Submitted by Nathaniel Christopher
I’m a gay man from Burnaby, British Columbia Canada who occasionally reads your informative and well-written blog about Barbados. Yesterday I learned that your Prime Minister was scheduled to visit my city today. Unfortunately, he had to cancel due to illness and some other Barbadian officials will be speaking in his place.
I did a short YouTube video expressing my thoughts on this official visit. I consider myself an LGBT activist, so I speak to the visit from this perspective.
These are just my personal thoughts on the issue and I would be interested in sharing this link with your readers if you feel there’s a place for it.
145 responses to “Gay Canadian’s Thoughts on Barbadian Officials’ Visit To Bunaby In Canada”
I have never heard of consenting adults in Barbados being prosecuted for a homosexual act.
nuff said
Barbados is a very tolerable society. Recently I heard an international report that stated Barbados has the highest infant mortality rate in this hemisphere. OMG…Thus don`t believe everything you hear or read Mr Christopher. Figures cannot lie, liars write reports and compile figures. Nathan, are you aware that same sex relationship threatens the existence of civilization as we know. What a artificial world, If men continue to have sex with men and not seek to have sex with women. What do you think will happen when women decide them don`t want a man to impregnate them? I like all Barbadians like the sinner but hate sin.
Young man/woman or whatever gender you are, we in Barbados are very strong against same sex relationship, even though there are some bullers and wickers in this country. The bottom line is we welcome anyone from another country to barbados and treat them kindly,however, like we don’t tell your Canadian government what is right or wrong in their country, you are out of place thrying to tell us here what is right or wrong. All, I’ll tell you is, you’re welcome to come to Barbados but if you’re caught having sex with another man, we would send you to our jail where I’m sure when those fellows finish with you, you would change your mind about bulling. Nasty fellow.
Dear Gay man form Burnaby:
I second Hants thoughts on the matter when he wrote “I have never heard of consenting adults in Barbados being prosecuted for a homosexual act.”
You don’t have to mind The Scout who wrote “but if you’re caught having sex with another man, we would send you to our jail ”
In spite of the law on Barbados’ statute books, Barbados has in fact NEVER prosecuted anybody gay or straight for consensual sex acts which take place in private, and I doubt very much that we plan to start doing so now. But we are a modest people and we would appreciate it if you would do your private business in private.
J
He can do what he/she wants to do in private but if he/she is caught doing it, then it’s not private anymore and if he goes before the magistrate, especially Mr Birch, I’m almost sure he would taste a piece of Dodds. I guess many bullers do there business around here but maybe this tourist person might want to try it on the beach, if caught he would be cast to the wolfs.
J
I keeping it REAL
To reassure both the Gay man from Burnaby and the Scout, it is against the law to have any kind of sex in public. Even heterosexual couples who have been married for 50 or more years are forbidden to have sex in public.
But nobody cares what you do in private with a consenting adult (or adults)
@Nathaniel
What exactly did tell your local official to pass on to our Minister Boyce?
Nathaniel
Because you embrace that sort of lifestyle in Burnaby, doesn’t mean that we in the Caribbean have to do likewise. And if you think that Barbados is pro-homo, you don’t want to hear how they’re treated in a place called Jamaica. We embrace persons from all walks of life, gay, straight or otherwise, but we are not ready to give this lifestyle a warm welcome. At least not yet. Maybe in years to come when we are more tolerant towards this lifestyle, who knows what will happen?
Welcome to my island anytime, we will not discriminate. You can rest assure. We are a very hospitable people. Feel welcome anytime and bring along a friend or two.:)
*that should be anti-homo not pro-homo, sorry.
@Bonny. Hello my sweet.
@J. This has GOT to stop. I am agreeing with you again. And Hants.
You cannot force the pace of acceptance of anything in a small country. It will all happen in its own good time – or it will not. Pay no attention to the class idiot who talks about Dodds – listen to J. She is RIGHT! Remember the adage, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” We Bajans are a naturally modest race and yes, it is against the law to have any kind of sexual congress in public. I also want to point out that there is no law against homosexuality, as the class idiot would have you believe. The law is against buggery (i.e. penetrative sex). So, as you can see, it is extremely difficult to prove if, as it should be, it is conducted in private. And if it were easy to prove, then let me assure you that at least 2/3rds of the Bajan population (of both sexes) would be in Dodds. Including, probably, the class idiot.
If you are looking, as it seems you are, for Bajans to fly out and greet you and celebrate your “coming out” or your gayness, forget it. If you announce, “I am gay,”, the reaction is likely to be just as ho hum as if you announce, “I am hetero.” Big deal!! Who gives a shi*. Boooorrrrriiiiinnnnnggggg! In this day and age, been there, seen it. Move on!!!
As for the class idiot, he is a dying breed that will be extinct in Barbados in about 10 to 20 years. Call if evolution.
A little tip. Bajans are not politically correct. If you are looking for humourless political correctness, stay in Canada or go to the Excited States. If you come here to Barbados and you make a point of being overtly gay in order to elicit political correctness from us, you will be unmercifully teased. We Bajans love to prick the balloon of pomposity and self-consequence. Making a stand on something as minor as a sexual preference is a balloon that none of us will even attempt to resist. So, if you visit us, bring your sense of humour along and leave your political correctness at home.
To the Gay
If you read this blog you would know where we stand, so why you come looking to stir up more debate on this.
Are you suggesting that we discontinue the numerous Canadian- Barbadian interactions that benefit so many people because of your solitary view? Are you aware that the only Canadian base school in the Caribbean is located in Barbados? Do you know how much business is generated between Barbados and Canada?
Why should i accept that way of life? Why do you want to force it on me? What makes you right and me wrong? Who is the judge?
Is that a picture of a nazi on the wall behind you?
I just wanted people to know of some other classified “sexual orientations” after all gay wants us to accept all sexual orientations so i just highlighting some more. so we could pick out the ones we want and leave the ones we don’t.
Apotemnophilia – sexual arousal associated with the stump(s) of an
amputee
2. Asphyxophilia – sexual gratification derived from activities that involve
oxygen deprivation through hanging, strangulation, or other means
3. Autogynephilia – the sexual arousal of a man by his own perception of
himself as a woman or dressed as a woman
4. Catheterophilia – sexual arousal by insertion of a catheter
5. Coprophilia – sexual arousal associated with feces
6. Exhibitionism – the act of exposing one’s genitals to an unwilling observer
to obtain sexual gratification (DSM code 302.4)
7. Fetishism/Sexual Fetishism – obtaining sexual excitement primarily or
exclusively from an inanimate object or a particular part of the body (DSM
Code 302.81)
8. Frotteurism – approaching an unknown woman from the rear and pressing
or rubbing the penis against her buttocks (DSM Code 302.89)
9. Hypephilia – a sexual attraction to fabrics.
10.Hebephilia – sex with pubescent children
11.Gender Identity Disorder – a strong and persistent cross-gender
identification, which is the desire to be, or the insistence that one is, or the
other sex, “along with” persistent discomfort about one’s assigned sex or a
sense of the inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex
12.Gerontosexuality – distinct preference for sexual relationships primarily or
exclusively with an elderly partner
13.Incest – sex with a sibling or parent
14.Kleptophilia – obtaining sexual excitement from stealing
15.Klismaphilia – erotic pleasure derived from enemas
16.Necrophilia – sexual arousal and/or activity with a corpse
17.Partialism – A fetish in which a person is sexually attracted to a specific
body part exclusive of the person
18.Pedophilia – Sexual activity with a prepubescent child (generally age 13
years or younger). The individual with pedophilia must be age 16 years or
older and at least 5 years older than the child. For individuals in late
adolescence with pedophilia, no precise age difference is specified, and
clinical judgment must be used; both the sexual maturity of the child and
the age difference must be taken into account; the adult may be sexually
attracted to opposite sex, same sex, or prefer either (DSM Code 302.2)
19.Prostitution – the act or practice of offering sexual stimulation or
intercourse for money
20.Sexual Masochism – obtaining sexual gratification by being subjected to
pain or humiliation (DSM Code 302.83)
21.Sexual Sadism – the intentional infliction of pain or humiliation on another
person in order to achieve sexual excitement (DSM Code 302.82)
22.Telephone Scatalogia – sexual arousal associated with making or
receiving obscene phone calls
23.Toucherism – characterized by a strong desire to touch the breast or
genitals of an unknown woman without her consent; often occurs in
conjunction with other paraphilia
24.Transgenderism – an umbrella term referring to and/or covering
transvestitism, drag queen/king, and transsexualism
25.Transsexual – a person whose gender identity is different from his or her
anatomical gender
26.Transvestite – a person who is sexually stimulated or gratified by wearing
the clothes of the other gender
27.Transvestic Fetishism – intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual
urges, or behaviors involving cross-dressing (DSM Code 302.3)
28.Urophilia – sexual arousal associated with urine
29.Voyeurism – obtaining sexual arousal by observing people without their
consent when they are undressed or engaged in sexual activity (DSM
Code 302.82)
30.Zoophilia/Bestiality – engaging in sexual activity with animals
I would suggest to this gay Canadian that racism, that is anti-black racism, is still the most prejudicial system in practice in this world. I think it is arrogant for white people, whether they are gay or straight, to question blacks about prejudice. This world do not tolerate Nazis questioning European Jews about prejudice.
Black people need to become intolerant of this effort to put them on guilt trips for negative cultural and religious beliefs that have been foundational building blocks in of the personalities that run this game on us. What happened to take the bloody beam out of your own eye before pointing to the chip that broke off from it in mine? Why do we continue to allow ourselves to be played by those whose prejudice goes back centuries, and for the most part was responsible for our holocaust? Come on people!
@Nathaniel Christopher.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
“It’s long been understood that when a population is marginalized the result is a much poorer health status for that population, and it’s no different for the queer community. As a result of the marginalization that results from homophobia, queer people have rates of suicide, alcohol use, illicit drug use, depression, mental health problems, smoking, HIV/AIDS and STIs that are substantially higher than the general population. Queer people also experience higher rates of certain types of cancer and are more often victims of violence resulting in physical injuries. A 2003 literature review estimated that more than 5,000 queer Canadians die prematurely each year as a result of living in a homophobic environment”
only in Canada eh!.
http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Why_were_taking_on_homophobia_in_Canadas_healthcare_system-8652.aspx
@Ready Done
Appreciate the argument you are bringing but given where the young Canadian is coming from it will not wash. Understand that his environment is one which has opened up to the alternative lifestyle more than Barbadians. What we should be debating is the likely consequences of any action we take nationally which may veer from that of the developed world.
Know that there will be a backlash in more ways than one. Political and economic expediency says Barbados will follow the path of the first world in this matter, it is only a matter of time. The track record is there to show our leaders are of the follow-pattern mould.
The fact the gentleman has posted a Youtube video and is aware enough to raise the matter with his political directorship maybe the early signs of what is to come.
Are you ready people?
I am tired of hearing about their rights.
What about our rights? As citizens we have the right to disagree with anything.
I disagree with your lifestyle! Why is it we have to respect your right but you do not respect our rights to object?
Don’t we the hetrosexuals have rights too or are rights solely reserved for Lesbians,Gay, Bisexuals and Transsexuals.
Dear Mr. Christopher,
You are articulate and you have the courage of your convictions. These are qualities to be admired. However, seeking to embarrass Barbados and its delegation to Burnaby is a strategy not likely to bear much fruit. It is provocative, and may gain you a certain degree of notoriety as a gay activist in your community, but that is all. You see, right now there are so many other pressing issues with which our small developing nation must deal to ensure a better life for its people. And believe me, when it comes to human rights, the United Nations thinks we are doing pretty well given our size and resources.
Our laws regarding homosexuality are honoured more in the breach than in the actual practice. They were probably written in the time of Queen Victoria. (BTW, this good lady did not outlaw lesbianism, because she simply could not conceptualize how two women could engage in sexual intercourse.) We have a “gay communtity”, as does any society we can name. It crosses every racial demographic, and virtually every profession as well.
Apart from subjecting them to a certain amount of ribald humour, we do not seek gays out to punish them. You cannot live in a community this small without socializing with gays, and intelligent, travelled Barbadians are quite comfortable with that.
Much of our homophobic talk is just that: we tell fag jokes to assure others that we are totally hetero.
Come and visit us, and bring your companion as well. No one is going to harm you or throw you in jail for life. But don’t flaunt it in our faces. We are not yet comfortable seeing two men — or women, for that matter — publicly display their attraction for each other.
Regards
Nathaniel Christopher
how some thing like putting ones distended penis into another mans anal passage can be called normal ?you are mad or have a personality defect, and instead getting your personality problem fixed you are here trying to convince the Caribbean society that the way we do things are wrong, If I turned up in your country with the body of a deceased and told your country men it was my sexual companion you would want to have me certified as mad,I am sick of white people telling me how to think, if you like the smell of s**t we have plenty of s**t pits and you are welcome to come and stay in them, you can even eat what you find in them,I would like to know why white people have to make your norms acceptable in the rest of the world,there are some people here on this blog who it would appear think that they have to please you other wise you will not bring your dollar,and from what they have written you probably think that one third of our population is busy parting they buttocks in anticipation of your arrival,not so.what you need is the boot of a logger placed firmly in your derriere,but there again you would probably enjoy it. listen you piece of pond life go back to your cesspit
Hi Nathaniel,
Welcome to Barbados Underground ( BU), I hope your sojourn with us will be as informative to us as it is to you.
Barbados is a very conservative society we do not like women to bare their breasts on public beaches or wear bikinis in supermarkets, even if they are near beaches…that is the way we are.
However, we are also tolerant in comparison with some, that tolerance extends to homosexuals. Be discrete and you will not be bothered; no one will seek you out or harass you.
In a case I highlighted in a submission on this Blog sometime ago a verdict was given last week. Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa – in Malawi – sentenced Steven Monjeza and Tiwouge Chimbalanga to 14 years in prison with hard labour for as their defence lawyer put it: “of being two consenting adults doing their thing in private.”
That will not happen in Barbados.
@ Michael
You are showing that not only are Barbadians homophobic, but we are also racist.
so tone down a bit sin Nathan did not come with that sort of tone.
that word should have been “since”.
I do not care who Nathan Christopher is or what his opinions of the entire nation of Barbadian people are. The Canadian community that he claims to be his is not his alone and I do not accept his opinions as representative of anything real or imagine.
@Adrian
You should not underestimate the gay lobby over there.
cool down // May 23, 2010 at 1:13 PM
@ Michael
You are showing that not only are Barbadians homophobic, but we are also racist.
so tone down a bit sin Nathan did not come with that sort of tone.
=======================================
Nonsense. Nothing we say will appease the likes of Nathan Christopher, and we should not be afraid of him. He is not afraid of us, inspite of his wanting to paint a picture of Barbadians as a people to be feared.
David // May 23, 2010 at 1:37 PM
@Adrian
You should not underestimate the gay lobby over there.
=========================================
In other words I should fear his potential to get even or to be vindicitive if his wishes are not met? or if he does not LIKE the tone of my comments? He knows little about Barbados and doesn’t care too before he runs off on his activist campaign. I think his position is libelous to the entire nation of Barbados. I wonder what would be Mr. Christopher’s action if and when The President of Iran visits Barnaby?
@Adrian
Just saying the Jamicans dancehall performers underestimated the lobby and they have felt the backlash in their pockets. Funny how the dancehall people keep popping up in conversations. When we attack the lobby brace for the fallout.
It has been suggested that the most rabid of homophobes are really closet queens who are so terrified of the urges buried deep inside that they attack them in others. Food for thought.
On another issue: it seems virtually impossible to debate any topic on this website without it degenerating into an anit-white rant on the part of someone. Same-sex attraction is not a “white phenomenon” that has been learned by blacks. It manifests itself in just about every nation under the sun.
I made this video to express an opinion on something I feel passionate about – gay rights. Over the years I’ve made many such videos. I believe that legislation of consenting adults’ sexual morality is an antiquated notion whose time has gone.
If this law, as many have said, is never applied then why does it need to be on the books? Why doesn’t one of your Members of Parliament introduce a bill to get rid of it?
In my ideal world all LGBT people would enjoy full equality under the law. But that’s not likely to happen in my lifetime. I think it’s very realistic, however, to suggest that a Commonwealth realm, such as Barbados, should abolish legal prohibitions on “buggery”.
To me this is not about gay marriage or public approval for gay rights. It’s about getting rid of an archaic law that slaps a maximum life sentence on gay sex. I fail to see how it could serve any purpose except to intimidate and stigmatise LGBT Barbadians.
So… when the leader (or leaders) of a country that has such a law comes to my neighbourhood I feel compelled to speak up. My intention is to create a bit of awareness and perhaps dialogue over this human rights issue.
@Readydone
The portraits are of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of the Belgians. 🙂
LoL @ Readydone
Those which you listed are sexual fetishes not orientations.
and no 8. Frotteurism – approaching an unknown woman from the rear and pressing
or rubbing the penis against her buttocks (DSM Code 302.89)
Dont you think that we call this wuking up?
Wow, the homophobic rants on this thread actually support the views of Nathaniel Christopher.
It would stand to reason that blacks, who have experienced much discrimination and worse over the years, would be especially empathetic towards other minorities but sadly this is not the case.
While I certainly believe that Barbados has a better human rights record concerning the gays than say Jamaica it is certainly not in Barbado’s self interest to claim that they are somewhat better than one of the worst. Come on Barbados, you can do better than that.
@David
Q. What exactly did tell your local official to pass on to our Minister Boyce?
David, I pretty much told him word for word what I said in the video. I told him about the law in Barbados and expressed surprise saying he was not aware of it and thanked me for brining it to his intention. He then said he would mention it to the High Commissioner. Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean he endorses what I say. He’s just being a good city councillor. One of his constituents (me) came to him with a concern and he agreed to relay it to the visiting dignitary. It should be noted, however, that this councillor was once an MLA for the socially progressive New Democratic Part which last governed this province from 1991-2001. The NDP have a history of being very supportive and proactive with regards to gay rights.
My previous post should read “and [he] expressed surprise” and “New Democratic Part[y]”
This is what happens when I go near the keyboard without my morning tea. 🙂
@Nathaniel Christopher who wrote “Why doesn’t one of your Members of Parliament introduce a bill to get rid of it?”
There too many far more important issues for our MP’s to deal with.
Why don’t you focus on the problems in your own backyard?
@ Nathaniel The Hon David Estwick raised this issue before. Maybe with enough consultation and confrontation of a human “rights issue” he could persuade his colleagues to put it before parliament.
It really should not be that difficult to get rid of archaic buggery laws, seeing that both homosexuals and heterosexuals engage in anal sex.
Barbados obviously is homophobic enough and discriminatory enough that it is pointed out by the British government. I do not understand why Canada gives financial aid to a country that has on its law books, laws that COULD potentially be enacted to put someone to death for having a particular type of sex. As pointed out by one very backward commenter, yes Barbados does not have to have the same values as Canada but Canada also does not have to soak you with its cash either. The best way to deal with this is to spread the word about this law being on the books, it could very well keep many from visiting Barbados and hurt its tourism industry. Thanks Nathaniel for pointing this out!
I am a Bajan living in Canada. I am also a Canadian citizen.
To my fellow Bajans, be aware of Canadians who are trying to influence the governance of Barbados in Environmental issues (Graeme Hall) and now “Gay rights”.
These people give the impression that these “problems” do not exist in Canada.
If the present Barbados Government does not respond,Nathaniel Christopher can lobby the present Leadership of the opposition in case the BLP win the next election.
Michael // May 23, 2010 at 3:35 PM
David i did not put this statement can you remove it
It is another Michael. Will change to Michael B.
I will readily admit that Canada has many MANY problems with regards to LGBT rights. Particularly with education, protection and health care services to LGBT people. I have written extensively about this for years now. There’s still a lot of homophobia in places like Canada, the US, the Netherlands and the UK but there are certainly no laws that would put us in prison for life for having gay sex.
Hants, no one here claimed that Canada is free from problems.
Canada has a long tradition of speaking out against human rights issues. As far as blacks are concerned in February 1851, the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada was formed, “to aid in the extinction of Slavery all over the world.”
Yes, Canadians tried to influence the US and other countries who had legalized slavery. Would you as a Barbados citizen wished that they had done otherwise? Likewise, Canadians speaking out against discrimination and more for the Gays in Barbados and aroujnd the world.
It is always right to speak out against injustices against human beings.
So Hants, if you are so against Canadians who speak the truth, why do you choose to live there?
Many of these postings just go to show that Nathaniel’s point of view is very accurate.
Readydone’s quite lengthy post paralleling homosexuality with sexual acts, such as incest, pedophilia, and necrophilia proves how ignorant and uneducated some people can be.
Before the civil rights movement in the US (and other countries), black people were viewed as being a less intelligent form, who were not permitted to enter hospitals; it was illegal for them to read books, or one could be accused of a crime for which they did not commit and be punished to death without a trial.
I think these analogies are more in keeping with the nature of how homosexuals are treated in many countries.
If you come to our country, would you expect to be treated like this? I don’t think so… You would expect to be treated like a HUMAN BEING…. with respect, fairness, and equality. This is how we should treat all, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation etc.
GET WITH THE PROGRAM BARBADOS!
Don’t like gay sex? THEN DON’T HAVE SEX WITH GAY MEN AND STFU! DURR, you think that’d be easy to figure out. I’m an atheist. That doesn’t mean I go out and try to convince people that my way of thinking is the only correct one, because it’s none of my business what people worship. Likewise, it’s none of YOUR business (OR the government’s) who consenting adults choose to share sexual intimacy with. It’s personal, and it’s downright rude to claim that because YOUR religion, relationship, or sexual orientation works for you, it must be the only right way and everyone who isn’t exactly like you is evil and wrong. What a bullshit double standard.
cool down
“You are showing that not only are Barbadians homophobic, but we are also racist.
so tone down a bit sin Nathan did not come with that sort of tone”
I am not racist, i am anti buggery
these sick people want to force their deprave values on us they don’t hold back
so why should i
@Nathaniel Christopher
“If this law, as many have said, is never applied then why does it need to be on the books? Why doesn’t one of your Members of Parliament introduce a bill to get rid of it?”
Are you a Jackass. first of all you need the people to sanction to this change of law on the statues books secondly what has been forced down the throat of people in Canada we in bim don’t want and again you don’t want democracy because if it was left to the majority will you would be run out of town, so you think you can get it done in an underhand way
“In my ideal world all LGBT people would enjoy full equality under the law. But that’s not likely to happen in my lifetime. I think it’s very realistic, however, to suggest that a Commonwealth realm, such as Barbados, should abolish legal prohibitions on “buggery”
next you will be asking for murder to be legalised .that should not be a problem with the large number of murders in jail in the USA/north America Europe you could get a majority to support this cause, what next
Why don’t you get a petition and ask the Canada government to allow you to marry a dog I am sure that you can manage that as well. It is obvious you have no moral standards anything goes
BU ( Barbados Underground ) There is more than meets the eye in this “Thread”…let the snow flakes fall to the ground and walk quietly away with a smile.
Eek… Some of the comments on this page make a good case of the Canadian government allowing LGBT refugees in from Barbados…
Michael:
Yeah, people SHOULD just go right ahead and marry a dog, because dogs can TOTALLY enter into legal contracts. F**K YOU IN THE NECK KTHXDIAF.
err.. let me rewrite that! Some of the comments posted on this thread make me think that Canada should let in LGBT refuguees from Barbados.
ditto Yardbroom. Waste of time. Should have known better than to make a comment in the first place. My mistake.