In recent days the homosexuality issue has been in the news at every turn, or so it seems. Last week we got an email from a BU family member which alerted us to the story about a Baptist minister who took a ten day vacation with a male prostitute. What is laughable is the label anti-gay which the story attached to the Baptist minister.
Before that we were subjected to the ridiculous comment by Minister of Education Ronald Jones, who in response to concerns raised about rising lesbianism in our schools was quoted as follows: I have seen in my time growing up where, as part of their exploratory phase of development in our communities, girls ‘playing’ with themselves and with each other, nobody would put that as lesbianism, but what is essentially happening is that it is easier now to really accentuate the negative because that’s what sells [papers] . . . . so all of a sudden all of our girls [are lesbians]. That’s not true. – Nation Newspaper. How can a Minister of Education make such an irresponsible statement without feeling obligated to cite empirical evidence?
To cap the homosexuality talk in recent weeks we had the Archbishop of the West Indies Dr John Holder publicly stating that the Anglican Church will not break with tradition in the Caribbean by ordaining homosexual priests. A bold pronouncement by the good bishop in the face of the runaway gay lobby.
What is evident whether we like it or not is that the alternative lifestyle is an issue which we have to confront as a country, it is not going to disappear anytime soon. We have a now generation who live the homosexual lifestyle as a norm. The homosexual progression in Barbados will probably see prominent Barbadians lending weight to the lobby by coming out of the closet in the near future.
Barbados is a tiny community and the sexual orientation of many of our teachers, lawyers, politicians, priests, media practitioners, businessmen and women is already known. The don’t kiss don’t tell policy is alive and well, Barbadians have long perfected the art of whispering behind close doors while keeping mum in public about those who practice the alternative lifestyle. All the talk of homosexuality in recent weeks has forced BU to ask a question.
Would Barbadians accept a political leader who is a declared homosexual?
It is a national debate which has been avoided up to now because of our perceived fickle libel and slander laws. However, if the young generation is comfortable practicing the homosexual lifestyle to the point they are open in how they live it, it seems logical that some of our future political leaders will be of the alternative lifestyle.
So, would you accept a political leader who has been bold and honest to step out of the closet to declare, I am gay?.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.