News

By Elizabeth O’Brien

PANAMA, June 13, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – At a meeting presided over by Jose Miguel Insulza, the president of the Organization of American States, various representatives from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite, transgender, transsexual and inter-sex (Lgbttti) groups met to discuss and seek recognition of “rights”. As the Catholic News Agency Reports, it was the first time that various activist leaders have voiced specific concerns before the OAS.

Marcela Martinez, representative from the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Transsexual People described how transsexuals allegedly suffer violence and discrimination through forced medical treatments and in some cases, assassination. The Catholic New Agency described how others at the meeting denounced such violence, saying that it was “promoted by a legal system that fosters cruelty, repression, violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender expression and identity.”

OAS leaders and delegates responded to the testimonials by claiming ignorance of the state of affairs and committing to remedying it. Silvia Rosivel, representative of Trans Nicaragua, indicated to the Panama newspaper La Prensa that the event was a success for gay rights groups. “The most important thing is that Insulza and the ambassador of Panama, Aristides Royo, committed themselves to work for the respect of the human rights of the LGbttti,” said Rosivel.

Shortly before the opening of the 37th General Assembly of the OAS, Insulza informally met with certain civil society representatives and proposed the possibility of starting a special fund. The money would come from “voluntary contributions from the OAS member states to implement actions they consider a priority and that are normally carried out by civil society organizations.”

LifeSiteNews.com spoke with OAS officials and asked if any of the funds would be channeled toward gay and lesbian organizations. They responded by saying that the fund has not yet been set up, but in future it would support many various Non-Government Organizations. These could potentially include gay and lesbian groups.

Respected Pro-Lifer, Fraser Field, Executive Director of the Catholic Education Resource Centre, commented on Isulza’s recent commitment, warning that while it is true that violence against any particular group must be stopped, stopping such violence must never be used as a means to pushing a pro-homosexual agenda.

“The OAS must be very careful in responding to this problem. Violence against citizens is a crime irrespective of sexual orientation, just as it is if the violence is aimed at a coloured person, a fat or thin person or a person belonging to another religion…”

 “So often in Canada and the U.S.,” continued Field, “the goal of making homosexual persons a  special case with respect to violence is the first move in the long range strategy of making homosexual marriage and homosexual behaviour socially acceptable and the legal and cultural equivalent of heterosexual marriage.”

“This would be a morally disastrous outcome for OAS countries. And the imposition of a foreign value system that has nothing to do with the culture of marriage and deep religious convictions in which OAS countries are rooted.”

See Related Coverage:

Brazil Pushing for Gay Rights at UN
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/nov/04112203.html

Brazilian Priests Could Face Jail-time for Saying that Homosexuality is A Sin
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/mar/07031904.html