Oranjestad, Willemstad, PHILIPSBURG:---- The LGBTI (sexually diverse) organizations ALFA (Alternative Life-style Foundation Aruba), FOKO (Curaçao Pride Foundation) and SAFE (St. Maarten/St. Martin Alliance for Equality), jointly declare that the only acceptable end result of the struggles for the rights of committed LGBTI (sexually diverse) couples is the granting of full marriage rights to same-sex couples in each of the Caribbean countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
We assert that the struggles for equal rights for LGBTI (sexually diverse) citizens and couples in the CAS (Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten) countries are an extension of the struggle against slavery and forced labor, the struggle for equal rights for women, and the struggle for autonomy of the 20th century movements of the people against racism and colonialism. This resolution has been written with the recognition that LGBTI (sexually diverse) rights are human rights, and that marriage equality falls within the scope of human and civil rights.
Based on the advocacy, counseling and educational work of our respective organisations we can emphasize that this declaration is in line with the deepest wishes of the LGBTI (sexually diverse) and allied individuals within our local societies. This is in strong contradiction to the often heard notion and argument that marriage equality in our countries is being imposed by the Netherlands. This resolution disqualifies that notion.
These diverse communities have always existed in significant numbers on each island, contributing to the development of their communities through their work in governmental, private, cultural and other sectors of society, often in leadership positions. They have always fulfilled the imposed legal obligations of our countries, while being unable to benefit from the same legal protections as other people meeting those obligations. These local groups themselves now acknowledge that equality for LGBTI (sexually diverse) people means mainly three things, each as important as the other:
− protection against stigma and discrimination (bullying, homelessness, termination of employment, refusal of housing, etc.)
− LGBTI (sexually diverse) inclusive policies & legislation (inheritance, pension, family-life, etc.)
− marriage and relationship equality
The fulfillment of equal rights for LGBTI (sexually diverse) Dutch Caribbean individuals cannot continue to be postponed due to the belief that society is ‘not ready’. The greatest civil rights moments in the history of the world and our countries did not wait for society to be ready or for society to provide activists with permission to demand their basic rights. What if human rights fighters like Tula, Betico Croes, Rosa Parks and, Martin Luther King, would have decided to pospone their struggle for that reason?We have not undertaken a journey to change
the religious beliefs of our respective societies, nor do we wish to do so. The demand is not that churches be forced to marry LGBTI (sexually diverse) people in their places of worship.
Personal emotions and theologies have no place in this discussion. That's why the religious institution of marriage on one side and secular civil marriage on the other side, are two different things that should remain separate. We urge lawmakers to consider the very notion of having their civil and legal rights removed or limited due to one aspect of their person, be it race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. What is being demanded is that access to the package of legal protections, rights and benefits included in civil marriage be inclusive of all citizens, whether heterosexual or LGBTI (sexually diverse).
The Netherlands and the USA are two countries that our people like to look up to where democracy and civil rights are concerned: The law of the Netherlands that granted marriage rights to LGBTI (sexually diverse) couples defined marriage as an act of commitment and mutual obligation between two people, harboring no objective reason to restrict it on the basis of sexual orientation.
In the United States earlier this year, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy stated in his assenting vote for LGBTI (sexually diverse) marriage: “The nature of injustice is that we may not always see it in our own times... The nature of marriage is that, through its enduring bond, two persons together can find other freedoms, such as expression, intimacy, and spirituality. This is true for all persons, whatever their sexual orientation. ...There is dignity in the bond between two men or two women who seek to marry and in their autonomy to make such profound choices... Marriage responds to the universal fear that a lonely person might call out only to find no one there. It offers the hope of companionship and understanding and assurance that while both still live there will be someone to care for the other.”
The emotion of marriage is something that remains intact within all of our societies; the notion of caring for another, protecting that individual and growing together in life is an ideal that any individual can appreciate. What is missing from this equation for those LGBTI (sexually diverse) citizens of our societies are the legal protections and obligations that come with marriage. It should not be that legal protections are extended to LGBTI (sexually diverse) citizens in some parts of the kingdom (the Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands) and continue to be denied to LGBTI (sexually diverse) citizens in other parts; namely Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten.
SAFE, ALFA and FOKO, strongly call on the parliamentarians, political parties, lawyers and community leaders of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten to, while recognizing religious differences and those based on other convictions and beliefs, accept that LGBTI (sexually diverse) rights are civil rights and as such human rights, and cannot be limited by religious or personal beliefs. We ask that they recognize that the universal principle of equality demands that LGBTI (sexually diverse) people and couples are not excluded from basic rights, nor limited in their access to these rights. This includes the right to marry the one you vow to love and care for.
Lysanne Charles – Arrindell, MSc. President SAFE
RESOLUSHON KONHUNTO RIBA IGUALDAT
MATRIMONIAL DI KARIBE HULANDES 2015
(Papiamentu)
Oranjestad, Willemstad, Philipsburg, 18 yuli, 2015
E organisashonnan seksodiverso (LGBTI) ALFA (Alternative Life-style Foundation Aruba), FOKO (Fundashon Orguyo Kòrsou) i SAFE (St. Maarten/St. Martin Alliance for Equality), huntu ta deklará ku e úniko resultado final aseptabel di nos luchanan pa derechi di parehanan komprometé dje mesun sekso, ta ful akseso na matrimonio i derechinan matrimonial den kada un dje paisnan Karibense di Reino Hulandes.
Nos ta deklará ku e lucha pa derechi igual di siudadano i parehanan seksodiverso (LGBTI) den nos paisnan ta djis un ekstenshon di tantu e lucha kontra sklabitut i trabou forsá, komo e lucha pa derechi igual pa hende muhé, i e lucha pa derechi sivil di e movementunan popular kontra rasismo i pa outonomia di siglo 20. Nos a yega na e resolushon akí rekonosiendo ku derechinan seksodiverso (LGBTI) ta derechi humano, i ku komo tal igualdat matrimonial ta kai bou di derechi humano i derechi sivil.
Basá riba e trabounan di abogasia, konseheria i e trabou edukativo di nos organisashonnan nos por enfatisá ku e deklarashon akí ta kuadra ku e deseonan mas profundu di e hendenan seksodiverso (LGBTI) i nan aliadonan heteroseksual den nos komunidatnan lokal. Esaki ta kontradesí fuertemente e noshon i argumento frekuente, ku ta Hulanda lo ta imponiendo igualdat matrimonial den nos paisnan. E resolushon akí ta deskalifiká e noshon ei.
Nos komunidatnan seksodiverso tabat'ei semper na kada un di nos islanan, ku un kantidat di hende signifikante, kontribuyendo na desaroyo di nos komunidatnan, trahando den sektornan gubernamental, privá, kultural i otro sektornan di sosiedat, hopi biaha komo lider. Semper nan a kumpli ku e obligashonnan legal ku nos paisnan ta imponé, sin por gosa dje mesun protekshonnan legal ku otronan ku tambe ta kumpli ku tal obligashonnan. Ta e gruponan lokal akí mes ta realisá awor ku igualdat pa hende seksodiverso (LGBTI) ke men prinsipalmente tres kos, kada un mes importante ku e otro:
− protekson kontra stigma i diskriminashon (pèstermentu, sakamentu fo'i kas, kitamentu for di trabou, ningamentu di bibienda ets.)
− maneho i legislashon ku ta inkluí hende seksodiverso (LGBTI) (herensia, penshun di biudo(a), bida familiar, ets.)
− igualdat matrimonial i relashonal
Kumplimentu ku derechi igual pa siudadanonan Karibeño Hulandes seksodiverso (LGBTI) no por keda posponé kada be, pa motibu dje kerensha ku sosiedat lo no ta kla. E gran momentunan di lucha pa derechi sivil den istoria di mundu i di nos paisnan no a keda warda te ku sosiedat tabata kla of te ku sosiedat ker a duna permit pa aktivista eksigí nan derechinan básiko. Ki lo a pasa si Tula, Betico Croes, Rosa Parks i Martin Luther King, lo a disidí posponé nan lucha pa e motibu ei? E kaminda ku nos a skohe no ta kambia e kerenshanan religioso di kada un di nos sosiedatnan, ni ku nos ke esei. Nos eksigensha no ta pa forsa gruponan religioso kasa parehanan seksodiverso (LGBTI) den nan iglesianan.
Den e diskushon akí no tin lugá pa emoshonnan i teologianan personal. Ta p'esei e instituto religioso di matrimonio na un banda i matrimonio sivil i sekular na otro banda, ta dos kos diferente ku mester keda separá. Nos ke urgi parlamentarionan pa djis konsiderá e noshon ku ta kita o limitá bo derechinan sivil i legal pa motibu di un aspekto di bo persona, sea bo rasa, desendensia étniko o orientashon seksual. Loke nos ta eksigí ta pa akseso na e pakete di prokeshon legal, derechi i benefisionan inkluí den matrimonio sivil ta inkluí tur siudadano, sea heteroseksual o seksodiverso (LGBTI).
Hulanda i Merka ta dos pais ku nos hendenan gusta wak komo ehèmpel pa loke ta demokrasia i derechi sivil. E lei Hulandes ku a habri matrimonio pa pareha dje mesun sekso ta definí matrimonio komo un akto di kompromiso i obligashonnan mutuo entre dos hende, sin ningun motibu ophetivo pa limit'é basá riba orientashon seksual.
Na Merka mas tempran e aña akí hues Anthony Kennedy di Korte Supremo hustifikando su voto pa habri matrimonio pa pareha seksodiverso (LGBTI) a deklará: “Naturalesa di inhustisia ta ku no semper nos ta logra rekonos'é den nos propio tempu istóriko... Naturalesa di matrimonio ta ku, pa medio di su laso duradero, dos persona huntu por haña otro libertatnan, manera ekspreshon, intimidat, i spiritualidat. Esaki ta konta pa tur hende, sin importá nan orientashon seksual... Tin dignidat den e laso entre dos hende hòmber o dos hende muhé ku ke kasa, i den nan akto outónomo pa yega na tal eskoho profundu... Matrimonio ta rospondé e miedu universal di hende solitario ku ora nan yama no tin ningun hende pa kontestá. E ta ofresé e speransa di un kompania, komprondementu i siguransa ku tanten ambos ta na bida tin hende pa kuida e otro”
E emoshon di matrimonio ta algu ku ta intakto den tur nos sosiedatnan; e noshon di kuida otro, protehando e otro i krese huntu den bida ta un ideal ku hopi hende por apresiá. Loke falta dje konhunto akí pa siudadano seksodiverso (LGBTI) di nos sosiedatnan ta e protekshon i obligashonnan legal ku matrimonio ta trese kuné. No mester t'asina ku den sierto partinan di Reino (Hulanda i Karibe Hulandes) siudadanonan seksodiverso por disfrutá dje protekshon legal akí, mientras ta keda ninga nan esei na otro partinan di Reino, esta Kòrsou, Aruba i St. Maarten.
SAFE, ALFA i FOKO ta hasi un yamada fuerte na parlamentarionan, partidonan polítiko, huristanan i lidernan komunal di Kòrsou, Aruba i St. Maarten, pa, rekonosiendo diferenshanan religioso i esnan basá riba otro konvikshon i kerenshanan, aseptá ku derechi di hende seksodiverso (LGBTI) ta derechi sivil i komo tal derechi humano. Nan no por keda limitá pa kerenshanan religioso ni personal. Nos ta pidi nan rekonosé ku e prinsipio universal di igualdat ta rekirí ku hende i pareha seksodiverso (LGBTI) no ta keda ekskluí di derechinan básiko, ni ku ta limitá nan akseso na e derechinan akí. Inkluyendo e derechi pa kasa esun ku bo ta primintí stima i kuida.
Lysanne Charles – Arrindell, MSc. President SAFE
RESOLUCION CONHUNTO RIBA IGUALDAD
MATRIMONIAL DEN CARIBE HULANDES 2015
(Papiamento)
Oranjestad, Willemstad, Philipsburg, 18 juli, 2015
E organisacionnan sexodiverso (LGBTI) ALFA (Alternative Live-style Federation Aruba), FOKO (Fundacion Orguyo Corsow) y SAFE (St Maarten/StMartin Alliance for Equality) hunto ta declará cu e único resultado final di nos luchanan pa derecho di parehanan comprometé di e mesun sexo, ta e ful acceso na matrimonio i derechonan matrimonial den cada un di e paisnan Caribense di Reino Hulandes.
Nos ta declará cu e lucha pa derecho igual di ciudadano i parehanan sexodiverso(LGBTI) den nos paisnan ta djis un extension di tantu e lucha contra sclabitud i trabao forsá den nos historia comun, como lucha pa derecho igual pa hende muhé, i e lucha pa derecho civil di e movementonan popular contra rasismo i pa autonomia di siglo 20. Nos a yega na e resolucion aki reconociendo cu derechonan sexodiverso (LGBTI) ta derechonan humano, i cu como tal igualdad matrimonial ta cay bou di derecho humano y derecho civil.
Basá riba e trabaonan di abogacia, conseheria i e trabao educativo di nos organisacionnan, nos por pone énfasis cu e declaracion aki ta cuadra cu e deseonan mas profundo di e personanan sexodiverso(LGBTI) i nan aliadonan heterosexual den nos comunidadnan local. Esaki ta contradeci fuertemente e nocion y argumento frequente cu ta Hulanda lo ta imponiendo igualdad matrimonial den nos paisnan. E resolucion aki ta descualificá e nocion ei.
Nos comunidad sexodiverso(LGBTI) semper tawat’ei na cada un di nos islanan, cu un cantidad di persona significante, contribuyendo na e desaroyo continuo di nos comunidad, trahando den sectornan gobernamental, privá, cultural, y otro sectornan di sociedad, hopi biaha como lider. Semper nan a cumpli cu e obligacionnan legal cu nos paisnan ta imponé, sin por goza di e mes un proteccionnan legal cu otronan cu tambe ta cumpli cu tal obligacion.
Ta e gruponan local aki mes ta reconoce cu igualdad pa personanan sexodiverso (LGBTI) kier men principalmente tres punto, cada un mes un importante cu e otro:
• Proteccion contra stigma i discriminacion (pestmento, saca for di cas, kita for di trabao, nenga vivienda etc.)
• Maneho i legislacion cu ta inclui persona sexodiverso (herensia, pensioen di viudo(a) y bida familiar
• Igualdad matrimonial y relacional.
Cumplimiento cu derecho igual pa e ciudadanonan Caribense Hulandes sexodiverso (LGBTI) no por keda posponé cada bez, pa motibo di kere cu e sociedad lo no ta cla pa esaki. E gran momentonan di lucha pa derecho civil den historia di mundo y di nos paisnan no a keda warda te cu sociedad tawata cla of cu sociedad kier a duna permit pa activista exigi nan derechonan basico. Kiko lo a pasa si Tula, Betico Croes, Rosa Parks i Martin Luther King, lo a dicidi no sigui lucha pa un motibo? E caminda cu nos a scohe no ta pa cambia e kerensianan religioso di cada uno di nos sociedadnan, ni cu nos kier esei. Nos exigencia no ta pa forsa gruponan religioso pa casa parehanan sexodiverso (LGBTI) den nan iglesianan.
Den e discussion aki no tin lugar pa emocionnan y teologia personal. Ta p’esei e instituto religioso di matrimonio na un banda y matrimonio civil y secular na otro banda, ta dos cos diferente cu mester keda separa. Nos ta urgi parlamentarionan pa djis considera e nocion cu ta kita o limita bo derechonan civil y legal pa motibo di un aspecto di bo persona, sea bo rasa, decendencia etnico o orientacion sexual. Loke nos ta exigi ta pa e acceso na e pakete di proteccion legal, y derecho i beneficionan inclui den matrimonio civil ta inclui tur ciudadanonan, sea heterosexual o sexodiverso(LGBTI)
Hulanda y Merca ta dos pais cu nos hendenan gusta wak como ehempel pa loke ta democracia y derechonan civil. E ley Hulandes cu ta habri matrimonio pa pareha di mes un sexo ta defini matrimonio como un acto di compromiso i obligacion mutuo entre dos hende, sin ningun motibo obhetivo pa limita e persona aki su derecho basa riba su orientacion sexual.
Na Merca hues Anthony Kennedy di Corte Supremo hustificando su voto pa habri matrimonio pa parehanan sexodiverso(LGBTI) a declara: “Naturalesa di inhusticia ta cu no semper nos ta reconoc'e den nos propio historia... Naturalesa di matrimonio ta cu, pa medio di su laso duradero, dos persona hunto por haya otro libertadnan, manera expresion, intimidad y spiritualidad. Esaki ta conta pa tur hende, sin importa nan orientacion sexual... Tin dignidad den e laso entre dos hende homber o dos hende muher cu ke casa, i den nan acto autonomo pa yega na tal escohencia profundo. Matrimonio ta responde e miedo universal di hende solitario cu ora nan yama no tin ningun hende ta contesta. E ta ofrece e speransa di un compania, comprendemento i siguransa cu tanten ambos ta na bida tin hende pa cuida e otro”
E emocion di matrimonio ta algo cu ta intacto den tur nos sociedadnan. E nocion di cuida otro, proteha otro i crece hunto den bida ta un ideal cu hopi hende por aprecia. Un punto cu falta den esaki ta cu ciudadanonan sexodiverso (LGBTI) di nos sociedadnan, no tin e proteccion, derecho y obligacionnan legal cu matrimonio ta trece cune. No por ta cu na cierto partinan di Reino (Hulanda y Caribe Hulandes) ciudadanonan sexodiverso por disfruta di e proteccion legal aki, mientras ta keda ninga nan esei na otro partinan di Reino, esta Corsow, St Maarten y Aruba.
SAFE, FOKO y ALFA ta hasi un yamada fuerte na parlamentarionan, partidonan politico, huristanan y lidernan comunal di St Maarten, Corsow y Aruba, pa reconociendo diferencianan religioso i esnan basa riba otro conviccion i kerencianan, accepta cu derecho di hende sexodiverso (LGBTI) ta un derecho civil, y como tal un derecho humano. Nan no por keda limita pa kerencianan religioso ni personal. Nos ta pidi nan reconoce cu e principio universal di igualdad ta rekeri cu hende i pareha sexodiverso (LGBTI) no ta keda exclui di derechonan basico, ni cu ta limita nan acceso na e derechonan aki. Incluyendo e derecho pa casa cu esun cu bo ta priminti di stima y cuida.
Lysanne Charles –Arrindell, MSc. President SAFE
