THE BARBADOS – Gays Lesbians, and All-Sexuals against Discrimination (B-GLAD) has called on Minister of the Environment Dr Denis Lowe to resign if he can’t retract recently made statements on gender neutral legislation.
At a recent meeting of his Christ Church East constituency branch, Dr Lowe said he would campaign against gender neutral legislation and resign his post before co-signing.
He also stated he was “a person of faith” and his attitude would not shift towards acceptance like other Barbadians, according to the CADRES’ Report on Attitudes Towards Homosexuals in Barbados.
In a media release today, B-GLAD said Dr Lowe should be aware of his position as a Member of Parliament.
“When such a significant platform is used to recklessly propagate notions of intolerance and homophobia, it breeds an atmosphere of permission among a nation’s citizens to continue such discrimination.
“Such discrimination can prove to be detrimental to members of Barbadian society, as well as, Barbados’ economy; being a country which is fundamentally driven by tourism.
“If Dr Lowe finds a request for recanting his statements unreasonable, then we challenge him to follow through with his promise to resign as Minister. As equally contributing members in every sphere and sector of Barbados’ society, the non-heterosexual population is not desirous of anyone’s bigoted and anachronistic views, obstructing their ability to serve the citizens of this country justly.”
B-GLAD said Lowe’s views were counter to statements made by both Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Labour Senator Dr Esther Byer Suckoo in the past.
They made reference to a letter written to the organisation by Stuart last year which said Government remained committed to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and would lobby both regionally and internationally “against discrimination against any Barbadian citizen, inclusive of those who do not conform to heteronormative societal construct”.
The release also pointed to an address Dr Byer-Suckoo made in 2009 on Government’s intention to implement domestic violence legislation which would cover all unions.
B-GLAD said no Member of Parliament should “allow personal views hinder their ability to serve the people of a country” which they were elected to do. (PR/SAT)
