IT SEEMS THE MORE EDUCATED and intellectual man becomes and the more developed our countries become, the faster the structures of decency, manners and morality are being eroded and redefined.
We have become so distracted or even blinded by technological advancements and innovations that we have ignored the vast decline of the characteristics and principles that our communities were built on.
On Monday morning this week, I watched via YouTube a video produced by the Barbados Gay and Lesbians Against Discrimination (B-GLAD) entitled Voices – Barbados LGBT Speaking Out Report.
Four young people – one homosexual, one lesbian and two transgender individuals – shared their challenges and experiences they encountered with family and society due to their choice of lifestyle. Having shared the video on my Facebook, someone was genuinely clueless as to what a transgender was, so before I continue I will give a general definition.
A transgender individual is a person who is born with the genitals of one sex but identifies themselves as the opposite sex inwardly. Some transgender males believe they are a female that is trapped in the body of a male and vice versa.
If you watch the video, we can all conclude that their experiences and pain are real and their hurts are many, but one must understand and face the reality that homosexuality and transgender are very taboo for most societies and a very uncomfortable, embarrassing and intimidating topic to deal with.
Many Barbadians associate themselves with the teachings and principles of the Christian faith and although many do not abide or practise all its teachings, a significant number believe the scriptures that teach homosexuality is a sin.
This has become a part of their lives, mindsets and beliefs and one cannot expect that overnight people are to drop everything they believe in and readily accept “this is who I am – a homosexual”.
This homosexual thing is really hard to deal with and many families are scared, confused and hurting as a result; it is basically destroying lives and families.
I respect the transgender and the lesbian who were bold enough to show their faces in the video. I prefer to know upfront whom I am dealing with than have to guess and wonder.
In no form or fashion do I condone, practise or encourage violence or hate speech towards the LGBT community. As a Christian, I am strongly opposed to homosexuality, the same way I am equally opposed to adultery, fornication, drunkenness, stealing, lying and the like.
That being said, because I do not support or agree with such behaviours does not mean that I hate homosexuals or transgender individuals, or am I homophobic; to oppose or disagree does not mean to hate.
This is my belief and the LGBT community has their own beliefs; they differ, and that is fine with me. Because we disagree does not mean we cannot work in the same office or on the same projects or sit on the same committees, but do know that my position is clear – homosexuality is a sin. You represent your convictions and I will represent mine.
With the LGBT community worldwide gaining strength very quickly with their campaign and agenda, it will raise a series of concerns for us here in Barbados very soon. One of those concerns will be that of public toilet usage.
In Barbados there are only two classifications for public toilets – (M) Male and (F) Female. Where do transgender individuals go? If a person with a penis enters a female toilet because he/she believes he/she is a woman, should women have to tolerate and readily accept this? What about the reverse?
India is one country that has accepted a third gender on all official national documents due to a court ruling by its Supreme Court. Some use T for transgender and some use the category ‘Other’ to represent their gender. It only takes one to set a precedent before others follow.
Here is another concern. How is it that the human species, the most intelligent species on the planet, has got to a point where a person’s gender is determined by what they want it to be or based on how they are feeling at the time and we must accept this?
• Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador. Email [email protected].
