PPP executive Ralph Ramkarran today called for the decriminalizing of same sex relationships saying that the present laws are archaic and that the society should be liberal in outlook and socially progressive.
Writing in today’s edition of the Mirror Newspaper, Ramkarran went as far as voicing support for same- sex marriages though he acknowledged that the conservative society here would be unlikely to agree to this.
The Guyana Government committed at a Geneva human rights forum two years ago to holding consultations on decriminalizing same-sex relations but these are yet to start.
Noting that the current laws against gay sex are a colonial artifact and pointing to US President Barack Obama’s recent declaration of support for same sex marriages, Ramkarran declared that the present laws are archaic and should be expunged from the statute books.
“Homosexuality and lesbianism are now recognized as alternative lifestyles and people should be free to conduct themselves as they see fit providing they do not harm others”, he said.
He added: “Homosexuality and lesbianism are as normal to the adherents of this lifestyle as heterosexuality is normal for the majority of people who are practicing heterosexuals. They do not see themselves as `ill’ or as having a `condition’ that ought to be `cured’ by counseling or some other similar means”.
The first senior person in the party to call for a repeal of the anti-gay sex laws, Ramkarran said of gay people “They are normal, regular people who would, like all of us, like to live their lives in peace and harmony with themselves and the rest of the world. Our society does not permit them to `come out’ and say so. I therefore say these things on their behalf, assuming even if arrogantly, that I have their permission to do so”.
He argued that the perpetuation of discriminatory practices harms the society and criminalises people who choose to live differently from the majority while making as important a contribution to society as anyone else. He said it was time to bring this matter out of the shadows.
Adverting to the deeply conservative nature of Caribbean societies, Ramkarran traced the history of attempts to have a constitutional amendment here banning discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
He pointed out that while he was chairing the constitution reform process in 2000 a proposal to include an article in the constitution outlawing discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation was unanimously passed only for it to be rolled back after several churches lobbied former President Bharrat Jagdeo. After opposition to the provision gathered, Ramkarran wrote that the President “no doubt influenced by this opposition, did not sign it into law.” It was returned to the National Assembly for debate where Ramkarran said that the government and opposition in “weak kneed genuflection to so-called popular opinion, changed their positions and voted against the measure”.
The former speaker of the National Assembly noted that the Canadian Supreme Court recently upheld the right of two men to get married on the basis of the country’s bill of rights provisions which are similar to the fundamental rights provisions here.
“If our courts were to follow the Canadian Supreme Court then it would hold that two persons of the same sex have the right to get married”, he stated.
Ramkarran said it is incumbent upon the government and the opposition to boldly lead public opinion in this matter.
“We must lead the way in the Caribbean region and lead the way in dispensing with the outdated notion that heterosexuality is the basic premise of masculinity for the male and femininity for the woman”. He argued that discrimination has no place in Guyana and that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community is crying out here for recognition and an end to ridicule, violence and discrimination.
