The Methodist church in Fiji says in will not be swayed on the matter of same sex unions, but it respects the individual rights of sexual minority groups. The Church will offer spiritual guidance to members of the group who seek their advice. The acting general secretary of the Methodist Church in Fij, Reverend Tevita Read more
Gay rights activists in Suva are angry at Fijian police for canceling a gay pride march. The police reportedly said they were unaware that the march had been organised to advocate gay rights until just before it was scheduled to begin. But Oceania Pride founder Jasmine Kaur has told the Australia Network she properly notified police about Read more
Gay marriage is the latest social issue to be thrust into the political spotlight. For politicians on the right, the issue is reasonably unproblematic as vague positions tend not to be challenged by supporters so much – see Claire Trevett’s Key ‘not against’ gay marriage. But for politicians of the left, the issue is a minefield. Read more
The Methodist Church in Fiji nemains opposed to the legalisation of same sex unions. The Church’s general secretary, Reverend Tevita Nawadra, says the church will continue to stand firm against homosexuality because it is not scriptural. Nawadra said the church would not accept same sex unions because it was against its theology. “The church is Read more
The Samoa government has endorsed a recommendation by the Law Reform Commission that the criminal libel offence be dropped but it has rejected recommendations that it abolish offences such as adultery and sodomy.
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The Apostolic Administrator of an Australian diocese is appalled at the decision by a Catholic primary school in the Wilcannia-Forbes diocese to exclude a girl because of her parents’ sexuality. Bishop Kevin Manning said, “To penalise a five year old child because her parents are living in a homosexual relationship is just quite wrong.” Manning Read more
US Secretary of State, Hiliary Clinton is urging the world to stop discrimination against gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people, and announced that the US would use diplomatic channels and foreign aid to expand the rights of GLBT people.. “Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights,” said in a speech marking Read more
All Pacific nations recently completed their Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The Cook Islands, Kiribati, PNG, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu all retain colonial-era anti-sodomy laws. Palau and Nauru have pledged to decriminalise homosexuality following the audit of their human rights as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) review. But Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Read more