Sen. Vynnette Frederick, the New Democratic Party’s spokesperson on gender issues, told the party’s “Conversation with Women”, on past March, that her party is very aware that St. Vincent and the Grenadines needs to start talking about issues of sexuality.

“We feel that what is going to happen is that the international community will forcé the Caribbean to confront the issue of our attitude toward persons who are homosexual,” she said. “The international community will forcé the conversation, because, pretty soon, financing oportunties for us to guet grant money will be denied, on the basis that our legislation doesn’t adequately address, but instead discriminates against people who are not heterosexual.

“So, I believe that while we can’t address the issue today, there will come a day when it will have o be the main conversation. While the women take the Forefront today, we look forward to when the conversation changes so that we can address that issue,” she said at the event that focused on sexual and physical abuse of women in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is among several Caribbean Community nations that criminalise homosexual acts. Frederick, who is also the NDP’s public relations officer, said that her party is willing to listen to the various obbies. “We are also prepared to listen to other lobbies, so that if those persons who are directly affected by the issue of discrimination on the basis of sexuality, if those persons have organised themselves into groups and want locally to have their voices Heard, the New Democratic Party will always have a listening ear,” she said.

Image: Sen. Vynnette Frederick.
Source: IWNSVG
Original article: Senator wants conversation on same-sex relationships