CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – The St Lucia-based Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) is calling on political parties contesting the June 6 general election to state their position on issues relating to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

In a statement, ECADE which says it is providing an empowering environment to increase skills and capacity for advancement of LGBT and marginalised populations in St Lucia, said it was calling for the debate in light of a video released by Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries Minister Lorne Theophilus, who used a “derogatory term to describe the leader of the United Workers Party (UWP) Allen Chastanet.

“With this term having a long history of being used to insult and denigrate LGBT people, there has been a call for spokespersons from the LGBT community to respond. While recognising the political mischief that motivates much of the online furore, ECADE takes the opportunity to express its alarm that the LGBT community is being used as a pawn by political operatives,” the group said in a statement.

“The LGBT community will not be used as a pawn, scapegoat or punching bag in political strategy but will however, address issues which are recognised as relevant and of import. The convenient release of the video is questionable and suggests political motives behind its release. Even more problematic however are the contents,” it added.

ECADE said that Theophilus has verified the validity of the video and contents in his public responses, as he attempted to issue an apology via news and social media.

“We note that Minister Theophilus’ seemingly casual and cavalier use of the term represents a troubling and hurtful cultural acceptance of language that denigrates LGBT persons and diminishes the value of their lives.

“This common practice whether in the context of a private conversation or public statement is hurtful and damaging, it encourages continued stigma of LGBT people and validates acts of discrimination and violence against them,” ECADE added.

It said that while it welcomes his apology on the matter the statement, “while it is the most progressive pronouncement on the issue by any minister of government or political candidate in the country in recent history, does not adequately address the issue of LGBT discrimination and the violation of the rights of LGBT people across political, social, cultural, religious, labour, education, and health-related spheres in this country”.

ECADE said it was calling “on all political parties and those aspiring to govern the country, to make a full position statement on the issue of LGBT discrimination and to take a public stand against the use of damaging language in public and private spheres”.