THE EDITOR, Sir:
I READ with great interest Dr. Garth A. Rattray's article in The Gleaner of Tuesday, December 16, 2003 entitled 'Discrimination is unconstitutional' in which he dealt at length with the Sandals Group's 'heterosexuals only' policy, barring same sex couples from vacationing at any of their hotels.
It seems to have escaped Sandals in its bigoted argument that not every same-sex couple can be automatically categorised as either homosexual or lesbian. Unfortunately, that seems to be the common view in Jamaica at the present time.
By what divine right does Sandals dare to assume that every female couple or every male couple share a sexual attraction? Whatever happened to the word 'friendship', for heaven's sake. Does Sandals propose to discriminate against me and refuse to accept my reservation, suggesting I must have lesbian tendencies should I decide to vacation with my own married daughter or even my adult grand-daughter?
We all have different surnames, we share the same sex, and our blood relationship would not be immediately apparent to their Reservations Departments! If they bar same sex couples, clearly I and my family are unacceptable guests.
Similarly, what if my married son, who lives overseas, should choose to spend a weekend at a Sandals resort with his own brother-in-law or even an old male school friend from his younger days here in Jamaica? Does merely being male turn them into automatic homosexuals? Come now!
Whilst I admit that these examples may seem absurd and preposterous, the so-called 'policy' which Sandals has instituted is equally absurd and, as Dr. Rattray points out, discriminatory and possibly even unconstitutional.
In closing I would like to say that I fully support the rights of homosexuals and lesbians, as between consenting adults, to be legally permitted to lead a lifestyle of choice.
I am, etc.,
DOROTHEA WHITEHORNE
dodotoo@cwjamaica.com
