Caleb Orozco versus the Government: Case begins
The church is threatening fire and brimstone, calling homosexuality an abomination and is praying for the protection of section fifty-three of the Criminal Code. But notwithstanding all that, Caleb Orozco is having his day in court, or in this case, a week in which Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin will hear arguments from attorneys representing Orozco, the Attorney General of Belize and interested parties. This morning all those parties, represented by fifteen attorneys, supporters, church advocates and interested persons crowded into court number one for the first day of what promises to be a very comprehensive journey into a complicated issue surrounding section fifty-three which penalizes persons who engage in carnal knowledge against the order of nature. Mike Rudon was there this morning and had the story.
Mike Rudon, Reporting
There was tight security this morning at the Supreme Court as participants and observers in the case of Caleb Orozco versus the Attorney General of Belize arrived for the first day of proceedings. There was a veritable procession of high-level attorneys, followed by aides carrying boxes and cases of files and documents.
The man who is in the spotlight, Caleb Orozco, arrived before ten with a Police escort, and headed up to the verandah of the Supreme Court where he would join his attorneys and supporters before heading into the courtroom.
Orozco was represented by lead counsel Christopher Hamel-Smith and attorneys Westmin James, Lisa Shoman and Simeon Sampson, all operating under the auspices of the University of the West Indies Rights Advocacy Project, or U-RAP.
Today was spent with Hamel-Smith making his opening submission. He told the court that the key issue is simple and can be summed up like this – Is Section 53 inconsistent with the Constitution and if so, to what extent?
Hamel-Smith explained that his client has been placed in a position of making an intolerable choice which no citizen of Belize should be forced to make because of Section 53. Orozco, he said, could either choose to live as a law-abiding citizen by suppressing his natural desires and refraining from sexual activity, or he could abandon all hope of living as a law abiding citizen in this country and instead live as an un-apprehended criminal.
In making comment on the Churches, which are an interested party in the case, Hamel-Smith stated that the Constitution allows them to teach homosexuals their doctrine, and to try to change their point of view, but it does not allow the Church to attempt to mobilize the state as an instrument of evangelization.
In his submission, Hamel-Smith also touched on discrimination, rights to privacy and expression and the recognition of human dignity. Mike Rudon for News Five.
If they change the law for the. Convenience of couple unclean psychopaths they I sure take the attorney General to court to decriminalize bigamy also
If they change the law for the. Convenience of couple unclean psychopaths then I shoild take the attorney General to court to decriminalize bigamy also
What is the impact on adults? What is the impact on Children. The impact on adults is a matter of choice. You are not born a homosexual, just like you are not born a thief. In Regards to children, just check out http://www.nambla.org/ This should help you as an individual understand the end game of homosexuals. They want innocent children as their love slaves to perform sodomy, which is against the Rule of Law in Belize. I personally have heard all the arguments both pro and con on the UNIBAM issue. This is not only a matter of allowing sodomy in Belize, it is about family. This is an attack on the family unit. There are enough social problems without adding another. Just because the USA and many European countries approve homosexual unions, does not mean it is a natural act. The next agenda item will be sodomy with children and animals.
I don’t know the entire story here but it seem as if the orozoco or whatever his name is ,is a …., and he’s hiring a bunch of lawyers to defend him.. and they made this the headline topic.I remember growing up being a …… was a sin, disgrace Belize ,a country know for imitating u.s.a wanna g ive or have already give ….. rights Damn!!! It’s !@#$ up ugotta see it on the t.v. and its beilze ……….
IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH I BIND YOU SPIRIT OF HOMOSEXUALITY FROM GAINING ANY GROUND IN THIS MATTER!!!!
Our nation is becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah. We were once a God fearing Nation. What has become of our society. The word of God says that homosexuality is an abomination to God. If they want to be homosexual then let them be each and every one will be accountable for his own doing. Don’t try to change the law of the land to suit your lifestyle. Caleb Orosco, you need to really do a soul search within yourself. I pray that God have mercy on you. And may he forgive you for your lifestyle. You were not born Homosexual. You made that choice to be homosexual.
the gays are coming-OMG
My question, is if Caleb is so certain he is being discriminated by the law against why does he show up with police protection? He was never arrested for sodomy, so why is he sueing the law that his protecting him?
Another thing is that this law is not against homosexuals, it is protection against sodomy. There is a difference. A homosexual does not have to engage in sodomy any more then a heterosexual does. They can love someone from the same sex, hold hands, have oral sex, but sodomy is illegal and it should stay so!
So what now; are we the tax payers of this country now footing the bill for this sick individual to have police security? I certainly don’t want the taxes coming out of my hard earned salary going toward this!!!!!
I want to see the first member stand up in the house to change chapter fifty three of the laws of Belize. I am sure they have considered what effect that will have on the Christian voters come election time. There is a get out of jail card for GOB but I am certain they won’t play it unless they are force to. Spend a few dollars on a referendum then they will truly be able to say for the first time this is what the people of Belize want. I am calling on all Christian churches to start preparing their congregation for such a battle.
Belize cannot offered to allow this awful ungodly thing to occur, the country is sufferring enough. Here is what the Bible says against homosexual acts.
Look at what the Bible says: Romans 1:26-28 (NLT)
26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be
Romans 1:32 (NLT)
32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
Let us not tell God he is wrong, but let us tell these people God comes first.
@Beth why you getting so worked up about who does what in the privacy of their own bedroom?
In fact why is this even in the law? Isn’t it a violation of a person’s freedom (a basic human right) as long as he does no harm to others? What harm is being done to you, personally, Beth?
Meanwhile, very clear laws about financial corruption are routinely ignored in the interests of political gain, and *everyone* suffers as a result. ‘Belize have it backway.’
Tell yu what, Caleb. How bout we get you wa private island and put you deh with all ah yuh bway friends – not a woman in sight. We weh even ker nice food fu yuh…… We weh do the same fu di gyal dem….but deh gwein pa wa nex island. How dat sound?
The problem with Gay people is they take everything too personally. It’s not about them or their human rights. We don’t have crimes of hate against homosexuals in Belize unless provoked like that stunt Caleb pulled off when he got hit. I don’t want my children to be predisposed to this and worst innocent children getting adopted into this. 1st protect our children
@humanrights
So, if someone rapes a child in the privacy of their own home….then that must be ok too, right? If you want to talk about laws being ignored…..there are plenty. Belize doesn’t have it “Backway”, my fellow Belizean…..Belize has a God and a conscience. Human rights refer to the parts of a person that cannot change….things beyond your control that you did not chose. You did not chose to be born a male or female therefore you should not be discriminated for that. You did not choose to be born black/white/spanish/mixed therefore you should not be discriminated for that. You did not choose what country you were born in therefore you have to deal with that. Those things don’t change. As much as people try by bleaching their skin, having gender change procedures and changing their citizenship, it doesn’t change the fundamental TRUTHS.
A fundamental TRUTH is that our constitution is based on the laws of God…….God burned down cities for Sodomy. Where do you think that word comes from, anyway? Sodomy …… Sodom & Gammorah……..
humanrights, I agree that people have the right to do what they do in privacy in their homes, I don’t think there was anything “worked up” about what I said, if I used any loaded language, please correct me, but I am concern about the changing of the law.
I know many homosexuals. My best friend is gay. We talk about these things. I know that he does not have to engage in sodomy to express his love to his lover. There is an order of nature. There are physical implication to sodomy, or anal intercourse. Like any infliction of pain, we all have personal choices but once the public is aware of infliction of pain the public has a responsibility to protect the person, even if it is from their lover or self.
Today we begin a battle for the future of Belize and our children. I imagine the moral people of Sodom and Gomorrah in Biblical days had the same problem, and they either did not fight the battle or they lost it. Belizeans cannot afford to lose this battle of good against evil, so let all moral Belizeans stand together and pray together and act together to preserve the moral foundation of our country. We MUST win, or our future is lost.
I resent all of the foreign homosexual-agenda invaders, from the USA, and Trinidad, and other nations who have decided they must destroy our self-determination and impose their own perverse values on YOU AND ME!
Perverse behavior is not a human right.
No hidden agenda?……. Well the question is; who is paying for all those high priced lawyers representing Orozco…..
National Prayer
Almighty and Eternal God, who through Jesus Christ
has revealed Your Glory to all nations, please protect
and preserve Belize, our beloved country.
God of might, wisdom and justice, please assist our
Belizean government and people with your Holy Spirit
of counsel and fortitude.
Let your light of Your divine wisdom direct their plans
and endeavours so that with Your help we may attain
our just objectives. With Your guidance, may all our
endeavours tend to peace, social justice, liberty, national
happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful knowledge.
We pray, O God of Mercy, for all of us that we may be
blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the
observance of Your most holy law, that we may be
preserved in union and in peace which the world
itself cannot give. And, after enjoying the blessings of
this life, please admit us, dear Lord, to that eternal
reward that You have prepared for those who love You. AMEN
Homosexuality its against GOD. No Blasphemy to HIM!
but who am I to Judge? can we leave that for ” GOD TO DO”?
I disagree when its comes to “gay men” and the right to BE who they are! and what they became
and want to BE. its their choice, I don’t hate them. as a matter of fact I have many friends who are gay is it Moral NO, but who am I to judge? I rather never put a step on any church, than hate homosexual’s . its a sin to Hate and after all we are all gods children. you are entitled to your own opinion. we leave on a beautiful country and the “IDEA of the ISLAND” be good for the Country.
more gays travelers would be like ” Negril hedonism” and they spend lots $$$$$… Not a Bad IDEA ;-)!!!!! PEACE
Judging from the comments posted here it seems we have a lot of learning to do on the matter of homosexuality. Perhaps we don’t want to understand it because it seems to go against the order of nature and our religious ideas but contrary to the seemingly popular belief that homosexuality is nothing but a lifestyle choice, many homosexuals are actually born that way. There is actual evidence of a “gay gene” which points to the fact that people are born this way. see links below.
http://healthland.time.com/2012/12/13/new-insight-into-the-epigenetic-roots-of-homosexuality/
http://bigthink.com/think-tank/the-gay-gene-new-evidence-supports-an-old-hypothesis
I am in total disagreement with this homosexual agenda!!!
It’s funny how the Christian Fundamentalists use as a talking point the notion of a foreign agenda when firstly, the archaic law was inherited from England and secondly, they themselves have received foreign support in the form of the Alliance Defending Freedom which is an American special interest group. (source: The Economist Online).
He Kaleb, has declared himself. Until the law is changed he should be arrested and convicted. Yes others can now challenge for bigamy!! Why wait till u dead fu get your 12 virgins!!!
annie if people are expressing their negative feelings about legalizing the union of same-sex couples, that is their choice and right!!! How can you be judgmental about a lifestyle that is””clearlya sin, according to ALL THE HOLY BOOKS, THE BIBLE, KORAN, TORAH, ETC.??? All OS us are sinners but, to conciously legalize something that our Creator clearly forbids us to do, is wrong. And yes, the Europeans welcome it and Americans are doing the same. But that does not make the WRONG RIGHT!!! IT MAKES US A CORRUPT PEOPLE, JUST LIKE THOSE IN SODOM & GOMORRAH. At least there are those of us, fighting and expressing our feelings against legalizing same sex marriages in Belize and here in America too. I am not judging but, I know it is better to stand for something, rather than fall for anything just because people CHOOSE to demoralize homosexuality and are promoting this lifestyle. Europeans are the first people in history to display their unnatural desire for the same sex, way, way back with the Roman males, in their public hot steam baths. Alexander the Pirate, and most of his men died from giving each other syphilis……Now in modern day society, they (whites) are promoting the homosexuality lifestyle. Stay awake, my people don’t fall for it!!!
It was not Adam and Steve, it was Adan and Eve. Adam and Eve multiply. Adam and Steve have no operations
the churches should be more worred of what is being done to the children male and female, with treaths and abuse both mental a sexual please people focus on what you know, not something that is clear that you dont understand.
My GOD forgive them for they Know not what the do.. i pray that God have Mercy on your poor soul..Caleb
Poor guy is use to getting used , so he is doing it again..
The European union and other powerful countries have pressured the Belize Government to change this law…and they will. they, the government needs money..so it will be done.
waooooowwwww – sorry you people feel that way about homosexuals. It truly is SAD! Then you wonder why most of the educated individuals leave the country and choose other citizenship!!!!
Why are people praying for people that are trying to change something that condemns of privacy? The church should pray for themselves since its the biggestmand most greediest business in the world! The priest are worst that homosexuals rapping boys and girls yet the church is not against that
My thing is… we knew that homosexuals existed in Belize a long time ago and a lot of them are our families friends neighbors etc. we do not hate them we accept them but we hate their life style! Imagine walking into a female restroom with men walking out!it opens the doors to perverts any man will then pose as a homosexual and will be able to use a female restroom And boys will be able to attend our all girls school! What will we say to our children? Caleb stop think about yourself! What you do in the privacy of your room Belize do not need to know about it. My question to Mr. Orozco is: If Being attracted to other men is your “Natural Desire” then the Natural Desire of a child molester is children and the Natural Desire of a thief is stealing and the Natural Desire of a Gang is killing and the Natural Desire of a smoker is weed Should we legalize these too? Changing our Law to suit yourself is ridiculous!
ok ok ok…afta i gan tru all d comments i guess we all know what the belizean community think…tru i study science n some ppl born gay…bt mien them only think bout them self n dm nasty sexual desire…whatch ya think bout d lee kids them mien…most a them do what them see…i woulda rather gt up evry day n fite zobies fi try survive evryday than live ina wa gay nation…
The only reason this is costing the government money is because they did not want to do the legal thing without a fight. Every arguments that are being used by those that are homophobic are religeous. Well, the GOB is not a church and should not be run like one and should not be influenced by one in such a way that discrimination becomes a rule of law. I wish all Belizean could be straight, don’t drink, don’t steal, live in peace….just like me but we are not all the same! So we need to find a way to live in peace and make room for those that are not exactly like us. This should have been cnanged many years ago without a fight but it was not. The law will change, life will go on, and there will be no societal change unless the murder rate increases. I am sure increased crime rate is something we should all be fighting against; gays and straights, protestants and catholics; jew and gentile! A lower crime rate would make life better for all of us. So why don’t we place our efforts to this end to make Belize a better place. Do you people really believe that is that phrase is sruck from the law the country will be over runned by child sexual abusers? Really? Pretty ignorant way of thinking!
with all due respect; Belizeans have rights. Aint no such thing as gaylizeans. Let is be resonable, you can never find a right in any wrong. Let the word of God be true and know homosexuality is an abomination….
churches hey, you go to love them!! The Vatican declares homosexuality shouldn’t be criminalised, but our local Catholic church seems to know better (see http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/2008/documents/rc_seg-st_20081218_statement-sexual-orientation_en.html). The Anglican churches are in a similar position (see http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201213/ldhansrd/text/121025-0002.htm#12102541000762).
So who is pushes this agenda then? It wouldn’t be foreign Evangelical churches (or foreign homosexual-agenda invaders as I like to call them) from the US now would it? – imagine, the developing world forcing their agenda on us! (Belize’s most prominent anti-gay cleric is American; his church is affiliated to a ministry in Arizona, whose leader has urged believers to raise the dead in morgues. – see http://www.economist.com/news/international/21577043-american-christian-zealots-are-fighting-back-against-gay-rightsabroad-strange-bedfellows)
So many are gonna use this to come out of the closet. To me Its a shame that this is happening in Belize. With all of the pretty ladies that we have living here it just makes it look worst.
(y)
I got bored with reading the same arguments over and over after the first couple comments, so forgive me if I repeat something that has already been said.
First of all, homosexuality is not a choice, if it were then so is heterosexuality, and I strongly believe that none of you make the decision every day to be attracted to the opposite sex. You don’t wake up in the morning and say “Gee! its bright out, I think I’ll be a heterosexual today” you just are attracted to the opposite sex. Its the same for homosexuals…. I was gonna go on with this, but you guys are just too narrow-minded and I ain’t got anymore time to waste on y’all.
@hopeful, did you read the part where I said “as long as he does no harm to others?” Obviously raping a child is criminal. That is not even the issue here. Also, I hope you don’t ever go to the hospital. After all, you shouldn’t mess with any illness that GOD gave you. Otherwise you are being a hypocrite.
@beth, would you criminalize people who had the flu? There are serious public implications of letting them run free after all. Let’s not pretend that you can justify this with anything other than your personal opinion.
The point is that instead of criminalizing everything we don’t understand, we should be educating people and respecting people. And if you really want a society based on the bible, throw weh the shellfish and the pork, stop mix fabrics, fire all female teachers… if not, then stop pretending you are a real Christian.
Keep in mind the law in question forbids CONDUCT, not the state of being homosexual.
I’m a fairly old man, and in my life I have had the opportunity to work with many homosexual men, and talk to them about how they became that way. The OVERWHELMING majority of them told me that their first sexual experience was a homosexual one, invariably with an older man. The powerful impact of that first sexual experience then changed the course of their lives and sexual preferences from that day on.
Only a very small number appear to have been “born that way.” Based on the facts I’ve observed in my life, I reject that gay argument, and believe the weight of evidence is exactly what most commentes believe and fear, that practicing homosexuals can, do, and will assault boys and create more homosexuals if they are allowed to practice sodomy freely here.
No matter what foreign liberals and homosexuals want, I hope the majority of us fight to keep Belizean law founded on God’s Word to the greatest extent possible. In the end, that is all that has ever proved to be inerrantly true.
Im a student, and I sincerely don’t like the fact that they want to legalize “homosexuality”. My fellow schoolmates don’t like the idea either. i say NO to homosexuality, GOD BLESS bt Goh Soh Caleb. :p
yesss.! equality for all.! just as heterosexuals are freely allowed to have sexual relationships with their partners, so should homosexuals.! its not right that just because gay they cannot have sex with their partner because of having paranoia of a 10 year jail sentence.!
@leedleleedledee I can officially call you a “THING” Because definitely you are NOT a human. Humans are not attracted to the opposite sex, ever, and if you are..oops, not human..I could say Satan would match better..You know something, not even my male cat goes and screws another male cat, oh and neither my horse nor my dog!!!! So yeah, your life must be lower than an animal, just dont know what species it come down to
(sorry, not attracted to same sex)
GOD MADE ADAM AND EVE, NOT ADAM AND STEVE… NOAH PUT TWO OF EVERYTHING ON HIS BOAT, MALE AND FEMALE, GOD DESTROYED SODOMA & GOMORAH, FOR IMPURITY , ALL WHO ARE HELPING CELEB, WILL HAVE THINGS TO PAY TO THERE 4 GENERATION FROM LAWYERS TO SUPPORTERS
belize must change a devil country sunk in ignorance and lack of union of the inhabitants thereof. society judges what you do not understand and are afraid of what you see and do not understand. why society and the government must give way to a new mindset and erase ignorance that inhabit it. deve church know that is not the main thing to blame as they are as they say, the word of God and say God is not love, it was created in his image and likeness and said that he who is without sin among you cast the first stone. Belizeños So stop being ignorant citizens all who criticize homosexuality as it is each person’s life and as it is each person’s decision. caleb congratulated for having the ….. to defend their ideology and community what other hidden in a closet remain fearful and living in ignorance and promiscuity
nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
Lgbt is a sexual preference not a status. Belizean people majority no need church or relugiin to justify what they have to say. Majority just don’t want to legalize sodomy least lgbt acts period. And if the majority no want them its still law regardless who no like it. Period!
@ human right shut up! the more you write the more stupid you sound ! what does flu,shelfish and pork has to do with the price of rice? God doesn’t give sickness just like he didn’t make anyone gay! don’t blame god for nothing bad ,blame it on the devil whom you worship, because once you question the bible for self justification , that means your not of god but for the devil ! all of you talking about hate! no one hate gay people, as you all sing each and everytime, they hate themselves. , i could careless about who want rub and dig in their homes, but why should the law change to suit a minority over the majority? i never heard any gays get locked up for being gay in belize, hence i don’t see the need to make any changes in the constitution, without religious beliefs being in the equation ones own instict could tell us that this is something wrong .As what you said above about don;t worry about what people do in private! well when you trying to bring it public to rub it in our faces it is then we have alll rights to say what we are against,
@ bonfaya you have a good idea send them on a secluded island one island with only men who love men and the other with only women who love women and see their little civilization die out fast , cause the men will sword fight till they all die out and the women will create so much friction fire will burn down their island… moral of the story sword fighting and rubbing cant reproduce, civilzation end….. story end…lol
Legalize Marijuana. No to ……….. People in LA drive down to Tijuana to see donkeys having sex with women. That is so wrong. This fight with Kalib is not about physical sexual acts. Some freaky women enjoy anal sex. This is about lifestyle and forcing communities to accept homosexuals as equal to heterosexuals in the eyes of the law and nature. They should have legal rights but as far @$$ saying that
the good lord intended for them to be like that, is another matter. I have a friend who was born with one arm, it was an accident. It was not supposed to be so because everyone knows that people bawn with two hand. soh if man like ….. instead of woman, then something wrong. Ah sorry furh angh, and I kay fur angh but like the chiney man seh, something wrong.