours Cayman, said this was a “witch-hunt” where legislators were not only smearing the legally resident lawyer but also threatening his and his spouse’s livelihoods.

Bryan said in a press release that Raznovich has helped Colours for years by advocating for the rights of LGBT people in the Cayman Islands and the legalisation of same-sex marriage. The MLAs’ attempts to get Raznovich removed for his activism was “a blatant and gross abuse of power”, Bryan said

“Are we to believe that any lawyer or individual advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people is at risk of facing deportation or being ostracised somehow by our own government?” she asked, saying the group could not stand idly by without calling for such transgressions to be addressed.

“We formally request an apology from both Mr Eden and Mr Miller as well as the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin for this abhorrent behaviour and to state clearly that the Cayman Islands Government will not tolerate nor promote a witch-hunt directed at lawyers, activists or defenders of human rights of any kind residing in the Cayman Islands,” Bryan stated.

She called on the governor to offer public assurance that Colours Cayman’s lawyer, Dr Raznovich, can continue his work without hindrance from the government.

Bryan also challenged veteran MLA Anthony Eden, whose homophobic position has become his main political platform, to regonise the reality of LGBT rights. She said his claim that “same-sex marriage is not a human right”, was misplaced.

“We would politely suggest he pull his head out of the sand and recognise that our organisation, often with the assistance of Dr Raznovich, has been working alongside other prominent and respected local organisations and government agencies who would undoubtedly claim otherwise,” the local activist stated.

Bryan made it clear that Colours would continue to defend and fight for the rights of the LGBT community in spite of the comments, and offered the group’s wholehearted support of Dr Raznovich.

Many members of the LA are attempting to deflect attention for the existence of an increasingly vocal local LGBT community by pointing the finger at those who come from overseas.

Despite the direct attack last week on Raznovich, there has been no public comment from the government, the governor or the Human Rights Commission about the intimidation and what could be an ugly precedent.


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Comments (62)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Roper said, “We are governed by the rule of law. As I understand, he is here legally and we also have freedom of speech, we live in a democracy, so I am very concerned about those comments.”

  2. Anonymous says:

    You can’t force a dishonorable man to be honorable. But they can make it a law that they must be called Honorable. Here. The ignorant of today will still be ignorant tomorrow no matter the laws or wishes or demands of humans. If you don’t like the way of leadership here, Then don’t be led by them. But try not to scare them or they will do everything in their power to end you.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    oh please.. How many people get attacked in the legislative assembly all the time. If they apologise to him I want my apology too. zzzzzzzz

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    • Anonymous says:

      No body was threatening to deport you. I lf you really don’t see the difference then I’m not sure what to say.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    People who keep saying that traditional marriage is one man and one woman exclusively need to learn some history and anthropology.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    In reply to “MR”

    Nice try, and I applaud your call for moderation from fundamentalist Christians, but no. Just no. Jesus could have clearly opposed and condemned slavery, oppression of women, child abuse, etc. But he didn’t. And, as a result, Christians perpetuated the worst behavior of the Old Testament for centuries. War, genocide, slavery, discrimination against women and gays, etc.

    Jesus: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.”

    Jesus: “If any man come to Me and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.”

    Jesus: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

    I know, I know, “context”, he didn’t mean what he said. Ok . . .

    The Bible is destructive fantasy, corrosive to the best potential of Cayman and humanity. It’s obviously irrational nonsense to anyone who bothers to read it and think. Even Christians make clear that it’s a mess of a book and a crazy religion because they can’t agree on anything. Some love gays, some hate them. Some Christians are gay! (Why I’ll never understand. Have they not read the Bible?) Many Christians are racists, many aren’t. Some embrace science, some don’t. Christians can’t even agree on the Sabbath. (Failure to honour it is supposed to be punishable by death, by the way)

    41 percent of Americans believe Jesus is coming back in their lifetimes. I’m sure the percentage is even higher here. This is scary. For two thousand years people have been waiting for a Jewish ghost to make an appearance and turn the world upside down. Huge portions of humankind are simply not living in reality. This cannot be healthy.

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    • MR says:

      Those disagreements do not sound like “Christian” disagreements alone… sounds like a human thing – we cannot agree on anything.

      • Anonymous says:

        If the Bible made sense and contained irrefutable unique wisdom, and if the Christian god we’re obviously real, then there would be 7.7 billion Christians today. Everyone would be on board. But the majority of people alive today don’t accept its claims because there are no good reasons to. It endures and succeeds as well it does thanks to childhood indoctrination.

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    • MR says:

      Here is an example of what Jesus meant when He said:

      Matthew 10:34-37 34″Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law- 36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37″Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

      Now, the example: If Anthony Eden was my father our views would obviously differ and there would be division between father and son/daughter there…. Jesus obviously knew that what He had come to teach would bring differing views between close family and friends and He warned his listeners in advance.

      He did this to avoid them being overly excited that He had come to make everything perfect and rosey – He knew that His teachings we very different from anything people had heard in human history to that time.

      And, no, He did not come to abolish or change anything – He came to bring an awakening to anyone who wanted it. He was not shoving it down anyone’s throat, simply teaching and whoever wanted to heed, could. He also ensured they knew that He was not complacent enough to accept partial devotion if they sought to join His mission and rightfully so. Even our employers do not want us having outside businesses that interfere with our work duties for them.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    One thing Cayman is not short on is closet space.

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  7. MR says:

    The Christianity of our country has never been a problem before for our visitors or our residents – now recently because some MLAs decide to use the Bible to state their vicious opinions God has been brought in to it all.

    If people would stop cherry-picking the Bible then the backlash would not fall on God; and despite the old testament truly being tinted with violence and negative principle we fail to realize this testament has simply been retained as reference and understanding of human history of that time and how belief in a universal being was formed from its infancy to shortly beyond Jesus’ birth.

    The main arguments against Christianity from persons who do not believe is that Christians are bigots and that God’s Bible consents to slavery, wife beating etc . Jesus was even tolerable to those whipping and hanging him on a cross, begging God to forgive them.

    If all “Christians” were as they claim to be “followers of Christ” we would not face the opposition which continues to rise. Jesus’ teachings were all about love, acceptance, equality and the opportunity to be united as one human family. He taught of a universally aware being with the personality of a good father. If there is anyone flying the banner of “Christ” and spewing hatred, that person is simply not a true follower of Christ and His teachings.

    Christianity should be left out of this argument on both sides really; true marriage has nothing to do with a Government issued certificate. This is all about the legal benefits garnered by such legal acceptance by being allowed to register a “union of love” with a Government agency. Most people who value their partnerships these days no longer care whether their names are at the General Registry or not so this fight is for legal recognition in order to access certain privileges. not about the freedom to love whoever we want to.

    And, if we dig deeper to discover the history of the word marriage it has derived from masculine and feminine, husband and wife in any event so it may perhaps be time to find an alternative term for same-sex unions – but in today’s world no one cares much about thousands of years of linguistic evolution.

    What would be wonderful though is if there would be an equally energetic human rights fight for children on island who are homeless and without food – unless shelter and food is no longer a human right for children in this country or does not fit the agenda.

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    • Anonymous says:

      MR – This. This right here is how our leaders should be acting and speaking. This is how the preachers on this island should be acting and speaking.

      Who are you and why are you not a bigger influence of the bigots in this land!!?? Have you spoken to YOUR minister/preacher??
      If not, why not? The more educated among us should always be trying to the less fortunate, the less educated and those with blinders on. (ie. ALL the churches and the government leaders)

  8. JTB says:

    An instructive little song for your next bible class

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr1I3mBojc0

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  9. IMMUNITY = impunity says:

    Learn this: Once we elect people to be MLAs, they can say ANYTHING to us, the voters, without any consequences. That’s right, it’s called IMMUNITY and it’s a law. That is why people like Eden, McLean, McKeeva and O’Connor go on so. But wait! Who keeps electing them?

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    • Anonymous says:

      More like: what kind of person would risk sullying a clean reputation to work alongside the recurring career eels? Not many, and that’s part of the problem. There are no Standards in Public Life, except to have had a Caymanian grandparent, not be in jail serving more than a year sentence (!), and be willing (and eager) to keep quiet about the laundry list of behind the scenes abuses. Raise the bar, and widen the field and we might have more than one or two choices in the 19 (?!?) different electoral districts. No public control agency can freely investigate properly (Eg campaign finance abuses and election tampering) because the Attorney General and Dep Gov Office are lead gatekeepers/enablers of status quo. We got problems, way deeper than the Port referendum.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    VOTE NO!

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  11. Anonymous says:

    I wonder how many child rapists Eden tried to deport. I will wait.

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  12. JTB says:

    Continued deafening silence from the Governor

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    • Mum’s the word says:

      It is not the Governor’s job to influence local decisions; let us all understand that.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If enough woke Caymanians start to raise their hand, the FCO will be there to help. WE need to compel the outcome we want via the democratic channels that exist (while they do).

    • Anonymous says:

      Blame the non Caymanian. Its OK. It is expected.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Any comment Mr Governor?

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Can someone please share the Bible verses where Jesus tells us to hate people who are not like us. Just a Christian trying to understand.

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    • Ortho says:

      Hope this text helps – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life… He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the WRATH OF GOD abideth on him” – John 3:16‭, ‬36.

      Apparently, believing in Jesus is more than an intellectual belief. It entails obedience to God’s laws and principles. And yes, God loves the sinner, but He hates the sin. The sinner has the CHOICE to accept Jesus fully, control his inner self, and walk in the light; or, reject Jesus, accept Satan’s kingdom, follow after carnal desires, and live a life of sin.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You should have included, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:18‭-‬19 KJV

        So those who truly “believe,” are the children of light.

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        • Disfigured says:

          So what I gather from you Christians, if I am a man, and I have sexual feelings, attractions, and desires for another man, and I can’t help it, will I be condemned if I respond to these feelings, attractions, and desires, and don’t accept Jesus as my Lord, Savior, the Power to transform my life? So then I commit a terrible sin if I lie with another man and reject Jesus? I love darkness rather than light if I don’t change and accept Jesus?

          Do you follow me? That means I am bound to hell!

          But here is the thing, you Christians… During one night, I went to a priest in a confession room, I disclosed my homosexual weakness, and I asked him, what about my personal freedom? What I want to do? Why must I be told by a God or Jesus how I must live? I see no heaven or hell at my feet. Finally … I am the only God I know in terms of freedom! 🙂 His reply to me was in a calm voice, “Did you noticed how many times you said ‘I’ ? The way of godly love is a selfless path, my son. You will never find true freedom in a self that’s never satisfied.”

          Ah… I thought about those words… my freedom and being satisfied .. hmm

          You see, that is really hard for me to accept. I left the room. He was kind a hearted priest. I appreciated that he showed me no hate or kept a distance from me. “We are all sinners. We have our weaknesses to overcome,” such was his words. But for me to deny my self-centered desires 🙁 Thats very hard and painful. It will take a miracle for me to change and join the Christian family. And so I left him. I just don’t want to say I joined the family and not be true, but a lying Christian!

          A church friend who always bothers me, said, “I don’t have a clear understanding of what is grace through the cross, its amazing power of love.” Maybe she has a point. She had the scars and weakness with ending up with guys who beat her up. She was in abusive relationships, and now she is a praying Catholic, a dedicated woman. She talks too much about devils and demons though. She scares me at times.

          When I looked on the church walls that night leaving the room, I saw colorful saints. I saw a beautiful picture of Mary, the Mother of God with candles and flowers. Tears rolled down my eyes very slowly… How come they received that “loving power” to be that way, and I am having difficulty??? Many of them even died by the sword, on the stake, feed to lions, et cetera.. Could I ever receive a bit of that love?

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      • Anonymous says:

        That’s not it. Keep reading.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Grow up.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Actually, anyone can do anything they want, always. But you do you.

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      • Al Catraz says:

        So, when are you calling for deportation of all Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Atheists?

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      • Anonymous says:

        I tbelieve the 2 most important commandments are love God with all your heart soul body and mind. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Neighbor being every other human being.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Let’s get back to Cayman’s real roots; I’m tired of fake Christians only picking bible versus that support their view. If we want to obey God, we shall obey all His words:

        Eph 6:5-8
        Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free.

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        • MR says:

          The ancient scripts of the Bible would use the word slave because the word “employee” was not coined yet… read it over replacing slave with employee and it is very much a great verse to be put on your desk. Fear and tremble at the thought of your bills when unemployed and make sure to work hard – this should be taught to every Caymanian in fact. I know many people fearing and trembling in traffic at the thought of being 30 seconds late to their desk… but those are the employees who will excel to management one day because they understand the value of being true and devoted to their masters/employers. Of course when this passage was written the writer obviously indeed meant to say “slave” – but that would have been all they knew at that time. It is obvious one must discern what is appropriate for our time based on human learning and intellectual evolution over the centuries.

          In today’s modern world we have sweetened many phrases and terms as thorough examination of human psychology has proven it is better to “control with consent”. Fancy titles for even the lowest jobs in order to build employee morale has proven very effective for example.

          Also, please do some research on how the African slaves in the Caribbean found the strength to demand their freedom because they were listening to the sermons their “masters” were teaching at church as they oversaw the horse and carriages outside. Many slaves found their strength from the word of God and teachings of Jesus and decided to fight for their freedom because what they learnt confirmed they deserved a better life than they were being offered as a slave.

          The battle for freedom of the African slaves was fought the hardest in the church congregations of England as brave preachers dared to teach equality and cause their church goers to consider the lives of the African slaves equal to their own and make them realize us black people felt, bled and hurt the same way white people did.

          Stop cherry picking the Bible – goes for the athiests and the Christians.

          When a person knows and understand the character of God as taught by Christ Jesus they are only then able to discern some of the cynical passages within this historical text, the Bible. The old testament is true to its era and whilst it holds many gems anyone with sense should be able to discern what is appropriate for our time and what is not.

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          • Anonymous says:

            “The battle for freedom of the African slaves was fought the hardest in the church“

            Are you lying or just ignorant of history? Yes, a relatively small number of Christians in Europe and the Americas fought against slavery — while the VAST MAJORITY of Christians were profiting from it, defending it, actively participating in it, and accepting it as Biblically legitimate. Or did you really think all those slave ship captains and plantation owners were Scientologists and Buddhists?

            The idiotic “curse of Ham” story was cited endlessly by pious Christians over centuries. It continues to be used today to justify the stupidity of a scary number of Christians who still favor segregation and oppose interracial marriages.

            The fact that some devout Christians can point to the Bible to defend slavery and racism while others can use it to fuel anti-racist movements says everything you need to know. The book is a ridiculous hodgepodge of ancient nonsense. Grow up and stop relying on it to inform your morality. You can do better, both for yourself and for your society.

            #lame

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          • Anonymous says:

            Actually, the concept of employment, as opposed to slavery, was well known in the ancient world: see for example the Latin “mercenarius”, a hireling. In Rome there was a large class of proletarii, comprised of landless free citizens who would often have worked for wages, particularly in government, or served as waged legionaries.

          • Anonymous says:

            Wrongggggg

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    • Anonymous says:

      Here you go. Hope this helps.

      “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.” Leviticus Chapter 20 verse 13

      The Bible is a horrible book. It’s filled with this and much more immoral garbage. It is no friend of gays, nonbelievers, women, children, slaves, non-Christians, etc. The fact that millions of people revere it as the ultimate source of moral wisdom is utterly bizarre.

      Read it and see.

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      • No Ordinary Book says:

        You can’t understand the book by reason alone. I have proven that for a fact.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Correct – you have to blindly follow those who benefit from your submission.

        • Anonymous says:

          How can you possibly say that a book cannot be read literally but has to be interpreted is a proven fact? At best a thesis.

        • Anonymous says:

          Okay then read the Koran and believe in that book with faith. Why not?

          If you can’t analyze the Bible with reason then it’s not worth anything more than entertainment.

        • Anonymous says:

          No you haven’t! Lol

      • Anonymous says:

        You are so right! Can’t believe people still drink this Kool-Aid centuries later. Total brain washing

  15. L.D. says:

    Politics exists and sustains itself on the need for division, crisis, or fear. ‘Vote for me and I will fix it’ is the cry of every politician. Do politicians create or solve problems?

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Probably see that apology right around the same time they fix the damn dump.

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    • Anonymous says:

      “They ” will never fix the dump. It is way beyond their abilities Like apologizing for something they don’t even understand. Better to put your energy into Dart fixing the dump. Not impossible.

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  17. This is my home. I live here. says:

    I was surprised nobody stepped in sooner. The b*****s must be held responsible. Unless the country is under dictatorship. Not just apology, but possible legal consequences.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why are the Bar Association not saying anything?

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      • Anonymous says:

        I could use a drink to be honest.

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      • Anonymous says:

        What, the self serving unprincipled grouping of immigration law evading facilitators of sophisticated international crime taking a stance to support justice and the rule of law? Seriously? You still believing that “noble and honorable profession” crap?

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