The Manx Independent, a weekly Island newspaper, today published an article that began,

Homosexuality has ’huge health implications? and should not be promoted as equal to heterosexuality, according to Education Minister David Anderson.

Mr Anderson successfully called for a House of Keys debate over a move to scrap a law banning the promotion of gay lifestyles to be delayed.


Further along in the article, Mr Anderson, who’s only training is as a farmer, also states;

? Heterosexual relationships are the society norm and we shouldn?t be advocating another form of sexual relationship.

People are free to make their own decisions and I accept there are other people who have different lifestyles. What I am saying is we shouldn?t be teaching homosexuality as an equal status to heterosexual relationships. Homosexuality has huge health implications.?

He wouldn?t elaborate on what he meant by this.


Can you believe this guy? I certainly can?t. Huge health implications? Get real Mr Anderson. If it?s HIV that?s got your knickers in a twist, most of the HIV positive Manx residents I know of are straight, each and every one of them and, no, we didn?t become infected by sleeping with bi-sexual men.

And how exactly, Mr Anderson, how do you expect any of your perceived ?health implications? to go away if we do not insure that the homosexual teenagers on this Island have access to the information they need on how to stay safe and healthy?

I find it frightening that this guy is our Education Minister and on reflection, it?s not a big surprise that so many of our teenagers are parents. How can he not understand that kids have sex and they need information to protect their health and their futures?

The argument that including sexual information that gay and lesbian kids can relate to is ?promoting? homosexuality is incomprehensible in today?s world. There was nothing in my own childhood that ?promoted? heterosexuality ? I was just born that way, tempered with mild lesbian tendencies. Can any of you reading this claim to have had your sexuality swayed by fact-based information on sexuality?

I?m not only angry with some of the MHKs* ? specifically Mr Anderson ? but I?m also angry with myself. This issue was opened to public comment back in June. I got the necessary official comment forms and ? well, they?re bound to be around somewhere. I dropped the damned ball on this one as it came out right when I was in the thick of the autoimmune reaction I had to the Hepatitis B vaccine. I meant to post here about it too, and I think I did, but due to the brainfog that was extra thick this past summer, I honestly can?t remember if I did or not.

I am picking that ball back up though because with this as there is time due to the three-week suspension that has been placed on this Bill. I will be writing to all the MHKs tomorrow to express my dismay and disgust over Mr Anderson?s comments.

If any of you would care to, you can write in with your views to:

Opinions,
Manx Independent,
Publishing House,
Peel Road,
Douglas,
IM1 5PZ
Fax: 01624 611149
Or email newsdesk@newsiom.co.im
Remember to include your name and full address ? and a request for that information to be withheld in print if you wish. (They do honour this wish)


You can also find the individual MHKs mailing addreses on the Manx Telecome Website

It?s not just high electric bills we have to deal with on this Island; it?s also the ingrained homophobia. It is something that deeply disgusts me and I honestly thought things were getting better. I should have had a clue recently when I found out that the lad next door, who is a smashing lad my daughter?s age and training to be a steward with BA, has tried to commit suicide a few times in the past couple years, purely through trying to cope as being a young, gay lad in a place where laws exists on the statute books legalising discrimination against him. I?m sure you can imagine the problems I?m up against with HIV as well.

I?d be very grateful to any who respond to Mr Anderson?s comment of ?Homosexuality has huge health implications.? Go get ?em, guys! If anyone would like further information, please, either ask me in the Blog Comment Forum, or feel free to PM me. Thanks!


An abbreviated version of the article can be viewed at www.iomonline.co.im The articles are never online for very long so read quickly!

*MHKs - you need to click on the “Members of Keys” link in the left-hand column on that page to access the MHKs profiles.