Religious Opponents Decry Equal Opportunities Bill

The Equal Opportunities Bill is of serious concern for the National Evangelical Association of Belize, NEAB, which has come out strongly against the proposed legislation because of the perceived same-sex agenda.  NEAB has also been staunchly against the repealing of Section Fifty-three of Belize’s Criminal Code.  That issue was raised pointedly during Monday night’s forum.

Attendee, Public Consultation

“Why we are against this legislation is because this legislation seeks to fundamentally change Belize, fundamentally change our culture.  It‘s easy for you to come here and try to sugar coat this so that it sounds good and we can swallow it and say the legislation is okay.  But five years from now and ten years from now, we have to live with the reality of what this legislation will mean.  Nobody will say, “Well Mr. Broderick didn‘t say it would be like this.”  Nobody will care what you said tonight.  What matters is what is written in the bill and what that means for Belize.  People will use this legislation to lobby for gay marriage.  They will say, “If I can‘t marry whom I want, I am being discriminated against.”  They will say, “If I can‘t go to school dressed as a transgender, I am being discriminated against.”  They will say, “If I want this bakery to make a cake for my gay wedding and they say no, they‘re discriminating against me.”  They will say, “If I want this church band to play at my gay wedding and they say no, that’s discrimination.  I can take them to court.”  They will say, “If I want my son to use the female bathroom, nobody can say no.”  And it won’t matter what Mr. Broderick says tonight.”