The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvigil@tribunemedia.net

LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday said there is not one good reason why each of the four proposed bills to amend the Constitution should not be passed in Parliament and approved by the electorate during a referendum.

She further rejected the argument that the fourth Constitutional Amendment Bill would pave the way for same sex marriages, saying this was a “red herring” and an excuse by some to reject the constitutional changes.

The government intends to eliminate discrimination based on sex from the Constitution by inserting the word “sex” into Article 26. “Sex” will be defined as “male or female.”

The former Free National Movement (FNM) deputy leader said she found it “disturbing” that much of the debate on the proposed amendments was characterised by “sexist, xenophobic and homophobic” rhetoric.

She was the guest speaker at a Rotary Club of Nassau meeting yesterday.

Mrs Butler-Turner said: “I wish to emphasise this important point by Sir Arthur (Foulkes). He said Article 15, which entitles every Bahamian to certain fundamental rights and freedoms including the freedom of conscience, expression and association in this article, ‘sex’ is included along with other categories like race, place of origin and so on.

“The notion that the word ‘sex’ in one of the amendments is somehow a ruse or a pathway for same sex marriage is a red hearing and an excuse by some. I reject it. I find it quite disturbing that much of the debate on the proposed amendments is characterised by sexist, xenophobic and homophobic rhetoric. Too much of the debate is narrow minded in my opinion and uninformed by facts.”

She continued: “Rotarians and guests, more broadly so much of human history and Bahamian history is the struggle of individuals and groups for equal citizenship, especially certain racial groups and women, two groups so often excluded from full equality and constitutional protection.”

The MP said while she intends to vote in favour of all of the bills, there were some concerns. This includes that certain clauses will not be retroactive. However she said this alone should not be cause to reject the bills.

“Certain legislation will not be retroactive. Now I understand that but you know it’s one of the things that some of my very learned friends have mentioned to me and their concern is should this constitutional amendment and referendum be successful, what about those persons who will be marginalised because they are unable to take advantage of it?

“I seriously doubt that the government is even going to entertain that and I gave this some thought yesterday and while I understand their concerns I think that if we continue down that argument and that is why people may not support it, I find that a bit difficult because laws are very dynamic. They change whenever we make amendments and if we were to make every law that we amend retroactive then that means the previous laws that stood are not going to be effective.

“So I think that essentially the retroactivity is going to be a sticking point for some people but clearly I do not believe that it should be a point which would prevent you from voting for this referendum in the affirmative.”

Meanwhile, human rights activist Erin Greene called on all women, specifically intersex Bahamians, to be present in Rawson Square today to stand in support of the referendum.

Intersex is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Ms Greene stressed that it was not a protest or demonstration. She said after being invited as a women’s rights advocate to be present in Rawson Square with other interested women, she felt that intersex Bahamians should also be present to stand in support of a referendum that ensures that no one is discriminated against on the basis of sex.