NEAB Supports Equal Opportunities for All, but Has Issue with LGBT
Scott Stirm
The National Evangelical Association of Belize, NEAB, is the religious group leading the charge against the Equal Opportunities Bill. NEAB Second Vice President, Pastor Scott Stirm says that the bill infringes on the rights of Belizeans and goes against the constitution. Stirm says that NEAB supports equal opportunities, but doesn’t agree with the LGBT fraction of the bill.
Hipolito Novelo
“Okay so what do you tell persons who are disabled, persons who are HIV positives, mothers who are pregnant, mothers who want to breastfeed, a person who has orphan status? What do you tell them in regards to this bill not being introduced and you want this bill to be killed?
Pastor Scott Stirm, Second Vice President, NEAB
“You are trying to tell me that those people have no basis for any kind of protection and I am saying that is absolutely not true. With a heat of compassion of course these people should be cared but we don’t agree with the LGBT bent towards the Equal Opportunities Bill because it is introducing terminology that has never before entered into legislation…”
Hipolito Novelo
“Would NEAB be satisfied if that LGBT factor is removed from the bill and kept persons or groups, disabled, pregnant women and women who want to breastfeed?”
Pastor Scott Stirm
“The National Evangelical Association of Belize would be satisfied with the building of an equal opportunity bill that is built together with the churches, with National Aids Commission on an equal platform. We are all for and support for protecting the underprivileged. We believe in equal work for equal pay. We believe in all of those things. We believe in people with HIV and AIDS being protected and making sure that they are cared for properly. We don’t have a problem with equal opportunities. We don’t have problem with discrimination but this is the battle of this age and there is no two ways about it.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So what if I tell you that NEAB has a problem with equal opportunity for gays and discrimination against gays?”
Pastor Scott Stirm
“I would say what do you mean equal opportunities. If someone is getting a job as an accountant should they be asked their sexual orientation? I don’t necessarily believe so but when it comes to a teacher in a faith based school where there is a moral element that is an extremely important part of the full comprehensive of not just academics but morality and character then yes it has everything to do.”
