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Colours Cayman Reacts to Lawmaker's Comments
Statement from Colours Cayman:
On 22 November 2019, during a meeting of the Legislative Assembly, MLAs Anthony Eden and Ezzard Miller took aim at Dr Leonardo Raznovich, an esteemed lawyer and human rights defender who has assisted Colours Cayman for years now in advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people in the Cayman Islands, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
Eden and Miller both called on the Attorney General for the deportation of Dr Raznovich after much lambasting and accusing him of “bad-mouthing people” in an obvious attempt to smear his good name and threaten his and his partner’s livelihood.
Our organisation views this behaviour as a blatant and gross abuse of power. Are we to believe that any lawyer or individual advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people is at risk of facing deportation or being ostracised somehow by our own government? We cannot stand idly by and allow such transgressions to occur without ramification.
As such, we formally request an apology from both Mr Eden and Mr Miller as well as the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin for this abhorrent behaviour and to state clearly that the Cayman Islands Government will not tolerate nor promote a witch-hunt directed at lawyers, activists or defenders of human rights of any kind residing in the Cayman Islands. Failing that, we request that His Excellency the Governor publicly offer assurance that Colours Cayman’s lawyer, Dr Raznovich, will continue his work without hindrance from the Cayman Islands Government.
Lastly, with regards to the statement made by Mr Eden that “same-sex marriage is not a human right,” we would politely suggest he pull his head out of the sand and recognise that our organisation, often with the assistance of Dr Raznovich, has been working alongside other prominent and respected local organisations and government agencies who would undoubtedly claim otherwise.
Rest assured, we will continue to defend and fight for the rights of our LGBTQIA+ community in spite of such comments and wholeheartedly support Dr Raznovich in his efforts.
