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SASOD calls for Edghill’s removal as Minister, MP
When Junior Finance Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill made statements against persons of same-sex orientation on a talk show a few weeks ago, he never expected that his comments would be interpreted as ‘hate speech’. He told Kaieteur News yesterday that when he spoke on the issue of gay rights, he did so as a religious minister, according to what is said in the scriptures.
Junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill
However, the Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is calling for the removal of Edghill as a Member of Parliament, and as junior Finance Minister. The Society expressed this during a press conference yesterday after interpreting that the Minister’s statement, “flagrantly incited hatred and intolerance,” of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
Edghill had described homosexuality as, “destructive, unwholesome and unhealthy.” He went on to say that gays should not be tolerated in Guyanese society.
SASOD’s executive member Joel Simpson expressed that the society had noted Edghill’s “inflammatory edict,” which he said amounts to what Article 146 (3) of the Constitution describes as “hate speech.”
He said that hate speeches or other expressions, according to the law, are capable of inciting hostility or ill will against any person or class of persons.
“We think what Edghill said is hate speech. We are calling for his removal as a Minister of government and a Member of Parliament because that is a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms under the Guyana Constitution.”
Outside of the local calls made against Edghill, the Society has also submitted its position to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council for Guyana’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2015. This report highlights the situation of sexual rights in Guyana, focusing on the rights of LGBT persons.
UPR is a UN human rights mechanism where countries attempt to comprehensively review each other’s human rights record. It takes into consideration all treaties and conventions dealing with human rights. Simpson said that the report to the UN was submitted on June 15 last.
The report’s title “On Devil’s Island” was inspired by Edghill and Pastor Ronald McGarrell, Simpson posited. McGarrell was the first talk show invitee who spoke out on the gay issue where he stated that gays should be on an island by themselves so as to spare the rest of society from the wrath of God.
Joel Simpson holds up the report, while other executive members look on.
Bishop Edghill supported the Pastor’s views and stated that such behaviours should not be tolerated in Guyanese society.
The report to the UN encompasses the minister’s statements and those of the pastor. It contains also local laws against sexual intimacy against adult men and cross-dressing among other things and the rights of LGBT people, which they say, are at stake. These rights are equality, life, liberty, personal security, privacy and expression. The report further claimed marginalization in education, health care, job acquisition and housing among other areas.
Of the several recommendations which seek the repeal of certain laws, among the creation of pro-gay policies at security, education and other social agencies, SASOD reiterated the call for Edghill’s removal.
The body plans to take its call “as far as it can go”. Media personnel were told that SASOD plans to engage relevant stakeholders in support of their cause. The biggest concern, the body charged, was the unstable atmosphere that anti-gay utterances, such as those made by Edghill, creates.
Bishop Edghill is however unapologetic for his statements and told Kaieteur News that he continues to hold his views against LGBT behaviour.
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