By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE CRUSADE for gender equality will see a renewed political thrust with deputy leader-elect Loretta Butler-Turner at the helm of the Free National Movement.

However, any significant progress must be based on a holistic approach that is backed by men and women, according to Mrs Butler-Turner, who said that she will not lobby for the party's rejected spousal rape amendment.

The former Minister of State for Social Development pegged her majority win earlier this month at the FNM's convention as a benchmark achievement towards closing the gender gap in politics, and evidence of the limitless opportunities now available to capable aspiring women.

Mrs Butler-Turner said: "I'm perceived by many people as a feminist. I'm not, but I certainly believe that nobody should be marginalized from their inherent rights and I will be very vocal with certain rights that I think the majority of people now agree on.

"I think that the most significant thing is the fact that this is the first time in the history of the FNM that a female has actually been elected to such a high post."

She added: "Every day of my life from here forward I would want to see a country where both men and women not only appear to be equals but truly have that level of equality."

Now serving her second term in office, Mrs Butler-Turner was a former deputy chairman of the FNM and a member of the Women's Association. She was first elected to the Montagu constituency in 2007.

While the leadership post was uncontested in last month's convention, Mrs Butler-Turner held off challenges from Senator Desmond Bannister, Reverend Dr Frederick McAlpine and Gladys Sands to secure her post.

During his final address to the party, former leader Hubert Ingraham noted that his party had not delivered full gender equality under the constitution. Notwithstanding record milestones, Mr Ingraham said the failure was a major disappointment.

Pointing to the failed 2002 referendum and the rejected spousal rape amendment in 2009, Mrs Butler-Turner explained that her efforts would be guided by the consensus of the people.

"In 2002, the Bahamian people had the option by way of the referendum to give women these rights. It was rejected, not only was it rejected but falling on the heels of that we lost the general election. Many people did not feel comfortable with aspects of the referendum," said Mrs Butler-Turner.

"Moving forward, you learn a historical lesson, if the people reject it and are not ready to move forward, why bring it back? In terms of the marital rape bill, it was not a Loretta Butler-Turner initiative. That was an FNM bill. I presented it; I believed in it whole heartedly, but the majority of the Bahamian people, in their demonstration, declared that it was not something they wanted to deal with."

Mr Butler-Turner's admission follows remarks by veteran parliamentarian Janet Bostwick earlier this year at a symposium honouring the legacy of the Women's Suffrage Movement.

While acknowledging that most of the issues outlined by the suffragettes have been overcome, Mrs Bostwick explained that activists "rested on their laurels" after achieving equal voting rights and are not mobilised to fight other inequalities such as spousal rape and the right to transfer citizenship.

Speaking to Tribune Women, Mrs Butler-Turner said: "The next great move in that direction is probably going to be a move where women determine what their worth is, like our forbearers. Both political parties have reached this point where they have had a female deputy leader, would it be in the interest of the country to truly unite ourselves for the forward movement of looking at a female Prime Minister? I haven't seen that level of commitment or united front from women at all."

The grand-daughter of the first Bahamian Governor-General, Sir Milo Butler, Mrs Butler-Turner is also the first Bahamian woman to earn a bachelors degree in Mortuary Sciences.

The Long Island MP, Anglican wife, and mother of two said she plans to use her strong stance on gender equality and women and children's rights to strengthen the party and reach out to women, whom she said play an integral role in the country.

"Always follow your own personal convictions," she added, "even though people say that it cannot happen, don't give up on dreams. Don't let others who have lost their own convictions let you lose sight. Always follow your heart and if you believe it, you can do it. I really believe that; if you can believe it, you can achieve it. Don't allow anyone to derail your dreams. I stand by my convictions and beliefs and I do not allow anyone to derail my dreams."