PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis speaking in the Meet The Policy Makers lecture series at the University of The Bahamas. Photo: Austin Fernander
By Earyel Bowleg
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
TEMPERS flared after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis was questioned during a lecture event last night about taking care of Bahamians who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
One man, Natino Thompson, who said he was a “gender queer theorist”, asked the question and claimed this administration is one of “the queerest administrations in Bahamian history”.
The question triggered others in the room to also voice their views about the community.
Mr Davis was giving a presentation on the National Development Plan at the University of The Bahamas. Afterwards, audience members were allowed to ask questions.
During this section, Mr Thompson said to Mr Davis: “One of the groups that were not mentioned in the blueprint for change is LGBTQ+ people and the question is like former administrations you often leave out this group of marginalised people, right? We cannot talk about a National Development Plan without the inclusion of LGBTQ + people.
“Considering your administration is one of the queerest administrations in Bahamian history - because there are a bunch of queer people that work within the administration - the question is how are you going to take care of queer Bahamians?”
Mr Davis replied: “I’ll say one thing. When I spoke, I did not speak on female or male - I spoke about Bahamians. I spoke about Bahamians and that is the way I view all. And if you notice, if you’re looking for a specific...”
He was interrupted by Mr Thompson saying: “I am looking for a specific because you named homelessness, you named disabled people. In the blueprint for change... you labeled the disabled community. So if you’re gonna talk about all Bahamians, you need to also name LGBTQ+ people.”
Mr Davis replied: “Point is taken and heard.”
Someone could be heard saying: “That ain’t God wants. God created man and woman.”
The question prompted a strong reaction as a woman came to the defence of Mr Davis while stating queer people are treated like everyone else.
She said: “Mr Prime Minister, I would just love to thank you, take this moment to thank you for the developing plans moving forward. I think it’s an awesome plan and it can work and it will work in this Bahamas. Now like how you had said before in life, the government can only do some things. You cannot expect the government to do everything. In life there are choices we make.
“You may decide to be a man. You decide to be a woman... whatever the situation is I think that’s your choice. Right now, I’m looking at it you’re talking about what we’re gonna do for the queer people - what we gonna do for the normal people? Because right now, the queer person as I see it have all the opportunity. They in Atlanta, they in Georgia - all over the world. When are the normal people going to be taken care of?”
“We don’t have a problem with nobody because we are all one people. We treat everybody whether you queer, you normal whatever we treat all alike in this Bahamas. As a matter of fact, we give them more opportunities than the normal. So my thing is when you decide to make your choice, know how you’re making your choice because the government is not responsible for your choice.”
Comments
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
Natino's anger gets in the way of his point. The minute I heard there was an angry LGBTQ discourse he was the first person I thought of. Very intelligent but all people remember is how angry he was. The solution you are looking for is not easy, especially in this country. Release the anger and find a way to win people
TalRussell 2 years, 5 months ago
Sweet Jesus ... Just goes show how far our colony has yet to travel when the mere mention 'Queer,' could exacerbate hallucinatory conditions in otherwise normal acting people ― Yes?
birdiestrachan 2 years, 5 months ago
Mr Davis is correct it is all about Bahamians that is the bottom line why should any group be singled out ,
tribanon 2 years, 5 months ago
Well then @birdie, you had best heed your own advice and stop singling out all those FNM supporters you like to group together and dump into your bucket of deplorable people. LMAO
SP 2 years, 5 months ago
PM Davis needs to reiterate the Bahamas being a Christian nation will stand by the dictates of the Holy Bible. Queers can only be, and will be judged by GOD, not man!
That said, it is not up to men or governments to set rules or judge queers, as it is GOD's law queers are breaking, so leave them to GOD's judgment.
They should be treated equally in society and left for GOD himself to reward or condemn. GOD is capable of dealing with this matter personally without human interference!
Leave the queers to GOD. It's non of our business.
moncurcool 2 years, 5 months ago
Let us stop passing around the unfounded narrative that the Bahamas is a Christian nation. While there may be people who adhere to Christian principles, this is not a Christian nation.
If it was a Christian nation, all the law breaking that is happening and crime would not be.
LastManStanding 2 years, 5 months ago
This is the literal preamble to our constitution.
ScubaSteve 2 years, 5 months ago
A Christian nation... that is hilarious. First off, since the Bahamas is made up of various religious citizens and non-religious citizens -- there is absolutely NO place in government for religion. Furthermore, assuming your comments and perception is correct -- God has NO issues with homosexuals. You know how this is true? Because, in your world -- God created all of us -- the good, the bad, the straight, and the queer. Every homosexual is a child of God. There are no mistakes.
hrysippus 2 years, 5 months ago
I see the expected comments by the christo-fascists. Abide by the teaching of the bible? OK, then; no more conch or lobster or pork or bacon to be eaten by anyone. It is forbidden in Leviticus.
LastManStanding 2 years, 5 months ago
Christianity is not Judaism. Read the Bible sometime and you may actually learn the basics.
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
True! I believe it was Jesus who said "what I've created call thou not common or unclean" he was referring to meat, "literally".. but as with all his messages.. he created people too
LastManStanding 2 years, 5 months ago
This is nothing to do with being called clean or unclean, the fact of the matter is that there is no way to claim that you follow Christ and approve of sodomy.
I admit that I get a bit heated on this topic, but only because the filth and perversion being mandated is truly disgusting. Any true follower of Christ would recoil with anger if they found out about "drag queen story hour" and the pedophiles that frequent these events as well. The US military is now mandating that recruits shower with "pre-op" transexuals; would you let your daughter shower with a naked dude who is mentally ill? I thought so.
No one buys this "love is love" "we just want to be accepted" BS anymore. We see the true face of this evil movement. No one is harassing homosexuals in this country, they are free to practice buggery all they want and no one is coming to lock them up. What they really want is access to your children and mandated brainwashing into this cult in our educational system.
For crying out loud, there is a whole month dedicated to this perversion in the West and it still is not enough. When is it ever going to be enough for them?
SP 2 years, 5 months ago
Don't throw a hissy fit, it ALL is what it is! The simple fact is being queer, eating pork or whatever are personal choices condemned by GOD not man.
"Let he without sin cast the first stone" Treat each other with respect and leave the heavy lifting and judging to GOD!
TalRussell 2 years, 5 months ago
Be mighty helpful if my fellow Bible reading comrades ... Where to start by providing Tribune readers ... Where can go read a single text anywhere in whatever version of the Bible be your references ... By pointing to even a single mention of a 'Queer, 'Sissy', 'Gay' or 'Homosexual' member popoulaces' of the Jesus period ― Yes?
LastManStanding 2 years, 5 months ago
I don't know what Bible you read, but sodomy (which not only includes homosexual acts) is repeatedly condemned in the New Testament. It is condemned in the Didache, which precluded the Bible, as well.
No sodomite is ever going to enter Heaven.
TalRussell 2 years, 5 months ago
@ComradeLastMan, truth is the Bible does not comment on gay marriage nor gay sex.. But does say, There will be no sex nor marriage entering His Heaven ... People will conduct themselves like 'single Angels' ― Yes?
LastManStanding 2 years, 5 months ago
Tal,
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Romans 1:24-32
If you want to read into the Didache, which is what the Apostles themselves used prior to the compilation of the Bible
Didache 2:2
""Thou shalt do no murder; thou shalt not commit adultery"; thou shalt not commit sodomy; thou shalt not commit fornication; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not use magic; thou shalt not use philtres; thou shalt not procure abortion, nor commit infanticide; "thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods"; "
I am not Protestant, so I do not adhere to Sola Scriptura in any event. Catholics and Orthodox are the only two groupings that can claim valid apostolic succession, and saints of both speak in no uncertain terms of condemnation of homosexual acts. They would balk at the thought of homosexual "marriage" because marriage is a Sacrament given by God himself and a civil government has zero authority to legislate it. They would balk at no fault divorce, today's promiscuous culture, and quite a lot of other things I might add as well.
If you truly believe in Christ, there is no way that you can support homosexual "marriage", "unions" or whatever charade that is the flavour of the day. That may make you uncomfortable at first, especially since it puts you at odds with many in the Western world, but you have to conform your life to Christ, not alter teaching to conform to the world. All of the Lord's disciples left him when he proclaimed that no one would be saved unless they eat his body and drink his blood, even the Apostles themselves thought this a hard teaching to accept. We all have our struggles to get/stay holy, but we cannot twist teaching to approve of our sinfulness. God is not fooled and we will stand condemned for the lives that were sent to Hell for believing falsehood.
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
"No sodomite is ever going to enter Heaven."
Disputes the Grace principle.
The thief repented on the cross. So he literally spent his life tiefin and Jesus tell him, this day you'll be with me in paradise. Gods grace is boundless and unlike us he went among and looking to save the most reviled people in society
LastManStanding 2 years, 5 months ago
The thief on the cross was fully contrite and repented of his sins. Zaccheus (sp) gave all of what he stole + more back after he dined with the Lord. The prostitutes that followed Jesus did not live a life of prostitution after decided to follow Him, they were fully contrite of their sins and changed their life. A good example in this regard is St. Mary of Egypt.
I don't consider someone who struggles with an attraction to the same sex to be a sodomite necessarily, it would depend on whether they partake in homosexual acts or not. Even those who have partaken can in fact be saved if they are truly contrite for their sins and live a life showing that they have forsaken their old ways. No one who is an active sodomite will get to Heaven though, that is without a doubt. Creating false teaching to cozy up with the world will not change that either.
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