Chuck shuts doors on same-sex marriage requests

An increasing number of gays have been requesting marriage licences from the authorities in Jamaica, but the Government has made it clear their petitions will not be entertained.

In his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck was blunt in declaring that "we don't support same-sex marriage".

"People have been coming, asking us for marriage licences for two same sex [people], but this, at the moment is not permissible," Chuck said.

His remarks elicited snickers and outright laughter from some lawmakers in Gordon House, the seat of the nation's Parliament.

Jamaica's constitution does not recognise same-sex marriage. Section 18 (2) of the Charter of Rights states, "No form of marriage or other relationship referred to in subsection (1), other than the voluntary union of one man and one woman, may be contracted or legally recognised in Jamaica."

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) advocates have been arguing for changes to various laws in Jamaica to allow for things such as same-sex marriage and the decriminalisation of buggery.

During the last financial year, the Ministry of Justice granted more than 8,313 marriage licences to walk-in applicants and those from hotels, but some who wanted the permit to join same-sex couples were turned away, Chuck said.

"We enjoy when people come for their marriage licence because it means that a family will be created, hopefully, at least husband and wife," Chuck quipped.