Many are aware that we have a very serious moral, cultural and social issue coming as a referendum in the near future. Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley has informed the public that there will be a referendum on “same-sex marriage” soon.

Referendums undermine parliamentary sovereignty — and, more so, biblical laws. This one will be a first for the Virgin Islands.

Why are we being presented with this radical marriage challenge in a territory that is still primarily defined as being “religious”?

Former Premier Dr. Orlando Smith introduced the first Marriage (Amendment) Act 2017. In addition to allowing marriage officers to now perform weddings at sea (on boats), it also lowered the age of consent to marry from 21 to 18. This followed legislation in 2012 that shortened registry marriage licence waits from three days to one day. This was designed to facilitate wedding tourism. There was no push-back, as this seemed advantageous for the territory.

 

‘Far different change’

However, in 2023, we have a far different change looming. “Same-sex marriage” is a major departure from the amendments of the past. The very idea of changing marriage to include unions of same-sex partners has a profound and disturbing effect on the community.

Not only Christians, but many of diverse faiths and traditional values in the territory consider the government’s intrusion an attempt to change a moral precept that goes back to the biblical time of creation. They regard this attempt as offensive and destructive to religious and cultural norms.

The planned referendum appears to be linked to pressure from the United Kingdom (where same-sex marriage was legalised in 2014), along with the European Convention on Human Rights’ “non-discrimination and equality” policy, under which the VI falls. However, this progressive push for “equality, diversity and inclusion” has an agenda with many pitfalls in interpretation.

Let’s be clear: There is no discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in the VI. As consenting adults, what people do behind closed doors is not a concern. Same-sex couples’ human rights are affirmed in VI legislation passed in 2007 that prohibits discrimination in employment, in the provision of public services, and in other areas. There are also legal avenues available to handle such issues as inheritance rights, family visitation in hospitals, and so on. But we ask that everyone respect our cultural norms and faith traditions.

 

‘Sacred tradition’

Marriage is a sacred tradition, and thus it is called “holy matrimony.” Marriage and the children who are issued from that union form the building blocks of our society. Seeking to redefine that is seeking to cause confusion, destruction and ultimately all the social ills that follow a society not governed by moral laws.

Again, we must stress that those who identify as homosexual are accepted as our friends, our family members, and our neighbours. However, LGBTQ+ and trans ideology is not something we want taught in our schools or promoted in books! Our children are carriers of Light to the next generation.

 

‘Fabric of culture’

As a primarily Christian territory, the demand to legalise what many consider “immoral” tears at the very fabric of culture and tradition passed down for generations. We are not ignorant to what has happened in many other countries that have “liberalised” their marriage laws.

Courts are filled with Christians being penalised for holding common sense traditional values, such as refusing to acknowledge biological men as women and vice versa. Is this what we want in our territory? Families and businesses fraught with constant litigation?

Additionally, we must ask if this is something that benefits the majority of the community? Or are we bending to a minority LGBTQ+ agenda that down the line will cause confusion for our children and the breakdown of the family unit as we know it?

 

‘Hold the line’

We must hold the line and say no to this same-sex marriage agenda. Love fights for truth. It fights against injustice and leads injustice to a place of truth and justice. We hope when we prevail, the UK government will have the decency to allow the people’s decision to prevail. We hope that we will be accorded the due respect we as a territory deserve.

The BVI Christian Council has a conversation with different faiths in the VI every Friday on ZCCR 94.1 FM. We invite you to join us.

 

 

Ms. Flax is the vice president of the BVI Christian Council.