‘Rainbow’ welcome for gay cruisers

Passengers from the Navigator of The Seas attract
attention in downtown George Town when they and
some 3,000 fellow gay cruisers disembarked for the
first time in the Cayman Islands for almost a decade

Women in GT Harbour give passengers a warm
welcome

Protestors demonstrate against the arrival of the gay
cruise passengers

Rich Campbell, CEO, Atlantis Events

Thursday,  February 2, 2006

EIGHT years after they were forced to make a detour to avoid the wrath of Caymanians, 3,200 gay tourists landed on Grand Cayman on Tuesday to a “rainbow” type welcome in the traditionally Christian Island.

To greet the visitors in a variety of ways were hundreds of residents who lined the city of George Town streets. They were vocal in one of three ways – “welcome”, “not welcome” and “welcome but…”

When the tenders took the gay cruisers from the Navigator of the Seas, anchored offshore, the long-awaited reaction from Caymanians came in the form of a mixture of warm and cold responses.

The controversial issue, which the Government had to publicly defend on the grounds of human rights and international acceptance of gays, drew a strong presence from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), including Commissioner Stuart Kernohan.

On the day in question, many gay tourists expressed their feelings about the cruise, the Island and the protesters. 

Leonard Vagarozzo said he has been gay all of his 54 years and had previously visited the Island.

“I’ve been here before and I like the Cayman Islands and I’m enjoying myself. I know everybody is very nice, I hope they don’t look at us as being weird. We accept everybody the way they live, everybody has to live their life,” he said. 

While Mr Vagarozzo came alone, Todd Tibbs, 42, of North Carolina, shared the journey with his partner of eleven years, Monte.

“I was born this way. I have spent several weeks here but it’s the political issue that’s making it a big deal,” he said. 

Mr Tibbs had advice for the anti-gay protesters: “If they don’t think it’s right to have homosexual relations they shouldn’t do it. More power to them; everybody should be able to feel how they want to feel.” 

His lover Monte of North Carolina, said he has been gay all his life. “I’ve had heterosexual relationships but I’ve always been gay. I’ve always had same-sex desires just that I’ve acted on them when I entered my late teens,” he said.

Monte said he is a practising Christian: “I grew up in a Christian society and I’m still involved in church. I know that people think that it’s against the Bible and I think it’s their interpretation of the Bible,” he said.

“I believe that religion is wonderful, I believe in God, I always have, I always will. I believe he loves me for who I am, if he didn’t I wouldn’t be who I am.

“God made different individuals, black, white, gay, straight and I just feel good about it. I believe when my time comes I will be going to the right place,” he said. 

Gay tourist, Glenn Edwards of New York said he has been gay all of his 41 years.

“There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s what we are and we’re just like everyone else. We want to have fun and be like everyone,” said Mr Edwards.

Pastor Garrett Haylock of the Church of God in West Bay was on hand at the protest and he believes the people have spoken. 

“We’re very peaceful people but we do have a great part of our public out here and they’re outraged that our Government has allowed this ship to come to our shores,” he said.

But seven young women carrying the seven letters to form a “welcome” banner openly chorused cheerful greetings to their guests who either went on site tours or shopping in the city after disembarking from the ship.

“The so-called Christians who are protesting ought to be ashamed of themselves. Christianity is all about forgiveness and acceptance,” one welcome banner woman said.

The protesters outnumbered the welcome party and their jeers drowned the friendly “hello” from some residents.

One protester said, “I’m here to represent Christ. I’m here to tell the people that we don’t love their sins but we love the sinner.” 

She also said that the church needs to wake up and that this is actually a challenge for the Church in Cayman Islands and the church has flunked it. She said God would repeatedly send challenges “until we pass the test.”

Another protester said, “God is speaking to the Christian community to wake up. Don’t let tradition keep you as a seat warmer. We have heard the word long enough. It’s time we become doers of the word.” 

And the Government, spiritual leaders and residents came in for some spiritual cautioning from one woman who said, “The blood of Jesus is against them. God said that the sin of homosexuality is an abomination and they carry many spirits with them. The people of this Island are not spiritually aware. 

“They need to wake up, they need to be barking dogs for Christ. Our spiritual leaders are sleeping and the Government leaders are controlled by other spirits. They need the spirit to see in the spirit world.”

An angry young man wasn’t happy to see the visitors arrive. “We don’t accept this homosexuality here, this thing disgusts me. I don’t want to see man and man walking around as lovers,” he said.

There were other types of welcome to the Atlantis Events’ seven-day gay cruise, which took place on Tuesday, 31 January that had six other ships for a total of 16,000 cruisers. 

Some tour operators not only welcomed the gay cruisers’ business but questioned the sincerity of the protesters. 

“It’s okay, a lot of people support them and I don’t have anything against them. They’re coming here to help our economy. They’re very welcome here,” one man said.

Another noted, “Personally for me I don’t have anything against it because as long as they don’t bring it to me. God never made Adam and Steve he made Adam and Eve. If you go against God’s commandments then you go down to the pit.

“Who I have a problem with is the Government who allowed it. Protesting against it won’t help the situation,” he added. 

Others disagreed, however, as one female tour operator said the protesters should clean their own house first. “They are not Christians at all. If they were they would not have been there. They should be praying to God for them to be different.”

The organisers, who were present during the ship’s berth here, hailed the gay cruise a resounding success and painted a glowing tribute about the Island’s tourism product.

Chief Executive Officer of Atlantis Events, Rich Campbell said, “We come here because of the same reason other tourists come to the Island.”

“It’s a beautiful destination. It has more to offer than any other place in the Caribbean. It has great beaches, fantastic shopping, wonderful excursions, excellent facilities and lovely people,” Mr Campbell said. 

He summarised the feelings of his clients, “They’re thrilled to be here; that’s the response we have received.” 

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ennis, who was part of a strong police presence at the Royal Watler dock where the visitors entered, said the event went smoothly because many people showed up just to have a look.

“Nothing unusual happened. I think most people came because of curiosity and people are generally well-behaved and that’s pretty much what Cayman is about,” he said.

paul@caymannetnews.com

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