Belizean LGBT Rights Violations

UniBAM Response to the Catholic, Anglican and Evangelicals Press Release dated May 18 th , 2011 Dated: May 28 th , 2011 The United Belize Advocacy Movement, an advocate organization that uses rights-base approaches to reduce stigma and discrimination seeks to clarify that its constitutional challenge focuses on a narrow ruling to amend the law so that sexual intercourse does not apply to consenting adult. The Churches release must be challenged point by point as it is full of misrepresentations. The accusation, for example, that we are seeking “new rights” ignores that all Belizeans have established constitutional rights; the outcome of the case is simply rights-enforcement. The United Belize Advocacy Movement must note further that on December 10 th , 2009, 66 nations at the UN General Assembly supported a groundbreaking statement confirming that international human rights protections include sexual orientation and gender identity. The 66 countries reaffirmed "the principl

PRESS RELEASE BELIZE CITY , (May 18 th , 2011) Recently, Christian leaders in Belize were made aware of a lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court by a homosexual advocacy group that seeks to abolish the laws against sodomy in this country. The advocacy group has been heavily influenced by foreign interests who seek to impose a worldview that directly contradicts the supremacy of God as reflected in our laws, challenges our national sovereignty, and threatens our very way of life, not least by targeting our children. We, the undersigned leaders of the Catholic Church, Anglican Church and the Belize Association of Evangelical Churches last week applied to join the government in the case of Caleb Orozco & UNIBAM vs, The Attorney General of Belize to defend the laws of this nation, which reflect God’s law and promote human dignity and the common good. We declare that God is the author of all creation as our constitution affirms by recognizing the “supremacy of God.” Man is created in the

The current section 53 case seeks in its simplest terms to amend the law so that it does not apply to consenting adults. Its not about gay marriage. It not about targeting children. In fact, the case retains criminalization of sexual intercourse with minors. It also retains criminalization of having sex with animals. The following FAQ outlines in more detail the focus of the case. Believe it or not the requested amendment is about 4 words." with any person or" is the big offending language to the churches. CALEB OROZCO & UNIBAM v ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF BELIZE What is this lawsuit about? This action is seeking a declaration from the Court that section 53 of the Belizean Criminal Code violates sections 3, 6 and 14 of the Belizean Constitution, and is therefore of no effect insofar as it applies to sexual intercourse between consenting adults. Section 53 provides that: “Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person or animal shall be l