Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is seeking clarity from the churches here on their view as to whether homosexual acts among consenting adults in private should not be a crime.
Speaking today on WEFM’s Morning program, Dr. Gonsalves noted that he understands and respects the view of the church that homosexuality is an unnatural act and is a sin.
However, he said religious groupings also claim that while a number of other acts are considered sins, these are not viewed as criminal offences.
The Prime Minister’s comment today on this issue comes in wake of a comment made by Bishop of the Windward Islands, Reverend C Leopold Friday, published in the Friday September 7, 2018 edition of the Searchlight Newspaper.
At a media conference earlier this month, Dr. Gonsalves has raised the suggestion that the church or a non-governmental organization (NGO) should start a conversation on the issue of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders (LGBT), however in the newspaper article, Bishop Friday opined that ‘the government and not the church should start a conversation on this matter of homosexuality.’
The Bishop did not explicitly state his opinion on whether homosexual acts among consenting adults in private should not be a crime, but Dr. Gonsalves said he wants to hear the churches’ position on that.
