The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

STATE Legal Affairs Minister Damian Gomez yesterday suggested in the House of Assembly that opponents of the government’s push to eliminate gender discrimination in the Constitution by inserting the word “sex” into Article 26 may have “insecurities of their own sexuality.”

However, the assertion did not sit well with fellow Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP Dr Andre Rollins who criticised Mr Gomez for making the statement. He said it was an “asinine”, unnecessary remark that was beneath the level of honour that is acceptable for a parliamentarian.

Detractors of the fourth constitutional amendment bill argue that the proposed change could set a precedent of same sex marriages in the Bahamas.

Mr Gomez said he was troubled that the debate over the constitutional referendum has sunk to the “gutter” causing serious hatred to be spewed in the media and on the airwaves that the insertion of the word “sex” into the Constitution would carry a hidden meaning. He insisted that the government had not proposed to change in Bahamian law that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

“I am not sure where all of the controversy is emanating from,” Mr Gomez said.

“We are here in a debate to completely ensure that there cannot be a scintilla of doubt that men and women are equal and we are being sidetracked to assert our own liberal views of what democracy means. No one on the other side has mentioned it to me and I sit in the chair so far drafting legislation. I certainly haven’t discussed it with the Prime Minister or the Attorney General (Allyson Maynard-Gibson).

“All of a sudden the world seems to be collapsing around us because people are clamouring about gays getting married, but where is this coming from? Our law as it presently stands states quite clearly that marriage is an institution between a male and a female.

“We have not proposed to change that. We haven’t even dreamed it up and yet it consumes so many people. I wonder if they are harbouring insecurities about their own sexuality.”

This prompted Dr Rollins, who has urged the government to reword bill four in light of the fears that it can lead to gay marriage, to lash out at Mr Gomez.

Mr Rollins said: “It was an unnecessary statement. It was most inane, most asinine and it was beneath the level of honour that is supposed to be attached to a member of this honourable house. It was a puerile argument, childish and shallow.

“The point is this,” Dr Rollins added. “We don’t need to reduce ourselves to making those kinds of attacks simply because we take a view that differs with that of the leadership of our party. We should not be condescending.”

However, Mr Gomez questioned why his PLP colleague took issue with his remarks because he did not specifically name anyone.

Dr Rollins, who represents Fort Charlotte, also rose on a point of order and accused Mr Gomez at one point of attempting to “mislead” the House after he suggested that the county could face sanctions from the US, like Uganda, if it put a provision in the Constitution against homosexuality.

“There is no outlawing of homosexuality in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,” Dr Rollins said. “Now if you are intending to scare the Bahamian public that’s one thing, but at least be sincere in what you have to say because this should be a matter of educating the Bahamian public on the basis of truth and not scare-tactics.”

Debate in the House will continue on Monday.