'Let the people decide' on same-sex marriage issue- Talk show hosts
The conversation was centred around the recent announcement by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) who noted that a referendum on same-sex marriage will soon be carried out in the [British] Virgin Islands prior to a court case involving a same-sex couple seeking to have their marriage recognised in the Territory.
Referendum 'is a good thing'- Violet Thomas-Gaul
Co-host of the show Mrs Violet Thomas- Gaul, like many Virgin Islanders, said she supports the referendum but is concerned about United Kingdom (UK) interference.
“There’s also the fact that the UK is looking at it, and should they put anything through with the Territories they’re going to try and force whatever they put through down everybody’s throat whether you like it or not. This is a good thing he’s [Premier] doing. Let the people decide,” she stated.
Local businesswoman Maris Hodge- Wright who was a guest on the show said she does not agree with the church marrying LGBT persons but as citizens who pay taxes they should be allowed to be married under any governmental agency licenced to do so.
“I am a Christian but I’m also a citizen. I believe in a separation of church and state. As a Christian, my beliefs are supposed to be that the church cannot marry or should not marry because it goes against their precepts. As a citizen, I don’t think that it’s fair that people pay taxes and don’t have equal rights…I think that as Christians we are to defend the laws of a country, we are supposed to live under our Christian precepts but we cannot enforce and tell the law that you can pay taxes but you can’t have the same rights as I do,” she said.
It's a 'human rights issue'- Damion C. Grange
Meanwhile, co-host Damion C. Grange said while he too is a ‘believer’ in the church, he is also believer in human rights.
“I think it’s a human rights issue…If we legalise alcohol and the church also believes that the abuse of it is just as wrong and they’re other things that are legal in the country that the church does not agree with, I think that the same principle should apply to same-sex marriage. If it’s not for you then it’s not for you. Why are you worried about it?” Grange said.
Referendum is good- Elvin Grant
Co-host Elvin Grant also agreed that the referendum is good since he noted it will inform on what should be acceptable and what the majority of the population deems acceptable.
Mr Grange then interjected that while he agrees with having the referendum, his issue with it is if it is really needed for this particular issue, since it should be considered a human rights issue and Government has a responsibility to ensure that the rights of every citizen is recognised.
He; however, said the church should not be forced to do anything.
50 Responses to “'Let the people decide' on same-sex marriage issue- Talk show hosts”
Why the $%^& do we have representatives if they can't represent the minds of the people. THE BVI HAS BY MAJORITY EXPRESSED THAT WE DONT WANT SAME SEX MARRIAGE. Time for our leader/premier to say "THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN" end of story.
2 Peter 3:16 — New Living Translation (NLT)
16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
4. Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”
5. Titus 1:16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Now, these two girls are fighting for the rights to be called husband and wife,or to be recognized as married couple should not happen in these islands, as these islands would not be able to deal with the wrath of God. So let’s not start something we cannot finish. Have any of the panel personnel ever research the history or read the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah, then it would have been best to do so, before going on the panel, as it would have given an insight of God’s plan for mankind.
I guess you want cover pedophiles too? They paying their taxes. And why stop there? A lil bestiality never hurt nobody.....
Lady yuh talking a bag ah rubbish!
10. Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.
You all sound so stupid critercizing the woman for her opinion? So what if she is a Christian. So what if she is a business woman. Being a Christian and business woman and a former counselor. She has came across people from all walk of life!! If you all want to support the new whare house majestic life,because of Maris opinion. Then go ahead!!!! Her business is going to strive regardless. So if a homosexual dies, which funeral home is going to deal with his/ body? Don't homo have the same rights as the straights? As someone who is close to the situation, there are more HIV positive heterosexual than they are homosexuals right here in the BVI. Alot of you all who are here commenting are a heap of marries undercover guys who are up and down @&^%$g the young boys and paying them to stay quiet. Judge not or you'll be judge. I respect her for speaking up without fear. I will support a business that is open and transparent over a business that is built on lies, drugs, criminal former police activities, greed, envy, hatred, and with money hungry people. That former, dutty po***e is up and down fighting families to bring their corpse to his business.
8. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
7. Matthew 7:20-25 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
And this heffa married to a pastor. I guess we know who wears the pants in that household because up to yet he aint say squat. Shame
It was Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve nor Eve ans Yvonne.
Ain ain ain.
Unwed aex
Lie
Cheat
Steal
Jealousy
Envy
Grad
Gluttony
But this aodomite laws that contradicts the laws of the almighty.
Hm.
And then every election all politicians calling on God?
Remember that God don't sleep. He see wa NDPVIM wanted to so Lorna last week