Canadian trying to dictate Caribbean politics

http://www.newsday.co.tt/letters/0,155708.html

"Christians and other people from traditional faith communities are being called in a new way to have courage. The problem today is not homophobia but theophobia — a hatred by some of God, faith, religion, and the Church. The public affirmation of this prejudice is the hallmark of ideological totalitarianism.



Paul Kokoski

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada"

Why is it that foreigners see fit to dictate how Trinbagonian politics should be? Canada and all first world nations have at this point basic equality for LGBT persons, and he's encouraging us to *remain* third world?
Please note that Christian groups in the US try to do the same thing in Uganda , whose policy is that gays may be executed for the crime of being homosexual. Foreign intervention of this kind in our domestic affairs should not be tolerated .

" Gay marriage is a threat to religious freedom and conscience rights."

The rights guaranteed by a democracy are for each individual to decide their own destiny , not anyone Else's. There is no 'right to impose my religion on others' , conservatives without law degrees get away with inventing crap like this too often.
It is also to be noted than the OFFICIAL position of many christian groups , including the catholic church is that LGBT persons deserve equal rights. Once they don't have sex , they're welcomed members of the church community as well.

But the issue of gay marriage isn't even relevant in the Caribbean debate for rights . Local LGBT rights groups are fighting for basic rights and decriminalization, gay marriage is a prospect for the far far future.
It is extremely dangerous to frame the debate as ' Gay Marriage' , not only is it misinformation , it discourages support from conservatives who may be open to Equal rights in other areas.
The debate must be framed as follows : LGBT persons in the Caribbean don't have access to basic rights, such as protection from domestic violence or discrimination in the workplace on the basis of their orientation. The struggle is in order to grant them those basic rights, which they deserve by virtue of being taxpaying citizens.