Jan 21 - ERG Replies To Religious Institutions’ Statement On Same Sex Marriage
The Equality Rights Group (ERG) has responded to the publication today of a press release issued by a number of Christian and Jewish religious institutions in Gibraltar stating their joint position regarding same sex marriage.
The ERG’s Chairman, Felix Alvarez, has said: ‘Neither the LGBT community, nor its families nor friends nor allies will be moved in their determination to do away with centuries of religious political correctness where to treat homosexuals as third class citizens was the order of the day. Especially not by a statement made anonymously.
He continued: ‘The breath of Freedom as Gibraltarians is on our lips. LGBT people will not be coerced, nor indeed will we be intimidated by the old custom of past influence.
‘We are building a new Society, a new Gibraltar, and those who oppose others’ rights in situations where no attempt at all to remove theirs exists, offer only shackles for words. The religious institutions, who so frequently call for tolerance for themselves, would be better exercised in setting a better example in their treatment of others first. Nonetheless, ERG extends its recognition to and gratitude for the support and solidarity of many religious people in the Community, both straight and gay, who do not align themselves with extreme views.
‘As Chairman of ERG, I call on all LGBT citizens and those who care and support them to be ready to demonstrate their rejection of any obstacle to implementing One Civil Marriage Law For All. If necessary, we will exercise our democratic rights by taking to the streets.
‘While ERG prefers to encourage calm and understanding by continuing to urge everyone to act morally and with patience and rectitude for the law, if the religious establishment insists on aggressively encroaching into the private, political and civil affairs of citizens, and thus failing in their respect towards others, ERG cannot and will not permit any obstacle, whether in plain light or in dark corridors, to get in the way even one inch of minorities’ freedoms being denied or taken away.
‘We urge Government to take decisive and swift action in favour of full Equality and end the possible exacerbation of tensions by slow strangulation. The community at large is behind you and with you and the Opposition. It’s time to finish the job! It is, after all, nothing less than the change you promised us all!’
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