SASOD not open to being courted by political parties –fears a “split down the middle”

THE Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) has declared itself not open to courting from any political party.Expressing fear of being “split down the middle”, SASOD executive member Roland Beckles-Lamazon told the Guyana Chronicle that the group, representing certain human rights issues, would not want its principles to be contaminated by politics.

He said SASOD is dedicated to the eradication of homophobia in Guyana and the Caribbean, and is working tirelessly to repeal local discriminatory laws and change local attitudes towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
The group is also seeking to end discrimination in the Government, workplace, and community.

Contrary to what some might believe, Beckles-Lamazon said, SASOD has no immediate intention of forming a political party to contest either the Local Government or Regional and General Elections, or to support any political party. But, he said, the group will not rule out forming a party in the future, not to win Government, but to gain enough support to represent its interests in Parliament.

If that happens, it would represent quite a unique situation in Guyana, but it would not be a first in the world of political oddities.
Hungarian-born porn star Ilona Staller was elected to the Italian Parliament in 1985, after campaigning on human rights and against nuclear energy. But while in office, she was somewhat outrageously ridiculous. Before outset of the Gulf War, she offered to have sex with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in return for peace in the region.

Staller was not re-elected at the end of her term in 1991.

For now, Beckles-Lamazon said, SASOD will support any political party that represents its interests; which, among other things, include decriminalising same-sex relationships but not same-sex marriage. He said the group is pleased that Government has at least listened to its concerns.

CONSULTATION
The Government has said that SASOD’s demands would not be approved by a unilateral decision, and that decision would be influenced by feedback following consultation with the masses.

The SASOD executive also said Opposition leaders of the stature of Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger and attorneys-at-law Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo should stand up in defence of SASOD. But he was quick to point out that the issue of being gay is still a taboo subject, and he would understand why these leaders are reluctant to “pick up the (proverbial) baton and run with it”. Nevertheless, he said, the issue should be addressed in some form or the other by the political leaders.

Some politicians have, however, not taken kindly to the issues that SASOD champion. Leader of the National Independence Party (NIP), constitutional lawyer Mr. Saphier Hussain, has told this publication that, as a Christian, he holds strongly to the belief that homosexuality is against God’s Will. He said that while he is uncertain about the homo erectus, the practice should not be normalised among homo sapiens.

Beckles-Lamazon, notwithstanding this position, has said that both the Government and the Opposition have shown some positive changes in their human rights policies in the past few years, and SASOD’s concerns are still on the table.

Bishop Juan Edhill has been vocal in his call not to decriminalise same-sex relationships. “Do we want people in our school system telling young boys and girls that it’s ok to have same sex? In our military barrack room two men having sex? At our border locations homosexuality…? Do we want at the police college two men having sex; or do we want, in the parks, when I take children for a walk, two people of the same sex embracing each other?” he asked one section of the media.

Bishop Edhill has also said that he offers no apology for his views. “It (homosexuality) is an attack on the family, to discolour, disfigure, and rearrange the Order of God… I will not apologise for believing in what the scripture says,” he declared.

 

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