Email

Print

San Pedro town has long been known for its thriving gay community – but one resort owner is taking it to another level completely: he's courting the gay tourist market – with an event called the Biggest LGBT Pride Event in Belize's History.

It's a week long event planned for September at the Caribbean Villas Hotel and gay guests will be regaled with, quote, "Drag shows, Toga Parties, Leather & Lace Parties, Reg-gay Nights, a Masquerade Ball, a Runway Model Show and more... !!"

Now, the resort owner says he's just trying to tap into an available and lucrative tourist market – but he's also toeing the fault line for one of Belize's biggest cultural wars.

Today Caleb Orozco told us, bring it on:..

Caleb Orosco - Executive Director, UNIBAM

"I was as surprised as you to have received the Facebook release from our people in the community and for us we applaud any private sector event that promotes a climate of inclusion."

Pastor Scott Stirm - VP, Evangelical Association of Churches

"I heard about it yesterday and so we send out texts to all of the leaders that we got connections with. And so obviously people are appalled with this event coming into Belize. I guess part of the challenge with that is if there was a public event - it would be easier for us to put public pressure to get something like that stopped but it's a private event at a private facility so that presents little bit of a challenge. But I would say this, above all else I'm excited about this and I'm looking forward to see what God is going to do."

Caleb Orosco

"For our good friend pastor Stirm, I welcome his commitment to his cause and he at least has my respect in being very consistent in his message. Like all things, people have their views and whether people are committed or not, it will be reflected in practice and action. Ultimately, pastor Stirm is not the law and pastor Stirm cannot erode, threaten, intimidate the rights of people to walk freely, to associate freely and to express themselves freely."

Pastor Scott Stirm

"It is a big issue and so, yes they do the different parades and all of that but everybody knows exactly what is completely different about this one - specifically has the exclusive LGBT twist to it. Basically what we're saying is, it's a step in the wrong direction and the power of suggestion."

Caleb Orosco

"He may have his perceptions on what happens at a pride event. For us pride events occurred for many decades in this country without provocation or cause. And they have been simply entertainment moments that to us are known as social fabric event that is part of the Belizean culture."

Daniel Ortiz

"How would you want to say to those who say, you're jumping at shadows, that your reactionary and that the reaction is blowing everything out of proportion?"

Pastor Scott Stirm

"Well I would just say, I disagree - what is the other option? And that's why we said if you expect the church to just roll over like an old tired rod; I'm sorry that's just not who we are. We're going to come at this thing as a righteous Rottweiler and a prayerful pit-bull."

Caleb Orosco

"The problem isn't with us, the problem is with the BTB and the BTIA and their silence and their complicity by inaction of mission and indifference in publicly stating what their position is on the practice of discrimination and it's effect on tourists. Knowing that we've engaged BTIA privately and knowing the resistance to actually take responsible stance - wronged the rights of people to associate, express and movement. The challenge is for them to establish nationally what climate does Belize have. Is it one friendly to tourists, all tourists? Or is it one where they'll pick and choose tourists they welcome to Belize? For us the ball is in the BTB and BTIA court because it's up to them to decide."

We'll have the resort owners point of view in Monday's newscast.