I am a heterosexual Roman Catholic and I support marriage equality for homosexuals.
My younger self however had a very different opinion on the matter. Its basis being little more than religious dogma. I am pleased to say that I have come a long way since then. While I applaud myself for the personal progress, I also acknowledge that I still have further to go. But that's the wonderful thing about mankind�we are all capable of changing.
Following the United States Supreme Court's ruling on the legality of same-sex marriages, social media was flooded with approval and praise. At the same time, I followed with morose interest the condemnation voiced by many Trinbagonians–especially concerned about the possibility of the same occurring here. One of the more colourful comments stated that, "It's every creed and race, not every queen and queer." We can be cruel. But let's face it, there are times when we aren't exactly living by the words espoused in our national anthem and motto. After fifty-plus years of independence, can we honestly say that we are aspiring and achieving together?
This is not about debating the morality of homosexuality, or the virtues of equality. But I am highlighting it as part of T&T's problems stem from prejudice. This retrogressive thinking not only prevents us from achieving developed world status, but also limits us to a social culture that is more exclusive than inclusive. For any country, no event is more divisive than national elections. With our racially-themed politics, it is a time when our leaders will use it as a tool to appeal to the electorate's fears, pitting 'us' against 'them'. The irony is that when it's over, after they have stirred up the population, whoever forms the government asks us to all work together in a 'Ganges come meet the Nile' fashion.
Prejudice is a learned behaviour; no one is born with preconceptions to hate. But when our elders pass on those lessons, what hope is there for the generations to come? One can rationalise and even forgive the old folks' harbouring such ill-feelings. But now is a different time. Communities are no longer isolated to South of the Caroni, the East-West Corridor, and Goodwood Park; the population moves and mixes on a daily basis. For those of us born after the 1970's, we grew up and attended school with people of different races, religions, socio-economic class, and yes, even sexuality. In our youth we didn't dwell on those differences, but in a twisted reality, they seemed to matter more as we grow older.
What shocked me about the posts I read last Friday, was that the venom-laced language came from my peers, young people in their twenties. It is a handicap we are inflicting upon ourselves for no good reason. And it goes beyond how we look upon and treat each other. We don't have to join hands and sing 'Kumbaya', for the truth is that our generation will not be able to change overnight. But we can take the first steps in breaking the cycle. Soon we will be the elders, and the lessons we pass on to the young will be part of what shapes the future.
If Trinidad & Tobago is to become better, to fulfil the notion that every creed and place has an equal place, then we have to abandon the old prejudices. And yes they have to expand and include issues like sexuality and gender identity.