Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Even as gays frown on Prime Minister Portia Simspon Miller's dawdling in the fulfilment of her promise to review the buggery law, they remain convinced that Jamaica's first female head is still their best hope of legislating the much-needed change for the lesbian, gays, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
It has been two years since Simpson Miller, then the opposition leader, commanded riveting attention from members of the LGBT community, when she boldly promised that she would facilitate a conscience vote in Parliament on the controversial issue. Simpson Miller's response in the 2011 leadership debate appeared to be one up on the then prime minister, Andrew Holness.
But today, the issue remains one of several election promises made on the night of the verbal clash with Holness that is yet to be fulfilled.
Dane Lewis, the executive director of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), acknowledged that the question posed to both leaders had placed Holness at a distinct disadvantage.
"It couldn't have been said by anyone else other than a woman at that time, so she was the best person," he told a Gleaner Editors' Forum yesterday.
Added Lewis: "She (Simpson Miller) is still the best person to lead on it, but it's just unfortunate that she hasn't made any more pronouncements until she is pressed by the media fraternity on the issue."
GLEEFUL
Lewis asserted that in 2011, gays were gleeful, not just because Simpson Miller promised a review of the buggery law, but also because of a promise that she wouldn't bar anyone from her Cabinet on the grounds of sexual orientation.
"If I had felt sufficiently comfortable where I was at the time, I would have jumped and screamed," declared Lewis.
The question on sexual tolerance, asked in the lead-up to the December 2011 general election, was sparked by the controversial "not in my Cabinet" statement of former Prime Minister Bruce Golding in 2008.
A clearly irritated Golding was, on May 20, 2008, responding to a persistent line of questioning from BBC's 'Hardtalk' host Stephen Sackur, with respect to the prospects of homosexuals playing a role within the executive arm that he once led.
But 35 months and numerous parliamentary sittings later, Simpson Miller's promised conscience vote remains an elusive dream to the gay community.
This has not gone down well with Lewis, who said Simpson Miller still has a chance of redeeming herself.
"Now, in 2013, the clock is ticking on what's next … . We keep getting this goalpost that is moving," the he said. "The latest we heard is that it's going to be in 2014, so we anxiously await."
Even as gays frown on Prime Minister Portia Simspon Miller's dawdling in the fulfilment of her promise to review the buggery law, they remain convinced that Jamaica's first female head is still their best hope of legislating the much-needed change for the lesbian, gays, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
It has been two years since Simpson Miller, then the opposition leader, commanded riveting attention from members of the LGBT community, when she boldly promised that she would facilitate a conscience vote in Parliament on the controversial issue. Simpson Miller's response in the 2011 leadership debate appeared to be one up on the then prime minister, Andrew Holness.
But today, the issue remains one of several election promises made on the night of the verbal clash with Holness that is yet to be fulfilled.
Dane Lewis, the executive director of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), acknowledged that the question posed to both leaders had placed Holness at a distinct disadvantage.
"It couldn't have been said by anyone else other than a woman at that time, so she was the best person," he told a Gleaner Editors' Forum yesterday.
Added Lewis: "She (Simpson Miller) is still the best person to lead on it, but it's just unfortunate that she hasn't made any more pronouncements until she is pressed by the media fraternity on the issue."
GLEEFUL
Lewis asserted that in 2011, gays were gleeful, not just because Simpson Miller promised a review of the buggery law, but also because of a promise that she wouldn't bar anyone from her Cabinet on the grounds of sexual orientation.
"If I had felt sufficiently comfortable where I was at the time, I would have jumped and screamed," declared Lewis.
The question on sexual tolerance, asked in the lead-up to the December 2011 general election, was sparked by the controversial "not in my Cabinet" statement of former Prime Minister Bruce Golding in 2008.
A clearly irritated Golding was, on May 20, 2008, responding to a persistent line of questioning from BBC's 'Hardtalk' host Stephen Sackur, with respect to the prospects of homosexuals playing a role within the executive arm that he once led.
But 35 months and numerous parliamentary sittings later, Simpson Miller's promised conscience vote remains an elusive dream to the gay community.
This has not gone down well with Lewis, who said Simpson Miller still has a chance of redeeming herself.
"Now, in 2013, the clock is ticking on what's next … . We keep getting this goalpost that is moving," the he said. "The latest we heard is that it's going to be in 2014, so we anxiously await."
Mark Wignall on Buggery law review promise was a political sham
AJ Nicholson now the foreign affairs Minister was strongly opposed to homosexuality and the removal of the buggery law as captioned in the cartoon and the PNP also was clear on their opposition to gay marriage although no one asked for said rights. See also: In the closet we must stay it seems ........
Gleaner cartoonist Lasmay weighed in as well with this clip:
Gleaner cartoonist Lasmay weighed in as well with this clip:
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