U.S. Supreme Court Recognizes Right to Same-sex Marriage…
Caleb Orozco
The United States Supreme Court ruled earlier today that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right throughout the U.S.; it is considered a historic victory for gay rights advocates. The decision, which strikes down bans against gay marriage that had previously existed in fourteen states, comes after decades of protest and litigation on behalf of the LGBT community. While Belize is still quite distant from arriving at a similar decision to legally permit and recognize same-sex marriage, we asked gay rights activist Caleb Orozco for a reaction, in the context of the languishing legal challenge that is presently before the Supreme Court as well as an upcoming gay pride event in San Pedro.
Caleb Orozco, Executive Director, UNIBAM
“I’ve read parts of the judgment and it was interesting to see how these judges, the ones who voted in support of marriage equality five to four in the language that they used, I was fascinated by the language in reference to dignity and I was fascinated in terms of language with reference to family and the concern for the children in reference to those families. Within the context of Belize, there’s an interesting connection because these judges demonstrated the resolve to issue a decision which extends marriage equality to thirteen states. And we have Section Fifty-three where the court has failed to show that same resolve in the interest of justice to issue its own decision. Now one may question whether there’s equity or balance in the way that the judicial system responds to the idea that justice is blind. One can only assume or guess what’s going on in the court’s mind. At this point in time now, I think the challenge is for the court to demonstrate its resolve in finalizing a decision which is long overdue. In regards to the connecting issues of family and dignity, we have always been concerned with the two because just like how marriage equality, or in this case, the ban on marriage equality has sought to exclude certain groups of people from certain protections, we have a situation in Belize where the practice of exclusion is not only social but legal in scope. But not only that, it allows for the social practice or it allows for the social justification of the mistreatment or violence or it allows for the inherent erosion of human dignity among family relations.”
WOW a pride event, tell me if there is any pride in that? to deny yourself as a man or as a woman and go against nature? there is none people, I’m not saying that we have to reject them, but we have to stand for the rigth thing, God created MAN AND WOMAN there is none in between, there is no such a thing like a middle point, MEN AND WOMAN HE CREATED.
@Caleb The US Constitution doesn’t outweigh God Laws.So tomorrow morning if those said Judges decides to pass a Law stating that poligamy is okay would that make it right.?
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING SO GREATLY DETESTED BY GOD IT IS SODOMY.
GOD BLESS BELIZE, FORGIVE US OH GREAT GOD ALMIGHTY CREATOR OF ALL HEAVENS AND EARTH.
HAVE MERCY ON BELIZE OH DIVINE .
BLESSED ART THOU OH GOD AND ALL THAT LIVE IN HEAVEN.
Colossians 2:8
1611 King James Version of Colossians 2:8.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
I rather die a fan of God than a friend of this world.
First of all, you all sound ignorant!
Second of all, understand that everyone has a basic human right to choose for themselves how they want to live their lives. Just because YOU want to believe in the book of varbatim does not mean someone else chooses to. If you are offended by how someone else CHOOSES to live their life, then you should do as god says and still love and respect your neighbor and move on with YOUR life!
People these days only like di get in ah otha people business!! Uno Stap do that!
Everyone has a choice in this life…don’t just hate and ignorance. We live in a different time.
@Advocate:The Bible is not dealing with Human Rights and emotions.The Bible is about Laws,Statues and Commandments
@Advocate:The Bible isn’t about Human Right and emotions.The Bible is about Laws,Statues and Commandments.
IN REGARDS TO LOWJACKS RESPONSE. WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHATS REALLY RIGHT FROM WRONG?? NOT JUST CAUSE ONE BOOK YOU ALL PEOPLE READ YOU GET AN INTERPRETATION THAT (HOMOSEXUALITY) IS WRONG… WHATS WRONG IS YOUR CLOSED MINDED WAY OF THINKING!!.. ITS THERE’S CHOICE TO BE THAT WAY I MEAN YOW, THEY ACCEPT HETEROSEXUALS(STRAIGHT PEOPLE) SO WHY CANT STRAIGHT PEOPLE DO THE SAME?? AND BEAR IN MIND.. 1. IN THE DAYS OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH ITS WAS NOT DESTROYED BECAUSE OF HOMOSEXUALITY BECAUSE THAT WASN’T THE ONLY SIN THERE, THERE WAS GAMBLING AND ALL OTHER KINDS OF (UNGODLY) THINGS HAPPENING… NOW 2. IF GOD GAVE MAN FREE WILL TO CHOOSE AS THEY ARE PLEASED IN LIFE (WITH THE SMALL OPTION OF A CONSEQUENCE TO EVERY DECISION WHETHER GOOD OR BAD), WHY IS IT THE SAME MAN THAT IS CONDEMNING THEIR SELVES???
HAVE WE AS HUMANS BECAME THAT BLIND TO NOTICE THE FACT THAT WE ARE ONE AND OR RACE NOR SEXUALITY SHOULD EVER DEFINE US… THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF LIFE IS TO LIVE IN PEACE TO THE BEST… NOT MAKE IT WORST. IM NOT ON NO ONES SIDE… ALL I AM SAYING IS … WE NEED TO ACCEPT PEOPLE.. IT WONT KILL TO PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES AND THINK OF ALL THEY BATTLE THROUGH JUST FOR BEING THEIR SELVES!.
advocate….
Ignorance always falls behind Illiteracy…
and that is 90% of Belize population.
It is everybody’s business when this and other maladies are plaguing society. The very family institution is affected by this degrading, demoralizing behavior. We are too permissive! Live as you wish and reap the consequences in your flesh.
To all you religious nuts out there. God never spoke one word to any sane person; proof if it happens today we lock them up. If you wanna count the ten commandments, supposedly written by his hand, there is nothing is the most important of Gods’ ten laws about it. Jesus Christ never said one word about homosexuality. The Bible you so often refer to, was written by men, men who were just as corrupt as they are today. So stop purporting to speak for God, you are speaking for you and all of your hatred, racist, bigotry that you have inside you. Read the Jefferson Bible if you want to read something positive to live by. AMEN!
It’s so sad to see the ignorance run rampant back “home”. Some of you all are so worried about “family institutions” and “morals” and the like — yet, you have NO problem co-habiting with your “sweetheart” or whatever flavour of the month you have. I’m so tired of so-called “Christians” purporting to be extending the Word of the LORD, yet cherry-pick what suits them. You want to worry about homosexuals who engage in sexual behaviour? Okay, well I bet that most of you have done just what Section 53 in Belize law prohibits.
To that point here are some points that many of you all are defying God’s Law — the following are all violations within Leviticus:
1) Letting your hair become unkempt (10:6) {I guess all the Rasta are going to Hell!}
2) Eating – or touching the carcass of – any seafood without fins or scales (11:10-12) (All you hicatee eaters — well look at that you’re damned!)
3) Having sex with your neighbour’s wife (18:20) (Haha, so many Belizean men are guilty of this one!)
4) Seeking revenge or bearing a grudge (19:18) (In the local news each evening!)
5) Getting tattoos (19:28) (Enough said…)
and finally, Leviticus 35-37:
6) If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit.
And those are only SIX of 76 rules therein. When you decide to be truly Christian and not cherry-pick which ones you want to enforce then your argument against repeal of Section 53 would be valid. Until then, please, by all means, continue to live your lives within the bounds of ignorance and flagrant hypocrisy.
Cheers.