| Mental Health Assoc. Says No Referendum, on A Minority’s Rights |
| Mon, August 22, 2016 |
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| And so while the Evangelists will protest against the judgement and government's reaction to it, while at the same time government is making its case in the media - as to why it has no choice but to accept the judgment. And now - to add one more voice to the fray, the Mental Health Association is applauding the judgement.
The Association sent out a press release saying that any move to reduce decriminalization and stigma against LGBT people will have positive mental health consequences. The Association agrees with the Chief Justice that the fact of the law's existence was enough to give implied permission for continued stigma and discrimination against the LGBT persons in Belize.
And the Association also addressed the idea of a referendum which the Evangelical community and the Belize Progressive Party has been pushing.
The Mental Health Association says that this is a very bad idea because the will of the popular majority could definitely disenfranchise a minority, in this case the LGBT community.
The release says, quote, "Any campaign on this issue would undoubtedly increase hate speech and lead to greater stigma and discrimination with severe mental health implications for the LGBT community. There is also, in any democracy, a moral dilemma about allowing a majority to enforce its will on a minority." End Quote.
The release ends by saying, quote, "The ruling in no way imposes a new morality on those who have religious or other objections to homosexuality; (they) remain free to retain their own views and to base their own lifestyles on these views." End Quote.
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