Freddie is like Nelson Mandela -- give me a break. However he could polish up his tarnished image considerably if he came out of the closet. That would tend to leave a more positive legacy than the one that he is leaving now. He must surely realise by now that he will never achieve his dream of being Prime Minister. So if he starts telling the truth and assumes more of the characteristics of a statesman that he wants to be, then his legacy is still salvageable. Nothing but a dose of humility can cure his air of superiority (which incidentally is validated by the horrendous amount of stupid, ignorant Bahamians all with a vote). Redemption is available for us all, is it not?

Well said.

Banker, you are suggesting Fred "come out of the closet". I imagine it would be hard for any gay person to do so in our society. Just look at JohnDoes post below.

If a man wants to lay with a man or woman with a woman thats their perogative,but dont force me to accept that crap

Address the problems and stop trying to be a martyr

His support for gay rights in a country that has many other moral dilemmas will only prove disastrous, if he even thinks about bringing it up. We must realize that the gay and lesbian are troubled persons who automatically chooses to eliminate pro-creation for their own personal desires. This is detrimental to the World, and if it does become legal around the world, it will be a major sign of prophecy and the last days if one were a christian. Naturally the upcoming generations will be confused, then they will see homosexuality as normal and as a result destroy the morals that we were brought up on as human beings and of course a slowed reduced incline in population. The APA (American Psychiatric Association) declassifies Homosexuality as a mental disorder or anything that is natural or genetic. It is simply people wanting/seeking to fuel lustful desire/pleasures by trying to make it seem that it is just a natural condition. People are not born this way, it is simply by choice and their denial to believe that it is wrong. You should be criticized. Your support should be kept in private to yourself, and your support does not represent the people of the Bahamas, only yourself. So just because you are a foreign affairs minister does not mean that you should represent your people as advocates for homosexuality because that is how it will be viewed and when foreigners see the Bahamas they will see you, and think that because you are for it, we are for it, and that is very misleading to the wider world population. These homosexuals need to deal with their business in private and let the Lord God judge them accordingly.

JohnDoes, if being gay is a choice, then so is being straight. So tell me, what helped you make your decision?

Have to disagree with you there Beachboy. You don't have to choose to be straight because it is the normal order of things, it is how we are made. Just like a baby doesn't have to choose to suck on its mother's breast.

@honestman , do you know there are many animals that practice homosexuality ?? Mr Mitchell i don,t care who you sleep w/ but lets fix the constitution so women and everyone have equal rights !!!

Are you daft? A baby doesn't have to choose but not all babies take to their mother's breast and must be fed with bottles instead. Would you call a baby that refuses to suck its mother's breast "abnormal"? This sense of normality is subjective. Someone's normal will always be another person's abnormal. Make an attempt to curb your ignorance sir.

@commonsense Babies who are fed with bottles instead are fed with bottles because it was the will of the caregiver. They still would have to add the same type of nutrients found in breast milk which can be rather expensive. But why when Breast feeding is a bond between mother and child. A baby simply takes what you give it when it comes to feeding, they are not at the developmental stage to choose. Only a fool would feed a baby something that it is not supposed to be fed. So your argument is fallacious.

I never had to make that choice @BeachBoy, sound like you did though? All im simply saying is people choose to be homosexual, if you have to choose then something is wrong with your morals.

The next big enlightenment of the human condition will be the shedding of superstitious religious beliefs that bind people in a primitive worldview. Christianity is not much different or on a higher plane than any other of the world religions. However people will go to their graves believing that they will magically meet a prehistoric 33 year old Jewish man after they die, who's father "created" the universe. Life on earth, and especially life in the Bahamas should teach you that there ain't no magic. If there was, the Haitians would be rich with their voodoo.

@banker Can you prove that there is not an afterlife?
"I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:29-30)

Can you prove that the bible is a legitimate book? Can you prove that Jesus existed? Can you explain why even after all of your praying your loved ones still die?

Yes, and this is why educating our youth is so important.
Ignorance is a choice in the era of information. To understand the historical significance of why Bahamians accept jesus as their lord savior one will understand the word irony.

Ignorance is a product in the era of information produced by one that is responsible for giving information. So information without fact is actually and usually not considered valid.

Why is it that you believe in jesus christ as your lord and savior?

I'm guessing there are no Comrade Catholics posting here, otherwise you're really arguing against Pope Francis stance on gays.

The pope is a contradiction. The fact that he is still acknowledged/relevant when technically he is not needed anymore is appalling. He is more of a tradition/root for the establishment of the Catholic Church. This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD... Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:16,32)

You are preaching from a book of fairy tales that is contradictory. Here is one about sins of the father:

ISA 14:21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.

DEU 24:16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

I pray for you son. That doesn't prove anything. Two completely different books about completely different circumstances. Both old testament as well.

@johndoes you believe so feverently in a book written by jews about there struggle w/ the romans ,where they name themselves the chosen people ,and their own the messiah ,,even the ones that wrote it thought jesus was coming back in their lifetime ,in the beginning Mathew ,mark and luke said only jews could be christians ,,

Pope Francis rocks !!Equal rights for all ,including women in the Bahamas

Sir you are confused. You need to educate yourself in the subject areas of history and religion. The book was not written by only jews and it is not about their struggle with the romans. The Romans actually did not interfere with Jewish life, religion or judicial system, they just made sure the taxes were paid and if any matter that deemed threatening to the Roman Empire was also dealt with accordingly. King Herod and Pontious Pilate did not even want to deal with Jesus because they didnt see him as committing any crimes. It was simply the selfish desires of power that the Pharisees wanted, and they saw Jesus as a threat to their careers. They thought that once Jesus revealed the corruption in their system, the people would turn against them, in which they slowly but surely were. Thats why they advocated for his death.

Comrade TalRusssell any idea why Freddie is so supportive of gay rights. does he have any horse in that race .hmmmmmmmm

Realfreethinker, It doesn't matter whether Fred Mitchell "has a horse in the race". We are talking about equal rights. People who don't have a horse in the race support his stance because they support equal rights for all people.

Not surprising to read Tribune blogs, only to discover its own openly red neck 'Duck Dynasty' patriarchs mentality. Degrading an important portion of Bahamaland's society is not just an opinion you should be so eager share. But I have also tuned in to local Talk Show Hosts, who are also eager to get into the gay bashing act, often with supporting politicians, community leaders and preachermans as their on-air guests.

One Love People Get Ready - BOB MARLEY

..// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBxZti_J…

I am amazed at your open-mindedness on this. It's gratifying to see.

Comrade Banker and Friends, for people who are so anti-God you damn well are good at pretending to possess such knowledge of God's ways. Not surprisingly, you lack true God understanding. Your way of seeing our Bahamaland is not the ways of God's love. It is not the ways of the beautiful love ways, demonstrated by Pope Francis.

Amen!

I agree with you, but please tell me the last part about the pope is a joke. 'The ways of the beautiful love ways' what does that mean. If you idolize this man as an example of love then you my friend are oblivious to the real reason why the position of pope was created in the early days of the church. Let us not forget that he and his followers at the time we power hungry, ruthless murderers that used God as an excuse for their actions. The catholic church was a political agenda using God as an excuse for its much wanted power over the belief system.

@what about all the murdering during the crusades ..Muslims and Christians have killed more people than both world wars to prove whoes god is the real god

And homosexuals brought about HIV and AIDS that has also killed many. The Muslim and Christian wars were more about territory, and domination. The Knights Templar were examples of the corruption in the Catholic faith, they were the driving forces behind these wars. A christian vs muslim war has not taken place in hundreds of years.

Homosexuals brought about HIV and AIDS? Please quote your sources.

It was the homosexual man that violated the primate in Sub-Saharan Africa during the 19th or early 20th century. HIV is closely related to a virus found in the chimpanzee. It was found more and became 'noticed' in homosexuals.

Here is some more source for you:
HIV/AIDS Spread to the western hemisphere.
"The virus eventually entered male gay communities in large United States cities, where a combination of sexual promiscuity (with individuals reportedly averaging over 11 unprotected sexual partners per year[55]) and relatively high transmission rates associated with anal intercourse[56] allowed it spread explosively enough to finally be noticed.[52]" reference History of HIV/AIDS.

@JOHNDOES ,..,,,,,,,,,,,,,Christian /Muslim wars are going on today as the bombs from the drones drop and the radical muslim make suicide bombs to kill jews/ christians

God like the world doesn't change His opinion on things. We are to love one another and not their actions. How can we has a Christian nation support something that totally goes against God's law? What we're seeing today is a result of what happen when we decided that God's views and opinions doesn't matter anymore, for example, fornication, drug abuse, murder, stealing and homosexuality. People have no shame, maybe because they think the bible is outdated in this technical era.

How can someone not believe in God? Nature itself can testify to His existence. Everything has a beginning; only a fool would think otherwise. Below are God's views on homosexuality:

Leviticus 20:13
"If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act.

Leviticus 18:22
"Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin."

Romans 1:26-28
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

The Bible says that homosexuality is "detestable", "abhorrent", and an "abomination."

Those exact words are also used in reference to eating Lobster and Conch.
Leviticus 11:12

Well there you go, stop eating conch salad

My Dear Comrades when was last time a gay man chased you down to force a big kiss on ya lips? I pray that you too will come to see Pope Francis as not the enemy but as a good man, modeling his words after what peoples of all faiths yearn for. A big heart for the poor, the hurt'in, the disenfranchised and the sick. The Pope's words are kind, tolerant,and loving. They reach out to people of all faiths and no faith at all. Yes, even if it means a man kissing another man. A woman kissing another woman. So what?

Hmmm...let me see...my memory can be fuzzy at times...have to think about this one:)

Historically, all such men who preach about being "kind, tolerant, and loving" are KILLED. Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, John Lennon, and even Jesus. All killed.

The were all killed by people like JohnDoes, who represent the ongoing existence of the Pharisees. Those who feel they have all undeniable and unquestionable knowledge about what is good and what is bad. They even told Jesus he was wrong. They watched him carefully to see if he would cure the sick man on the Sabbath. They tempted him to see if he would say that believers should not pay taxes to Caesar. Even today every Sunday they call Jesus a liar when they only offer apple cider to their flock to drink and tell them not to go to parties. Jesus attended the wedding party and turned water into what?

They will do anything and everything to prevent people from ever rising to the level of living among each other peacefully and accepting one another and thus becoming prosperous and live without wars and hunger and fear.

As long as they can keep everyone else down, they can stand on high pulpits and claim to lead the way to "higher ground" - which you of course never reach (by design).

There is in effect a metal shackle around the ankle of every Bahamian who follows their lead. The Abolition of Slavery was a waste of time for the Bahamas. The white man took the shackles off, and the black men rushed to fasten them back on - by themselves.

your argument is fallacious. Full of conspiracy and self rationed information that doesnt prove any point.

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL THE BAHAMAS ,WOMEN GAY PEOPLE ,,EVERYONE !!!

The FOOL has said in his heart (mind) that The I AM, is not.

Comrade ThisisOurs am I to sense you desire nothing more than to come out of the closet cause if you have to request time-out to think, if you've ever been chased down by a gay man, pretty damn sure most Tribune readers, even if with a sly smirk would say, that's you've be so chased and smacked on ya lips. Now, fess up ... cause their only question would be. How wet of a kiss was it?

Comrade Tal, I must commend you, you are hilarious. Lol @concernedcitizen and @banker trying hard not come out the closet. They are obviously defending these homo's in the name of equality. They are closed minded, they are thinking about the feelings of man rather than what man is supposed to be and do. We as men are providers for our WIVES and family, not for other men who cannot provide us with family. It is just nasty and scornful to think about it.

2 JOHNDOE ,ACTUALLY I,M STRAIGHT ,BUT HOW CHILDISH TO RESORT TO NAME CALLING AND BOASTING ABOUT YOUR MANHOOD ..YEAH YOU THE MOST MANLY BOY ON THE PLAYGROUND ..

I'm a female Comrade Tal:) God made me that way ...But I have been racking my brain all afternoon trying to think of the last time a gay man chased me down the street:) I could not remember a single incident..I guess that was your point:)... But hey in Nassau who knows who's who....

I will say however that I have come to appreciate that a person's sexual orientation does not make that person a "bad" person. I've said before, that if Jesus were on earth today he would probably go to the gay bar. And he would not be there because *he like man*, he would be there because he loves the *person*. He wants them to change, he tells them that unless they change they will perish but he does not scorn them. People really have to remember who Jesus was, think of the people he hung out with (I say this for the bible beaters, I apologize to concernedcitizen and banker for getting religious). He was born in the dirt surrounded by the smell of animal dung, he travelled with fishermen one happened to be his best friend, and he died beside a thief.

And no, I don't condone the lifestyle and I do not support legalization of same sex marriages or whatever, but I definitely don't agree with the name calling and demonization. 50 years back the same attitude was held towards people with my colour...*do unto others*

@THISISOUR Jesus was/is what we should all try and be more like ..

equal rights for all , make women equal in our constitution !!!!

Who really knows if Pope Francis and I think alike? For those of us who have actually read the Bible there can be no question when not taken out of context that both homosexuality and heterosexuality were treated equally with no more than a passing ... 'oh well.'

This 'oh well' also lead to destruction and disease. For example Sodom and Gomorrah, they were saying 'oh well' until their entire city became influenced, this displeased God, and he destroyed it with fire and brimstone. Lot's wife is still standing to this present day as a pillar of salt.

I like how they try to hide this homosexuality behind the excuse 'equal rights'. Nobody is in your bedroom when you are involved in whatever you homos do. Like ive been saying, now a days everybody is practically free to do what they want, now the fact is, how will you explain this to the Almighty when you pass away...

Equal rights has nothing to do with being free to engage in sexual acts behind closed doors. Equal rights has to do with being able to marry a consenting adult whether they're of the same sex or not. You obviously don't understand what "equal rights" entails. Once again, another ignorant Bahamian that lets religion dictate how they think.

@CommonSense are you struggling to come out the closet as well? Yall could pretend to marry it still wouldn't make a difference because you and ya man still gone be together LOL. At the same time, religion does not dictate my life, I am humble and educated. To tell you the truth I dont believe in religions, I believe in God the almighty. Equal Rights is not generalized, their are many types of rights, so If you are talking about the 'equal right of homosexuality' then you dont believe in production and progression of the world in regard to morals, population and/or procreation. It is an abomination.

Agreed and majority of these persons defending homosexuals tend to exclaim that they dont believe in God and the Bible is all about fairy tales etc. So if they dont believe in God, ofcourse they dont see a problem with homosexuality, that itself is a big problem.

@Johndoe i have never said i don,t believe in God /a creator

You keep praying, and I will keep thinking. Someone has to have a clear mind here.

@Rory why do straight people give a damm who and where gay people want to marry ,,,they don,t want to marry straight people ,,lmao

Comrade the Bible does speak of Jesus healing the mother-in-law of Peter from fever in Peter's House. He also was said to have visited the house of Lazarus, Mary and Martha where he was anointed by Mary. I don't recall a biblical account of Jesus ever walking into a bedroom to spy on a couple enjoying sex? Jesus was either no snitch or an intelligent guy ha, especially for a Hippie whose influence lives on even to this day.

Lmao.

Jesus is everywhere:)

Actually he was portrayed as a hippie back in 2006 in an NBC TV series called "The Book of Daniel" - which after only airing eight episodes was promptly cancelled by the modern Pharisees in the USA who believe they know more about Jesus than Jesus himself.

http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/the-b…

I watched all eight shows and found them to be very open-minded and very respectful of Jesus as someone who preached love and kindness toward everyone.

But, just like they did to the real Jesus, they decided to crucify the show. The problem they had with it, was it portrayed the family (a preacher's family) as having normal family problems just like everyone else. Of course from their high pulpits today, that is simply not acceptable. Preachers today don't even flush their toilets, because ... well, why would they?

If Jesus came to Earth today, he would very likely be branded a terrorist and sent to Guantanamo.

Anyway, I'm sure the show is available for download still by torrents or otherwise.

Nobody knew how the man looked. I dont think God is much concerned with us knowing how he looked. Some people say hippie, black, arab , middle eastern whatever. We do not care how he looked, his purpose and the way he changed the world is all that matters. The bible warns against worshiping images, honestly I think its wrong to try and depict what Jesus looked like because nobody really knows and what purpose would it serve, some of us will meet him one day.

Comrade JohnDoes don't take me wrong. I wasn't asking readers to picture Jesus sitting with His feet dangling in the water off the Port side of the Ark, rolling a joint. More like, if Jesus were alive today He might be called an hold-over from the 60's hippie generation.

Jesus was/ is the coolest of cool

@Johndoes what would have happened if PGC had perished from his stroke btw 2002 and 2007 and Mother Pratt took over ,would your god have pulled a sodom amd gommora on us ,,Come to think of it since independence there have been homosexual very high up in our cabinet and political affairs ,,,,,,,,,,,,did some one say pass the salt ,,lmao

This is a sad sad country we live in when we let our own superstitions, biases and hypocrisies get in the way of progress. But hey we are a third world nation and the average person barely has a bachelor's degree.

It makes me chuckle when i hear people quoting scripture to justify their own fears and biases. Jesus never spoke out against homosexuality, but maybe that was because he was to busy trying to do what Mr. Mitchell is doing now . This is advocating for change , back in the time of Jesus he spoke out against Roman occupation and corruption of the temple priests.

People you all have gay persons in your family, get over it , love for everyone is the only way.
As long as two consenting adults are involved its no one else business.

Am not gay as a matter of fact, when i see sexy girl I get more than excited. However i do realize that this is simply a function of bio-chemistry. We don't fully understand how the human brain and body works so we cant say "Oh they wasn't born that way".

Do you know when someone is born an egomaniac , serial killer , Human rights activist?
The natural network of mycelium produce fruits that we call mushrooms through homosexuality. There are numerous examples of asexual and homosexual production in the natural plant and animal world. Read a damn book people!

Whether or not someone is gay does not directly affect you no more than if someone is a womanizer or a whore. Get over it , they have been here since time immemorial and are not going anywhere. why would some choose to be gay knowing our societies nuances . Use logic my fellow Bahamians not emotion.

I have read all the comments and I can say that most people here sound really uneducated and simple.

someone even stupidly said that it would stop our world from growing, really when our world population is showing more growth than ever in history!

you kinda lost me..are you saying a womanizer or a whore or even a serial killer is natural behavior? chile please!~

"And he created them male and female...." MAN and WOMAN ..I don't care how big a sissy you are, you are protected under the rights of being either a man or being a woman. So unless you are doing something that is grossly untoward then there is no need for sissy rights. The next step from gay rights is gay marriage. Is that what Fred Mitchell is aiming for? To allow two sissy men or two lesbian females to get married in this country? If the country voted no against gaming you think they ger wann sissy marriage?..."CHILE PLEASE!! Are we going to put sweethearting on the books too? We came from a society where if a (female) school teacher was not married, she was not to be seen in the company of male friends in certain places. No one is saying a single female teacher could not date but she had to be proper about it. The sissy lifestyle is not the norm in the Bahamas so if you want to live gay, you have to be proper about it. Gayness is not only against the rules of God, our Creator, but is also against the rules of nature and physics. You just cannot screw a screw into another screw without causing damage to one or both, (brain damage?). A bolt needs a nut, not another bolt.

.....Q: How do 5 gay men walk?
A: One Direction!

Q: What do you call a gay drive by?
A: "a fruit roll up."

Q: Why can't gays drive faster than 68mph?
A: Because at 69 they blow a rod.

Q: What do you call a gay cowboy?
A: A Jolly Rancher!

Q: What does a homo say to another gay going on vacation?
A: Can I help you pack your sh!t?

Q: Why are most politicans in the closet or gay?
A: Because they can only mandate.

Q: How do you fit three homosexuals on one barstool?
A: Turn it upside-down!

Q: How can you catch a gay squirrel?
A: Climb a tree and pretend to be an almond (botanically speaking, almonds are fruits).

Q: What do gay kids get for Christmas?
A: Erection Sets.
Q: How do you get a nun pregnant?
A: Dress her up as an alter boy.
Q: Why is Fred Flinstone (FRED WHO?) a closet homosexual?
A: He has a gay old time

Somehow I don't think our Lord Jesus would have spent his time dishing out a catalogue of gay bashing jokes. John, I think you need to re-read the Gospels because you have clearly missed the real message.

The PLP confuses me..Just a day or so ago the Prime Minister was standing up in the House of Assembly and defending his masculinity. Now one of his own (a/k/a Fly-A-Way Fred is standing up (wit he hand in he 'kimba') and saying 'is ok to be a sissy in the Bahamas' .Q: Did you hear about the homosexual letter?
A: Only came in male boxes.

I can't believe all of the superstitious, religious bigots here with their intolerance. Jesus hung out with the prostitutes and tax collectors, and he probably would hang out with the gays as well. Bahamians talk a good Jesus, but when it comes to the imitation of Christ, they are suddenly struck stupid.

Picture this. A Bahamian dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates. “Yes, how can I help?” asks St Peter. The Bahamian says " I'm here to meet Jesus". St Peter looks over his shoulder and shouts, “Jesus, your cab is here!”

That one just flew over my head..please explain the joke while I tickle myself. ANd also was it a Black Bahamian or a White Bahamian?

Mandela spent 27 years in jail which explains him being a gay atheist...

I fail to understand Fred's group excuse.