THE HAGUE - The judicial ruling that Curaçao must open marriage to same-sex couples is "colonial," argued lawyer Chester Peterson on behalf of the country of Curaçao at the Supreme Court. 

Today, the Supreme Court considered the appeal from the governments of Curaçao and Aruba against the ruling of the Court in Willemstad that they act contrary to their own laws and regulations by not allowing same-sex couples to marry. The hearing was attended by several dozen interested parties, many of whom had come from Curaçao and Aruba. The session could also be followed via a livestream. 

Peterson referred to the 'same-sex marriage' as something from the liberal Western world that the predominantly Catholic population of Curaçao is not ready for. He emphasized that Curaçao is not an exception in the region and that homosexuality is even punishable on some islands. The lawyer suggested that same-sex marriage opens the door for pedophiles, threesomes, and people who do not identify as male or female to marry. Peterson called the ruling of the Court in Willemstad "reckless and thoughtless." 

On behalf of the Curaçao government, Mr. Jeroen van Weerden argued that the Court did not hear opponents of same-sex marriage, and therefore, no consideration of interests was made. Speaking for the government of Aruba, Mr. Jan Paul Heering mainly raised formal legal objections. Both Dutch lawyers emphasized that the judges of the Court wrongly assumed the role of the legislator. 

Representing the LGBTQI+ advocacy groups Human Rights Caribbean Foundation and Fundacion Orguvo Aruba, Mr. Mirto Murray, Mr. David Wever, and Mr. Ton Vermeulen argued that there is "systematic discrimination" by the government on Curaçao and Aruba, making same-sex couples "second-class citizens" without the same rights as married couples. 

The parties will now have the opportunity to respond in writing to each other's arguments. Attorney General Snijders expects to publish his conclusions on January 19, after which the final ruling will follow within a few months. "We need time to make a difficult decision in a very complex matter," concluded Chairman Polak at the end of the session.