Bahamas News

President of The Bahamas Christian Council Bishop John Humes said the church is prepared to fight the Rainbow Alliance if this group continues to press for Cable Bahamas to include a homosexual channel as part of its programming.

However, President of the Rainbow Alliance Erin Greene said she does not want to fight over this issue, but would rather have a meeting with the Christian Council so the two groups would have a better understanding of each other.

Bishop Humes said he did not have all the details regarding the group’s push for a homosexual channel on cable television, but “if they are trying to think about it, we could let them know now that we will oppose it.”

He said that homosexuality is an abomination unto the Lord.

“Homosexuals can be converted and we must appreciate them as people, but their agenda has to go. No. We can’t allow them to promote their agenda because it is contrary to the word of God and it is contrary to our Christian values. We will not allow them to feel that they can promote their agenda freely in this country,” Bishop Humes said.

Ms. Greene said she appreciates Bishop Humes’ view with regard to homosexuals, but the call for a homosexual channel in the Cable Bahamas lineup would not affect the morality of The Bahamas.

“Cable Bahamas can provide a (homosexual) programming channel without compromising the morality of the nation,” she said.

Ms. Greene suggested that if the Council believes that having a homosexual channel is wrong, then it must also protest against channels that may have a negative impact on society.

“If this is the truth…if allowing a gay channel will promote homosexuality in the country, then we need to cut off every network channel that runs a show about cops and robbers. Take off ‘Law and Order’; take off ‘CSI’; take off ‘24’…you have to take all of these shows off the air because showing gun violence ultimately will promote gun violence,” Ms. Greene said.

“We have to take off anything with anyone breaking the law, or anybody doing anything against God needs to be taken off the air because it promotes the subject that it is featuring. That is a ridiculous argument,” she said.

She said the Rainbow Alliance wrote Cable Bahamas two years ago requesting that the homosexual channel be incorporated in its line-up.

“But we also indicated at the time that people in the gay community are too frightened to be ‘outed’ and people knowing that they are gay, that they are not even prepared to write a letter in private to Cable Bahamas and say ‘please turn on ‘Logo’ (the homosexual channel) and put their names at the bottom,” Ms. Greene said.

She said only a few people in the homosexual community have been brave enough to request the channel.

Ms. Greene added that Logo is not pornographic in its programming, and explained that there are programmes on that station that would be of interest to anybody regardless of their sexual orientation.

Logo is affiliated with the popular CBS station, she said, adding that Logo airs CBS news.

In response to Bishop Humes, Ms. Greene asked, “He does not know the details, but he is prepared to fight us on it? The Christian Council has far more important issues to focus on than whether Cable Bahamas is going to include a gay programming channel.”

She said that the Christian Council must first ask why Cable Bahamas has at least 10 channels dedicated to pornography, but the local homosexual community can’t get Logo on the air.

Ms. Greene said she believes the sale of pornographic DVDs and bootleg porn DVDs is higher than the sale of all movies in the country.

“So the Christian Council should really look at why there is such a large demand for pornography in this country, and what we are going to do to ensure that Bahamians not only have access to movies, but they have access to the choices. The Christian Council would be better suited to providing a recommended media list for the country,” Ms. Green added.

She suggested that the Christian Council produce a list of channels and movies it feels would be appropriate for Bahamians every quarter or every month.

“Give it to Galleria Cinemas so that in their research of new movies, along with the box office movies, they can bring in a complement of alternative family-oriented movies, Christian-oriented movies, community-oriented movies so that Bahamians really have a choice,” Ms. Greene said.

“I definitely think that there is a link between the violence against women and the rape and the availability of pornographic media in the country.”

Bishop Humes agreed that cable television already has too many stations that promote too much sex and violence.

“We are prepared to work with the homosexuals in delivering them from this bondage as we work in other areas of sin as it affects mankind. We know homosexuality is not the only sin that affects mankind because we have issues right now like crime and violence and hatred and ‘sweethearting’. We already have enough problems in our country to create another one,” Bishop Humes said.

“Rape and incest – especially among teenagers, we have to address this matter. There is a lot of talk about murder and violence, but what about rape and those crimes against our young girls and young boys that are molested by people they know…and it goes unannounced?”

He said the Christian Council supports The Bahamas Crisis Centre’s conference, which is being held under the theme “Creating Partnerships to Confront Sexual Violence in The Caribbean”.

Ms. Greene said the Rainbow Alliance also supports the conference.

Bishop Humes said the Christian Council is not trying to stop anyone from expressing themselves.

“But there are consequences that we don’t need in this country,” he said.

Soure: Bahama Journal