Willemstad, 19 May 2036

Parliament of Curaçao Wilhelminaplein Curaçao

RE: The fight is not over until all of us are equal

Dear all,

Congratulations!

Unlike your predecessors from 2021 you did not sit by whilst you had the means to do something about the great injustice the LGBTQ+ community had to endure, for ever, by being denied equal human rights. You pressed forward when your predecessors rewinded the small, but important gains from the past. You also had the courage to put aside sanctimonious teachings and hate speech of religious leaders who unashamedly were able to morally bribe a group of decision makers in denouncing the LGBTQ+ 15 years ago.

You were able to expose the unabridged hypocrisy of some important leaders who (still) think that human rights are reserved for discrimination based on sex, origin, race, but not sexual orientation which like the pigment of the skin and sex is not a condition that can cured by some pastors. You’d think that of all people, we should know that discrimination, prejudice, bigotry is a deadly poison. Our fight against injustice goes way back to the dark days of colonialism and slavery. Yet these same people said in 2021 that the timing of equal right is “not favorable” and that the LGBTQ+ should “patiently” wait.

As we celebrate Curaçao Pride 2036, let’s (again) realize that our journey to equality for all is not complete until our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – including legalizing same sex-marriage under civil law. Marriage should not be a heterosexual privilege, for if we are created equal, then the love we commit to another human being must be equal as well.

Your brave action will unfortunately not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a starting point. Perhaps changing people’s minds about their attitudes towards this minority will be the hardest thing to do after this historic legal victory.

Bonds of solidarity must be forged between all communities on our island to reach this important goal. You don’t have to be a LGBTQ+ member to understand or to feel compassion. The fight is not over until all of us are equal.

Kind regards,

Alex Rosaria

Willemstad, Curaçao

Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia & Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He’s from Curaçao and has a MBA from the University of Iowa. (USA).