Homosexuality & Same Sex Marriage in The Cayman Islands

The topics of homosexuality and same sex marriage seem a far way off as live issues of discussion concerning the Cayman Islands. As the conversation rages on elsewhere, the level of importance these topics garner increases exponentially; however on our islands, with road expansions and closings; questions of integrity in the government; elections; deficits and immigration laws etc., at the forefront of the public’s thoughts, it seems there just isn’t enough ink to lend to, dare I say, a non-issue. It is this that has left me in a conundrum of emotions, for I want to launch a preemptive strike from a Judeo/Christian point of view concerning homosexuality and same sex marriage, but the temptation is to simply relax. As seemingly only smoke is visible in the distance, but not the fire. Sure the occasional gay cruise ship requesting to dock off our shores, sparks conversation and some protest, but even with Human Rights being presently discussed, these are not areas anyone seems eager to tackle in a public forum, for it seems (at least for now) there is no need to. While some fear that homosexuality and same sex marriage is a forgone conclusion in a place like America for example, in the Caribbean and certainly in the Cayman Islands the consensus is visibly different. With the continuing moral and societal reconfiguration campaign, occurring predominantly with our neighbor to the north (the US), it be wise to keep watch on that horizon; it be wise to not underestimate the reach of this movement. Daily, athletes, musicians, actors/actresses and public figures are “coming out”, announcing that they are to be counted amongst the gay community. What was once rumblings some decades ago, has become a high pitched scream; one so deafening and persistent it has clogged the air-waves, so it’s all we here now.
 
Added to which, as a means to strengthen and further solidify the cause - same sex activists have heeded to the marching orders of Kirk and Madsen (After the Ball: How America Will Conquer its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s) and have shifted the argument of homosexuality out of the moral category (as much as they can) and have pressed it into the Civil Rights sphere, juxtaposing the African-American Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s, and for the most part, have succeeded in doing so, in what can be called a masterstroke in public relations. Morality, in the discussion of homosexuality and same sex marriage, not only has to withstand being bound and gagged in subjectivity, for those who hold to the Judeo/Christian worldview especially, morality as it applies to homosexuality has been debased, with any contradicting beliefs/views found archaic, at best, or worst, not entertained altogether. I can't help but think that the consequences to follow, and by our progeny inherited, when we seek to draw our own moral boundaries, often times seem to be beyond our sight and too great a sacrifice for desires at present. Now with every slam of a gantlet, judges in courtrooms across the US seek to find themselves on the right side of the masses and of history concerning gay rights. And as state after state and country after country join the chorus of what is viewed as a victory for forward progress and equality, I am thankful to Lord that this global cultural shift is seemingly making its way here, but in “Cayman Time.” This affords the people of God on these Islands time to prepare with the love of the gospel to meet this colossal movement aided by Presidents, philanthropist, lawmakers, celebrities and the common Dick and Jane, who can’t see what the big deal is and why religious nincompoops seem so narrow-minded, always fighting, what they see as, forward progress. This giant refuses to be ignored, is relentless and organised  and so to should the people of God.

 Homosexuality/Same Sex Marriage and Civil Rights

First let me say, that taken at face value, of course we should believe in the basic rights of individuals, understanding that this ethic is tapped from a Judeo/Christian worldview, which credits to each individual intrinsic worth and dignity as image bearers of God. In the late twentieth century we saw demonstrated in the US, the understanding of civil rights broadened to then remedy discrimination and fuel moral progress in the treatment of blacks in America. As I’m not an expert, nor have I or any Caymanian for that matter, lived with Civil Rights/Human Rights as a judicial blanket for guarding the intrinsic dignity of her subjects in Cayman; I have retreated to the wisdom of others who have helped me (and perhaps will help you the reader) to think through homosexuality and same sex marriage in relation to civil rights, and its proponents seeking harborage within the ports of civil rights advancements. Though the case same sex activist make can be described as “stick-men” arguments at best, they can ring rather persuasive in the common man’s ear. And to the present and upcoming generation, majority of whom are being educated in the US and are clinging less and less to the foundational moral bedrock laid by their Caymanian ancestors, those arguments can sound like liberation.

Defining Homosexuality

Hitching homosexuality and same sex marriage to the civil rights wagon or as Michael Brown writing for TownHall.com put it “the hijacking of the Civil Rights movement by gay activists”, as stated earlier, is a brilliant move in public relations. The question that remains however is:
 
Can we nail down homosexuality definitively? And as such can it then be categorized and warranted the intrinsic rights akin to that which African-Americans struggled for in the 50s and 60’s?
 
Voddie Baucham (Gay Not the New Black)

“The first problem with the idea of conflating "sexual orientation" and race is the fact that homosexuality is undetectable apart from self-identification. Determining whether or not a person is black, Native American, or female usually involves no more than visual verification. However, should doubt remain, blood tests, genetics, or a quick trip up the family tree would suffice. Not so with homosexuality. There is no evidence that can confirm or deny a person's claims regarding sexual orientation.........

In short, it's impossible to identify who is or is not a homosexual. As a result, how do we know to whom the civil rights in question should be attributed? Should a man who isn't a homosexual (assuming we could determine such a thing) but tries to enter a same-sex union be treated the same as a woman who isn't Native American but tries to claim it to win sympathy, or casino rights, or votes?

Michael Brown (Why Gay Is Not the New Black)

Although gays and lesbians emphasize identity rather than behavior, homosexuality is ultimately defined by romantic attraction and sexual behavior. How can this be equated with the color of someone’s skin? Skin color has no intrinsic moral quality, and there is no moral difference between being black or white (or yellow or red). In contrast, romantic attractions and sexual behaviors often have moral (or immoral) qualities, and there is no constitutional “right” to fulfill one’s sexual and romantic desires……

Conservative gay journalist Charles Winecoff wrote, “Newsflash: blacks in America didn’t start out as hip-hop fashion designers; they were slaves. There’s a big difference between being able to enjoy a civil union with the same sex partner of your choice – and not being able to drink out of a water fountain, eat at a lunch counter, or use a rest room because you don’t have the right skin color.”

Notwithstanding same sex activists will draw our attention to the subtle similarities in "struggle" between the two (Civil Rights Movement and the Gay Rights Movement): bigotry, intolerance and hatred, but once passed the sleight of hand, the implication made by the comparison is highly egregious, not to mention untenable.
 
Marriage Defined
 
Marriage has long been defined as “the union of a man and a woman”; a definition rooted in history, a banner to the very corner stone of human civilization and society:
 
Albert Mohler (Same-Sex Marriage as a Civil Right………)
 
From the very beginning, marriage was designed as the union of one man and one woman. Every human society has recognized this meaning of marriage, and all successful civil societies have honored, protected, and defended heterosexual marriage as the union that should govern human sexuality, reproduction, intimacy, and rearing of children.
 
The definition simultaneously eliminates the possibility of including same sex couples. Now before the stigma of “neanderthal” or " old fashion" rear their heads, it’s important to recognize that the definition is rooted, among other things, in the process of procreation which, need I remind us, is only possible in opposite sex relations:
 
Kevin DeYoung (A Few Things to Consider Before Supporting Gay Marriage)
 
By recognizing gay unions as marriage, just like the husband-wife relationship we’ve always called marriage, the state is engaging in (or at least codifying) a massive re-engineering of our social life. It assumes the indistinguishability of gender in parenting, the relative unimportance of procreation in marriage, and the near infinite flexibility as to what sorts of structures and habits lead to human flourishing.
 
Here lies the crux of the argument; it is not being denied the right to marry that is of main concern; it is the right to redefine marriage and have bestowed judicially the same privileges of marriages as traditionally constructed and defined. A homosexual is free to enter into a committed relationship with another; it is defining the relationship that conjures debate:
 
Kevin DeYoung (A Few Things to Consider Before……)
 
The issue is not about controlling “what people do in their bedrooms” or “who they can love.” The issue is about what sort of union the state will recognize as “marriage” and confer all the benefits thereof.
 
Voddie Baucham (Gay Not the New Black)
 
…there is a legal disconnect. One thing that seems to escape most people in this debate is the fact that homosexuals have never been denied the right to marry. They simply haven't had the right to redefine marriage. But don't take my word for it; listen to the Iowa Supreme Court in their decision in favor of same-sex "marriage": "It is true the marriage statute does not expressly prohibit gay and lesbian persons from marrying; it does, however, require that if they marry, it must be to someone of the opposite sex."
 
Added to which there has always been restrictions on marriage, this isn’t new or somehow tailored to discriminate against homosexuals as some would like us to believe:
 
Voddie Baucham (Gay Not the New Black)
 
It should be noted that the right to marry is one of the most frequently denied rights we have. People who are already married, 12-year-olds, and people who are too closely related are just a few categories of people routinely and/or categorically denied the right to marry. Hence, the charge that it is wrong to deny any person a "fundamental right" rings hollow. There has always been, and, by necessity, will always be discrimination in marriage laws.
 
Albert Mohler (Same-Sex Marriage as a Civil Right………)
 
Marriage laws always discriminate. Current laws discriminate on the basis of age, marital status, and gender, as well as a host of other issues. The law itself necessarily discriminates. For instance, married people pay fewer taxes and women enjoy maternity leave. The question is whether such discrimination is right or wrong.
 
The gravitas of the nature of marriage for the Christian extends further than just definitions; it is the defacement of the picture that marriage represents that’s at steak, that picture being the gospel, of Christ and his bride, the church (Eph. 5:31-32).

They Are Among Us

First my apologies for what may sound like insensitivity, referring to those with same sex attraction as “they.” As if I’m referring to aliens and not people; however in the context of the Cayman Islands the alien analogy is apropos. The thought that homosexuality and same sex marriage being considered for normalcy one day, and featured at the forefront of our public debates, radio, print and our office cooler talks, is a foreign concept to most, I’m sure. But make no mistake; there are those among us who presently identify with homosexuality. If you are a local reading this I’m sure a person you know or suspected of same sex attraction has come to mind. Due to an aggressive abhorring to the lifestyle on these islands, reports of secret meetings of homosexuals increase, for public declaration would be met with resistance, and to refer to what a homosexual stands to face if they chose to live an openly gay lifestyle in the Cayman Islands or the Caribbean for that matter, as resistance, is being kind. So what does the Christian do with this; what does the church do with this?
 
The Church
 
It’s been said that “as goes the pulpit; so goes the pew”; if you would allow me to offer some advice to the pastors of our churches:
 
First, talk about it; do not avoid it, expositional preaching helps cure this. As ones who herald the gospel, but also feed and protect those who God has entrusted to your care (1 Peter 5:1-3); assuming that there is no one in your congregation struggling with same sex attraction, is an assumption you cannot afford to live blissfully in.
 
Second, if you are a pastor that has been brought up in shadows of church culture on these islands, you probably have an approach towards homosexuals that can be described as hostile; if you’re not, praise God. True, homosexuality is a sin, but it is not a sin which God fears nor has given no remedy to. As ones who have been saved by the love of God; we owe the gospel to every man, woman and child still in Adam. We owe it to them to be winsome, loving, compassionate, and unabashed in the presentation of the gospel. Be sure not shrink the gospels power (Rom1:16), to be only saving of the murderer, the thief, the liar. Elevating homosexuality as being the deadliest of all sins is not biblical; there is no sliding scale for how God views sin. It stands to be said that decreasing the severity of other sins, marital infidelity, sexual promiscuity/pre-marital sex, in comparison to homosexuality, is also not biblical. Do not live in Leviticus 18:22 or other passages that deal with sexual immorality without giving the good news that Christ died bearing all sins, yes even homosexual sin.
 
Third, boycott boycotts, of gay cruise ships docking, movies etc.; ditch the picket signs and the clichés “God made Adam and Eve; not Adam and Steve.” Encourage your congregation to change the culture of approach towards homosexuals, encouraging hopeful and fruitful speech saturated with the love of Christ and not speech filled with hate and condemnation. Encourage homosexuals who may be in your membership to make it known to you privately and seek to kill the sin together.
 
Four, pray frequently, both privately and corporately, concerning homosexuals in the families of your congregants and in your congregation.
 
Christian
 
Homosexuality is not contagious! It is not to be feared! Loving someone that’s a homosexual with the love of Christ is not the same as loving homosexuality. Be radical Christian, if ever a ship or a plane filled with homosexuals is to set down on our islands again, take a gay couple out to dinner or lunch, share the gospel with them (of course call them to repentance when given the opportunity ); but build a relationship with them or him or her. I guarantee they will not be expecting that, and really that is to our shame.
 
I feel I need to address the brothers in the faith. I think you would agree that as Caribbean men there is an ingrained hyper-masculinity, imposed by the generations of men before us to offset homosexuality or even effeminate behavior. This marred version of masculinity also included promiscuity, a sort of rites of passage; having sex with as many women as possible to solidify manhood. We see and hear it. Just listen for it next time you’re at the barbers. As Christian men (me included) we have to renew our minds. It is us who are to lead the charge for change, in how the Christian is to approach homosexuals. Correct the unfruitful talk, and the offensive slurs. Encourage other men around you to do the same, set a foundation, realign your heart, be prepared to meet with the gospel, that young Caymanian man or woman who will come to you and say “I’m gay.”
 
Finally, pray Cayman, pray for our leaders/lawmakers, pray for marriages, pray for families, pray for our churches, and pray for the homosexuals among us! That we all may find and rest in the identity of Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace.
 

Please see Christian ministry which caters to individuals with same sex attractions:
 
http://exodusinternational.org/
 
Blog references:
 
http://www.albertmohler.com/2013/04/24/same-sex-marriage-as-a-civil-right-are-wrongs-rights/
 
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/12/11/a-few-things-to-consider-before-supporting-gay-marriage/
 
http://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2012/05/22/why_gay_is_not_the_new_black/page/full
 
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/07/19/gay-is-not-the-new-black/

http://www.9marks.org/what-are-the-9marks/preaching