LETTER OF THE DAY - Church's priority misplaced
Published:Tuesday | June 25, 2013 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
For almost 40 years, Exodus International lied about sexual orientation and promoted those lies throughout the world, with many people buying into it.
On Wednesday, June 19, Exodus International announced its closure. Exodus' claim was that 'Change is Possible' through conversion therapy. However, in January 2012, then president, Allan Chambers, conceded that "... 99.9 per cent of [the gay people engaged in such therapy] have not experienced a change in their orientation".
In Jamaica, we've had, at the very least, two instances of this religiously motivated pseudo-science called ex-gay therapy. One is Wired Jamaica, and the other is a visit from Dennis Jernigan.
In May 2012, the Jamaica Observer published an article on then vice-chairman of the Exodus International board, (forced to resign in June for his activity in Jamaica) Dennis Jernigan, who claimed that he, a former homosexual, had since been changed and "was given a brand new identity in Christ, and ... walked out of that lifestyle" ('I used to be gay - Evangelist tells his story', May 28, 2012).
The closure of this group will, hopefully, lead to the closure of ex-gay ministries across the world, including Jamaica. I doubt that will ever happen any time soon.
WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
With all the frenzy of church groups over the upcoming case of Javed Jaghai, and their bid for the Government to retain the buggery law, I wonder where the Church's voice is when we have children being abused physically and sexually. In September 2012, there were 626 reported cases of rape, the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) reported 43 JCF members charged for corruption, we have students killing each other for various reasons, yesterday the dollar closed at $101.28 to US$1. Where exactly does the Church's priority lie?
Gay Jamaicans are requesting that the Government of Jamaica decriminalise consensual acts between adults (both male and female).
The Government of Jamaica needs to stop cowering in fear and do what is right for the protection and human rights of all the citizens of Jamaica, both heterosexual and LGBT.
ANGELINE JACKSON
Convenor, Quality of Citizenship Jamaica