BJORN BURKE, Staff Reporter

Nearly a week after the a United States Supreme Court handed down a ruling allowing same-sex couples to marry in 14 states, some Jamaicans are still having a hard time digesting this piece of news.

Many appear fearful that the ban will be lifted on our shores, and many others lament the end of times.

Having been granted the ability to exercise the fundamental right to marry, same-sex couples in the United States are ecstatic, with many wishing to see the change occur in neighbouring territories.

In direct conflict with President Barack Obama’s sentiments of “justice that arrives like a thunderbolt” following the move, it appears that Jamaican social norms will find members of the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, who are hoping for a similar fate in the longstanding fight for equality, waiting for their own version of impartiality for quite a bit longer.

When THE STAR took to the streets, several citizens weighed in on the topical issue, most of whom declined to associate with the subject matter by requesting to have their identities withheld.

Pauline Bennett*: I don’t have a problem with them, they are not my problem. I think them soon come here with it. I do not know how soon because it is already here, anyway. But to legalise it, I’m not sure when. When you say marriage, if a man and man married, or a woman and a woman, they cannot have a child. I think it is wrong. I don’t put up with that, it is wrong.

Jason Adams*: I’m going to take a very cautioned approach. The whole matter of gay marriage is nothing that is new to those of us who are exposed. I know it will be only a matter of time before it gets here. It is wider than we know or would want to appreciate. It is all around us. I give it (lifting the ban of same-sex marriages locally) no more than two years, and it is not a belief, it is a fact. If they sneeze, we cough. Mr Obama’s visit recently has softened the approach we would have to take.

Certainly, there were those who touted differing and wildly unpopular opinions in the grand scheme of things. While it appears as though the masses are up in arms about the acceptance of same-sex unions, there was the occasional citizen who shared a different view.

Adine Williams*: It’s going to take a very long time, I don’t think it going to reach here for now. Then again, I say live and let live. As long as you not violating anybody’s personal preference. As long as you not troubling the children like the pedophiles. If you are a man and you love a man, I don’t have a problem with you. As long as you nah put it inna mi face, you free fi do anything you want to do privately. I think that they should be able to express themselves publicly, but you know we don’t really like seeing those kind of things. I read a lot of gay novels, and I don’t have a problem. I see gay males and I just don’t like it, if you know say you gay and you a go pretend and married a woman, mi nuh like those things. I know they can’t live openly; yes, I understand that, but try and maintain a certain level of integrity. If it reach out here, I won’t be out there protesting against it, dem nah hurt you.

In May, the Government rejected recurring recommendations for the country to repeal its buggery law and legalise same-sex marriage, with Justice Minister Senator Mark Golding revealing that the proposals did not enjoy Jamaica’s support.

*Names changed upon request.