The pillar of society is crumbling and dying and we’re afraid of that,” said the Reverend Lazarus Eugene at a press conference this week, also attended by Bishop Thomas Eristhee of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies. “We’re scared for our society!” Their target is a planned LGBTQ Pride Celebration to be held August 23-26.
The PAWI representatives strongly objected to the four-day event that will include a fashion show, a panel discussion aimed at young people on “The Meaning of Pride Beyond Sexual Orientation” plus a Family Day and Health Fair that will include health talks, screenings, speeches and performances. According to the organisers, the activities are aimed at educating and sensitizing the general public, as well as nurturing the dignity of non-heterosexual and gender-conforming people on-island.Bishop Eristhee asserted that he and his colleagues have no problem with the LGBTQ community. What concerned them was their lifestyle.
Rev. Eugene considered the LGBTQ lifestyle a deception by the devil. “They are trying to re-educate our children and it will affect us in the long term,” he said “The pillar of the community, society and family will be destroyed. That’s what they are trying to do.” Eugene denounced LGBTQ activity as “anti-Christ, contrary to God’s laws and an abomination.”
Said Bishop Eristhee: “God never made a gay man or a lesbian woman. God never created anybody wrongly, and there is no such thing as a gay gene. We all were born sinners, so there will be a tendency towards certain areas.” He offered as examples lying, stealing and fornication.”
But while the two PAWI leaders object to the LGBTQ event, Archbishop Robert Rivas of the Roman Catholic church is of a different opinion. In a televised interview earlier this month, Rivas said his church was not opposed to the LGBTQ community’s plans.
Invited to comment, Eristhee said: “In my opinion it was very unfortunate, I don’t think he was speaking for the Catholic church because I know priests and many persons in that church that speak quite differently. I wonder at times why he basically said it’s okay, let the people do their thing. But it might be because of the Catholic church’s own difficulties with this lifestyle.”
Bishop Eristhee announced plans to host two rallies a few days before the Pride Celebration, the first on August 17 at the Victory Pentecostal Church in Vieux Fort, the second on August 19 at the Odsan Pentecostal Church. Medical Professor Wayne West and attorney Philippa Davies of Jamaica will be among the speakers.
Eristhee encouraged those who plan on attending the Pride Celebration to come to the rallies. “We’re going to do it in the north and south, so that everybody can come. It’s not just for church people, it’s for everybody,” he said.
