Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes launched a policy last year in May 2022 called: “ARUBA NATIONAL GENDER POLICY” . The document is presented as a policy for women’s rights. However, the document focuses on the protection of women and the LGBTQ+ community. See especially paragraph 1.3, entitled Social-Cultural Gender Norms and Stereotypes, on page 13.
According to the government, the idea that gender and sexuality are fixed and that there are differences between men and women is outdated and poses a danger to women and the LGBTQ+ community. So the government finds it necessary to protect the LGBTQ+ community and combat the ideas that are ingrained in our culture and religion. According to Wever-Croes, antiquated ideas of sexuality cause anxiety, mental health problems, physical insecurity and even suicide in the LGBTQ+ community.
Government wants to promote a personal identity and sexuality that is totally free of biological differences between men and women. Obviously the government aligns itself with the idea that every person can choose and change his own identity how he likes to. The thinking the government wants to promote is that marriage between a man and a woman is nothing more than a legacy of toxic masculinity and a patriarchal-religious heritage. A fundamental problem with this policy is that community did not vote for the introduction of this ideology. Moreover, this ideology provides a straight line against the Catholic-Christian vision, while a significant part of our community believes in this religious vision. This vision is based on the doctrine that God created man in his image as male and female. According to this view, man and woman form an intimate union with God.
Men and women complete and complement each other through their differences, respecting the dignity of others. They form the natural society that produces new life. So a relationship arises new and unique love between parents and their children. Within this relationship, parents have the right and obligation to educate their children. The government has no right to remove this responsibility. In turn children have the right to grow up in a family, with a father and a mother who create an environment in which children can develop their identity and mature because of a family relationship with the masculinity and femininity of a father and a mother. It is in this family that the child is educated to recognize the value and beauty of sexual difference, equality and exchange based on respect. These rights go hand in hand with fundamental rights such as freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Today Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes has entrusted the “ARUBA NATIONAL GENDER POLICY” into the hands of Geoffrey Wever to execute this policy. Geoffrey has to make inventory of how discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community takes place. It should also be careful to educate people and our children about the LGBTQIA+ ideology. The people did not vote for this and only the people have the authority to give the government a mandate to persecute Catholic Christians in this country, because they believe in the masculinity and femininity of a father and a mother. We are faced with a situation in which the Catholic, Protestant, and evangelical churches have already shown where they stand. Nearly 20,000 citizens signed a petition in support of family and traditional marriage. Now the political key is in the hands of a few parliamentarians who call themselves Christians. As coalition members they are in a unique position to force change. Therefore the responsibility is on their shoulders to demonstrate their commitment to principles.
It’s time for Hendrik Tevreden and Marco Berlis to look Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes in the eye and demand with all frankness and courage that she removes all anti-Catholic and anti-family elements from her “NATIONAL GENDER POLICY” and from the 2024 budget.