Chairman of the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC), Reverend Conrad Pitkin, says he is not in opposition to the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) staging a pride celebration in August.

“Every citizen has a right to make their expression, that is their right. It is the police who give permission to march. I do not have a problem. Every Jamaican citizen has a right and I am not one to take these rights from them,” said Pitkin.

Pride celebrations or festivals are events celebrating lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) culture and pride.

J-FLAG says it will be staging their first pride celebration and through the gofundme website, is seeking donations to make that happen. The festival, it is said, will be attended by over 1,000 persons.

Planned events slated to happen at the festival will include an opening ceremony, a symposium, a cultural show, a flash mob, sporting activities, a trade show for the LGBT businesses and a party.

ENOUGH SUPPORT

Daniel Thomas, president of the Love March Movement, the Christian organisation advocating sexual purity and the family, had different views on J-FLAG’s staging of such an event.

“I think it represents a change in the strategy of the LGBT advocates in Jamaica. They obviously believe that now there is enough support on the ground to pull off these myriad of public events,” he said.

Thomas believes that marriage was now more than ever under attack.

“It is now officially under attack in Jamaica,” he said.

He believes that the country should be vigilant about recent developments happening in the United States and the impact it could have on the nation.

Thomas was making reference to the United States Supreme Court decision granting same-sex couples the right to marry in all US states and US territories like Puerto Rico.

“The public should watch what is happening in America and what is going to happen in coming weeks and months to be able to see exactly where this road leads. It’s not going to be positive. We need a sustained effort to stand for the family and sexual purity,” Thomas pointed