Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
Pastor David Henry, a member of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship, makes his presentation to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament considering the Charter of Rights Bill, yesterday. Looking on is Shirley Richards, president of the group. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE LAWYERS Christian Fellowship (LCF) yesterday scored a victory when the Joint Select Committee of Parliament, considering the proposed Charter of Rights Bill, agreed to accept a proposal from the group's president specifically banning same-sex marriage.
Shirley Richards, LCF president, said the word 'marriage' should be defined in Clause 13 of the bill.
"We propose that the word 'marriage' be defined as being the voluntary union of one man to one woman for life, to the exclusion of all others," she said.
The Christian group had maintained that the wording in section 13 of the proposed Charter could be interpreted as paving the way for the legalisation of homosexuality, among other things.
Justice Minister and committee chairman, Senator A.J. Nicholson, welcomed the proposal.
"The Lawyers Christian Fellowship, and others, they are suggesting to us, and it appears that we are agreeing, that we must place something in the Constitution, which tells any court that same-sex marriage in Jamaica is not allowable," Senator Nicholson, who is also the Attorney-General, said to loud applause from the packed gallery.
But while accepting the definition of marriage, committee members Senator Noel Monteith and Professor Trevor Munroe raised concerns that the definition would equate common-law unions with marriage.
However, Dr. Eileen Boxhill, director of the Legal Reform Unit in the Justice Ministry, explained that the definition of marriage in the Constitution does not include a common-law union but does not prevent legal rights for such unions.
ADDITIONAL CLAUSE
The Christian group also urged the committee to put in place an additional clause that would protect constitutional legislation, such as the buggery laws.
"We are submitting to you that the people of Jamaica would feel a keen sense of betrayal should they awaken to hear of a court decision that permitted the striking down of the buggery laws as a result of the provisions of the charter," she said.
The caution was also taken on board by the committee with Senator Nicholson urging members to come up with proposals to be inserted in the proposed legislation to protect the country's laws.
The committee will meet again next Thursday to listen to submissions from the National AIDS Committee.
