"I respect nobody who is gay" (Dominica)

[Meeker Morgan]

"I respect nobody who is gay," DFP candidate tells constituents
http://www.dominicanewsonline.com/politics/8451.html

Nettisha Walsh, the Dominica Freedom Party candidate for the Salisbury constituency, evoked uproar from constituents at a public forum when she declared that she had no respect for gay people.

“I respect nobody who is gay,” Walsh told a constituency parliamentary debate at the Salisbury Government School last night.

She was responding to a question posed by pastor of the Salisbury Pentecostal Church, Lloyd Vidal regarding the candidates views on gay tourism.

“We are a Christian, God-fearing nation and to bring such an abomination into our country, it hinders our development,” the young candidate charged.

Walsh further asserted countries should reject gay cruises.

(more)

What is it with the British Caribbean?

[Maraya1969]

1. "Say no to gay tourism" How about we spread the word and say "no" to tourism for all

to your island. There are plenty of other islands that are happy to have gay tourism dollars.

Seriously, I wonder what she would do if everyone boycotted her island because of her hurtful words.

“God will not intervene to take us further because it is an abomination and God will not like it. So we as a Christian nation should stand up and say no to gay tourism too. It should not be allowed in our country or any other country as a matter of fact. Again I will say I respect nobody who is gay whether it’s woman or not,” she said."

[The_Commonist]

2. I like Dominica...

But I don't like this lady.
Such a good Christian!

(as an aside... Meeker Morgan - I'll bet you live in my 'hood! You can call me Graham Grand...)

[David__77]

3. This right-wing party got 3% in the last election.

She will not be elected. Unfortunately, for some reason, the ruling center-left party is in coalition with this party. The Caribbean countries, unfortunately, have a strong anti-gay chauvinism.

[progressoid]

4. “We are a Christian, God-fearing nation"

Boy, that phrase just get uglier and uglier every time I hear it.

[MNBrewer]

5. They fear their god

because they worship a real bastard of a deity.

[jtrockville]

7. I equated it with: "We feel justified to hate people of our choosing"

[NMMNG]

6. “We are a Christian, God-fearing nation"

It seems everywhere Christianity has been imported turns into a festering cesspool of homophobia.

[Terra Alta]

8. The feeling is mutual.

I have no respect for bigots! Or homophobes! She doesn't want gay tourists, fine, her country won't be getting any of my tourism money!

[Meldread]

9. I'm going to laugh when....

...global warming causes their pitiful little islands to sink beneath the waves. I hope they know how to swim, because they sure as hell aren't welcome in this country.

[sui generis]

10. and I have no respect for crooked teeth inbred islanders

whaaaaa?

I guess "respect" is some currency this wench thinks has value. Nobody cares if you respect us or not. Just don't act on it, because that's a two way street with multiple lanes AND and HOV in each direction.

Why are these people so stupid?

[LeftHander]

11. I am getting tired of hearing "abomination" tossed around....

By these religious zealots.

[Iggo]

12. Fuck her, sideways, with sandpaper. (n/t)

[lightningandsnow]

13. You do realize most of the homophobia is the result of colonialism, right?

Many indigenous cultures accepted and even revered people we would refer to today as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

With the colonization of the Caribbean, the white Christians taught the indigenous people that any kind of sex outside of heterosexual marriage was wrong.

[Meldread]

14. So?

In an attempt to justify a belief on the grounds of tradition - irregardless of what it might be; irregardless of whether it is good or bad, right or wrong, defensible or indefensible - inevitably leads to the upholding of that tradition. It denies the right and the responsibility to change.

[FLAprogressive]

19. doesn't make it right.

[closeupready]

15. A woman with whom I once worked was originally from Puerto Rico.

She lived with and knew many other people from the Caribbean, and she once told me, appropo of nothing special, that Caribbean cultures are quite homophobic. This was about, gosh, 12 years ago. I've come to realize that her stereotype was based well upon anecdotal info, as we see all kinds of stories like this, public officials who proudly emblazon themselves as homophobic, popular recording artists who sing approvingly of burning and killing gay people, tourism officials who discourage gay people from traveling and actively approve of discriminating against GLBT people.

So, suffice it to say, this story doesn't surprise me, not that it was supposed to. I just wanted to share my experience in this light.

[closeupready]

16. And another thing: isn't God-fearing code word for superstitious?

It's always seemed like it. It's almost like saying, "no I can't make sense of our hatred for minority groups; all I know is that good people hate Jews/gays/Americans/etc."

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. What is it with the British Caribbean?

a past of colonialism where people have been shamed severely of any non-european ways

its what happened in india too. we used to worship half man-half woman gods, have a drag queen festival etc Then the britished shamed us for 2 centuries for this.

[DeSwiss]

18. Update.....

The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) has issued a statement disassociating itself with anti gay sentiments expressed by Nettisha Walsh, its candidate for the Salisbury constituency.

Asked about her views on gay tourism, the twenty-one year old DFP candidate told constituents at a constituency debate for the candidates contesting the December 18 polls, that gay tourism “is an abomination and God will not like it,” and we as a Christian nation “should stand up and say no to gay tourism..” Walsh added “I respect nobody who is gay whether its woman or not.”

However the DFP made it clear that the policy of the party is not to discriminate against anyone because of their sexual orientation, political persuasion, their creed, class or race.

“That policy position is consistent with our laws and our constitution and the conduct of the party leadership and members. Our manifesto expresses a strong anti-discrimination position regarding the Kalinago people, women and gender issues, and people with special needs” the statement said http://www.dominicacentral.com/politics/dfp-disassociates-with-anti-gay-statements-made-by-its-salisbury-candidate-nettisha-walsh.html">link

- I'd like to see their tourism industry try to survive on a diet of Teabaggers.....