Dear Editor,
I refer to an article of April 19, 2015 written by HG Helps which bore the sub-title "US President expresses concern that island moving too slow in protecting LGBT community."
In the article it was stated that President Obama in his discussions with our prime minister, "politely conveyed his Administration's "dismay" that Jamaica had not moved fast enough in ensuring that the rights of the LGBT community were being respected and even protected".
I hope that the prime minister assured the president that LGBT people currently enjoy the very same fundamental human rights as everyone else and that she then conveyed how appalled she is at the regressive policies and legislation which have resulted in loss of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience in America, once known as the country of the free.
The Prime Minister could have discussed the case of Kelvin Cochran who lost his job as fire chief in Atlanta because he dared to say uncomplimentary things about homosexuality in a book.
Or she could have mentioned Brendan Eich who lost his job as CEO, Mozilla Firefox because he had given the sum of $1,000.00 to the campaign for true marriage in California some years ago.
The prime minister could also have mentioned business owners who have been fined or sued because of their refusal to provide goods or services for same-sex ceremonies. One can think of photographer Elaine Hugenim of New Mexico, Jack Phillips, baker of Colorado along with Barronelle Stutzman, florist of Washington.
These are serious issues which the prime minister and Caricom leaders generally need to discuss with their US, British and Canadian counterparts as it would appear that in these countries freedom of speech and freedom of conscience are freedoms which are swiftly disappearing from persons who are critical of the LGBT lifestyle.
One therefore hopes that our prime minister was confident in responding to President Obama's concern, assuring him that in this country we place great value on our fundamental freedoms and that from what we have seen of his country LGBT "rights" and rights to freedom of expression and freedom of conscience are irreconcilable.
S Richards
sprichards@cwjamaica.com
Let Obama know, Madame Prime Minister
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I refer to an article of April 19, 2015 written by HG Helps which bore the sub-title "US President expresses concern that island moving too slow in protecting LGBT community."
In the article it was stated that President Obama in his discussions with our prime minister, "politely conveyed his Administration's "dismay" that Jamaica had not moved fast enough in ensuring that the rights of the LGBT community were being respected and even protected".
I hope that the prime minister assured the president that LGBT people currently enjoy the very same fundamental human rights as everyone else and that she then conveyed how appalled she is at the regressive policies and legislation which have resulted in loss of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience in America, once known as the country of the free.
The Prime Minister could have discussed the case of Kelvin Cochran who lost his job as fire chief in Atlanta because he dared to say uncomplimentary things about homosexuality in a book.
Or she could have mentioned Brendan Eich who lost his job as CEO, Mozilla Firefox because he had given the sum of $1,000.00 to the campaign for true marriage in California some years ago.
The prime minister could also have mentioned business owners who have been fined or sued because of their refusal to provide goods or services for same-sex ceremonies. One can think of photographer Elaine Hugenim of New Mexico, Jack Phillips, baker of Colorado along with Barronelle Stutzman, florist of Washington.
These are serious issues which the prime minister and Caricom leaders generally need to discuss with their US, British and Canadian counterparts as it would appear that in these countries freedom of speech and freedom of conscience are freedoms which are swiftly disappearing from persons who are critical of the LGBT lifestyle.
One therefore hopes that our prime minister was confident in responding to President Obama's concern, assuring him that in this country we place great value on our fundamental freedoms and that from what we have seen of his country LGBT "rights" and rights to freedom of expression and freedom of conscience are irreconcilable.
S Richards
sprichards@cwjamaica.com
Let Obama know, Madame Prime Minister
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