Church throws support behind MoBay mayor over LGBT ban
MONTEGO BAY, St James — The church has thrown its support behind mayor of Montego Bay Homer Davis and the St James Municipal Corporation, who are scheduled to face the Supreme Court today for a judicial review of an earlier decision to ban the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group Montego Bay Pride from using the Montego Bay Cultural Centre for an event.
“I commend you and all the councillors. I commend our mayor. I commend all leaders here for unanimously standing up for the values of righteousness. The values of the Bible speaks of one man and one woman and of the sanctity of the proper relationship, and standing up against those who would promote the gay rights agenda,” said Reverend Peter Burnett, chairman of the St James Ministers’ Fraternal.
Burnett was leading the devotion at last Thursday’s monthly general meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation.
Founder of Montego Bay Pride Maurice Tomlinson filed a lawsuit on September 24 against Davis and the corporation for banning the group from using the corporation-controlled Montego Bay Cultural Centre to host a week of events to include a public forum on the topic, ‘Is Jamaica ready for same-sex marriage?’ The October 13-18 event has since been cancelled.
The decision to bar the group was made on September 12 during the corporation’s monthly general meeting.
Davis had reportedly stated that nothing must be done to disturb the sacredness and purpose of why the cultural centre is there.
“We are grateful to see the support from the church community, the wider community of Montego Bay and St James, and Jamaica, for the position which we have taken. Yes, the matter is before the courts, and we are prepared to have our day in court,” stated a confident Davis.
The corporation has retained the services of the law firm Henlin Gibson Henlin, while Tomlinson, a lawyer, is being represented by lawyers from Jamaicans for Justice.
Montego Bay Pride has claimed that their constitutional rights, including the right to freedom of expression, as well as assembly and association, have been breached.
