Decriminalising Homosexuality Will Make Situation Worse
Barbados
Advocate, February 15, 2005
By Carol Marshall
Dr. Walrond purposely avoids any discussion vis-à-vis
well established medical facts concerning the harmful effects of practising
homosexuality, which are characterised by premature death (by as much as 25
years), high incidences of sexually transmitted diseases and mental health
problems. That feature writers and eminent persons are steadfastly avoiding
any discussion on these medical facts, but instead try to mislead our young
people with jargon about tolerance, rights and bigotry, is indicative of the
ignorance that informs the minds of homosexual advocates. No lifestyle disease
whether caused by alcoholism, smoking, obesity or use of illegal drugs is as
devastating as the practice of homosexuality. Yet advocates press on.
Decriminalising homosexuality will not diminish the HIV
infection rate among homosexuals and will indeed make the situation worse. In
which jurisdiction did decriminalisation lead to a diminution in the HIV
infection rate? Don’t just say it, show it. In Seattle in 2002, where
homosexuality is not a criminal offence, the HIV infection rate among
homosexuals was 30 times higher than in the general population. According to
the latest statistics from the Centre for Disease Control, of the 125 800 new
HIV infections in the US 44 per cent involved homosexual and bi-sexual males;
and the infection rate rose by 11 per cent among homosexual men compared to
0.2 per cent in the rest of the population—a HIV infection rate of 55 times
greater.
Stigma and discrimination do not prevent homosexuals or
prostitutes from availing themselves for treatment and cures for gonorrhea,
syphilis, hepatitis or herpes. Why must we now believe that stigma and
discrimination are preventing prostitutes and homosexuals from availing
themselves for HIV/AIDS testing and treatment? This is a bogus argument and a
canard. The truth is that no one likes to be tested for life threatening
diseases, whether cancer or HIV. The doctor must bring the scientific data to
support his contention that prostitutes and homosexuals are more reticent
about HIV/AIDS testing than other members of the population.
Barbadians are very tolerant towards homosexuals to the
extent that people in other Caribbean territories are amazed at our level of
tolerance, so much so that our menfolk have all been stigmatised as
homosexuals. Does voicing ones disapproval of homosexuality constitute
intolerance? Talk of Enoch Powell, theocracy, Taliban, Hitler, hate,
homophobia, oppression and violence towards homosexuals is out of place in the
Barbadian context. No one is advocating violence against homosexuals or
prostitutes, for known homosexuals work in prominent jobs in both the public
and private sectors; transvestites walk the streets in broad daylight; many
even work in prominent Broad Street department stores without being harassed;
homosexual prostitutes congregate nightly near Central Police Station without
fear of arrest for engaging in illegal activity; and though buggery is illegal
no one is ever arrested. This is tolerance; what more tolerance can you want?
No religion condones homosexuality or prostitution—not
even atheists. Jesus preached a message of love, repentance and forgiveness
not tolerance. As he told the adulterous woman to “go and sin no more”.
Dr. Walrond must not corrupt God’s message to fashion his own agenda.
Dr. Walrond must also present the statistical evidence to
support his recommendation that HIV infection is occurring among prisoners and
the need to issue them with condoms. Recent tests on 400 inmates revealed that
only four were HIV positive and it was not made clear whether infection
occurred inside or outside of prison. Walrond’s recommendation is uncaring
towards our already traumatised and stigmatised prison population and a more
caring recommendation would be for additional prison space be built and
provided to relieve the dangerous overcrowding and unsanitary conditions
there.
An equally unreasonable recommendation relates to
allowing children between ages 12-16 to be treated for STDs or have
pregnancies terminated without their parents consent: it is a poorly thought
out recommendation. This recommendation can neither help children nor their
parents but it will sow discord between teenagers and their parents; and it
will certainly help paedophiles for it will allow homosexual and heterosexual
paedophiles to molest children and then take them for medical treatment with
their parents’ knowledge or consent thereby allowing paedophiles to avoid
detection. There is every likelihood that teenage children will be infected or
impregnated by adults and where will children get the money to pay for private
(it is unlikely to be public) medical care? The anomaly concerning children
over 16 years should remain since pregnancies, abortions and sexually
transmitted diseases are undesirable among teenagers and the fact that parents
must be informed of any medical intervention on a child will serve to temper
the behaviour of some children. But this Walrond recommendation is in keeping
with the homosexual manifesto, which declares that, “the family unit will be
abolished. The family unit, which dampens imagination and curbs free will,
must be eliminated.” We must be vigilant.
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