GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman (CNS) -- In her first public comment regarding the issue of gay marriage, the employment and education minister has stated that she believes marriage should be defined to be between a man and a woman.
Just ahead of revelations this week that a gay couple will be seeking to have their legitimate marriage recognized by the immigration authorities, Tara Rivers fell far short of condemning Anthony Eden’s recent comments in the Legislative Assembly, stating that people are free to share or not their opinions. She said she did not “condone violence of any kind, or discrimination in the workplace or otherwise”.
Rivers voted in favour of Eden’s recent private member’s motion to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
In the draft labour legislation currently under discussion, which is based on law that passed in 2004 but never enacted, gender orientation is included in the list of things that will become an offence for employers to discriminate against.
However, as well as being responsible for labour issues and education, Rivers is also the minister responsible for gender affairs, which in the modern context extends far beyond women’s rights and generally includes issues impacting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
Explaining her views on marriage, the minister said in a brief statement to CNS in response to questions posed earlier this week, “Our Constitution recognises marriage to be between a man and a woman. It also recognises our freedom of thought, religion and expression. We are free to share, or not share, publicly our opinions, beliefs and values. However, with freedom comes responsibility – to one another and to society at large. As a Christian, I believe that marriage should be defined to be between a man and a woman. I also believe that we should love one another as Christ loves us. As such, I do not condone violence of any kind, or discrimination in the workplace or otherwise.”
Rivers was not asked at the time about the situation facing Dr Leonardo Raznovich and his husband, but regardless of her position the Human Rights Commission has already informed the government that it needs to legalise same sex unions before the country finds itself in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights and its own constitution, which may lead to costly lawsuits.
So far, Wayne Panton remains the only Cabinet member in favour of introducing the necessary legislation for same-sex unions immediately and addressing the extension of all human rights to members of the LGBT community.
The chair of the Human Rights Commission, James Austin-Smith, has confirmed that he has received an acknowledgement from government regarding his letter and the need for legislation to deal with same sex-unions and has also confirmed that the HRC will be looking at the issues raised regarding Raznovich and his husband.