Last week, controversial Pastor Nigel London, and others, orgainsed and led a march in the mining town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to express their dissatisfaction with the work and progress made by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) as far as promoting equality, human rights and non-discrimination against people based solely on their sexual orientations were concerned. Pastor London charged into SASOD, accusing it of attempting to brainwash Lindeners and promoting illegality, as the country’s laws currently prohibit buggery and same sex relations. He therefore equated homosexuality as anti-God and anti-scripture, referring to it as an abomination.
London and his supporters did not stop there. They went further. He argued that SASOD’s work in the community was sending the wrong message to children and youths. According to him, the organisation’s work could place young Lindeners in severe danger, as homosexuals or LGBT people were sexual predators, paedophiles and somehow abnormal. From his rants and raves during the rally, it was clear that Pastor London was highly homophobic to the point where one newspaper quoted him as urging supporters of the march to “stand up for what is right” by riding the community of “homos”. The goodly Pastor said he wanted President David Granger and the Government to treat the march he organised as his response to their invitations for views on the decriminalisation of same sex intimacy and homosexuality. He even warned that the President, considering his recent statements, may be inclined to support “gay marriages” moving away from the scriptures.
As this embattled “Shepard” led his “flock” in what he said was the religiously right direction, social media and the wider Region 10 community exploded with debate. While those in the belly of the march aggressively promoted violence against homosexuals openly and their imprisonment as a means of ridding the community of the growing “plague” that SASOD somehow ironically created over the past few weeks via its activism, others who stayed away and were no doubt more educated, enlightened and familiar with the subject matter, rejected the entire purpose of the march.
While it is not clear what is London’s real motivation for holding such a march at this time, many other things however are very clear.
Every Guyanese has the right, protected by law, to peaceful protest as means of freely expressing themselves. I fully support those who choose this route and salute them for attempting to impact public policy and influence legislators to keep the current status quo because they feel it will somehow assist in the maintenance of righteous in Linden and the very ‘high’ levels of mortality there. No one should attempt to personally attack these heterosexuals, as Guyana is still a democratic State even though its well on its way to autocracy under the new political configuration and convenient coalition.
What is strongly objectionable, however, is the rhetoric of Pastor London and those who spearheaded the march or movement at Linden. After reviewing their speeches and assessing their postures during the event, it is clear that they are incapable of understanding the internationally accepted definition of human rights. Also, they seem to be having immense difficulty in understanding the characteristics of the category of people that are more likely to be child sex offenders and paedophiles. The goodly Pastor should take a trip to the Social Protection Ministry and the other relevant agencies to inform himself on the subject matter before seeking to inform others. Pastor London did his flock a major disservice in this respect and has created more confusion which SASOD must clear up. In his haste to find out reasons apart from the scriptures to justify his intolerance and hate, he sought solace in alternative facts and dishonesty.
Equally objectionable was London’s description of the lifestyle led by people in the LGBT community, giving the impression that he somehow was an insider. All he did however was to repeat the manufactured controversies surrounding LGBT people. For the record, aside from those persons who are sex workers and other extreme personalities, most people in the LGBT lead normal lives, pay their taxes, contribute to the wellbeing of their country and are tolerant of others. Because they are a minority and most times suffer immense rejection and abuse because of the provocateurs of violence like Pastor London, some have moved undergone out fear, while others like SASOD are standing proudly to point out the systemic injustices and discrimination in this country’s legal framework that punishes LGBT doubly.
Pastor London must recognise that Guyana is a secular state. And his religion has no monopoly or God-given right to decide solely how, and what standards all Guyanese should aspire to, or live by. We all have a say and we must continue to demonstrate tolerance even though we may disagree with people’s choices and lifestyles. If Pastor London’s religious ministry as the amusingly named ‘Come as Are’ Church is effective then he would have no reason to rail against SASOD with his march and subliminally hateful rhetoric. But the reality is, as SASOD and other governments educate young people they are less likely to support those barbaric and archaic laws. Too many families in Linden and Guyana comprise LGBT people for them to support any measure that would have them further victimised, unjustly jailed for their sexual orientation; whether chosen, learnt or not. Churches in Guyana and other religions will not win souls or LGBT people over (if that’s still their aim) by the machinations and flamboyance displayed by Pastor London. Demonstrating love and preaching the doctrine peacefully and honestly, without hate and judgement, may have a chilling effect on those who are not sure about their sexuality.
Also, Pastor London should lead a delegation to the Government and make his presentations there in a professional and orderly manner if this matter is so dear to him. The last thing Linden or Guyana needs are extreme personalities who would see Pastor London march as a call to action and an excuse to kill or unleash violence against LGBT people, as we saw in the Orlando shooting in the US and the dastard killing of three LGBT people in separate incidents right here.
Linden has bigger problems than the work of SASOD or the lifestyles of LGBT people. Why doesn’t Pastor London pray for jobs for the people there or hold a pro-jobs rally? Even starting an organisation to restore morals and values would be good.
Lastly, I don’t believe Pastor London was trying to remain relevant or increase the popularity of his church when he hosted that march. I also don’t believe that he has a soft spot for SASOD or Joel Simpson because of some insecurity he still harbours. I do believe that Guyana is big enough for all people to reside side by side regardless of our colour, political choices, RELIGION and SEXUAL ORIENTATION. I believe if there cannot be full acceptance then there must be tolerance or the end result will be war and violence.
