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Cook Islands Decriminalizes Homosexuality

Storyful

The Parliament of the Cook Islands passed a new sexual offences bill decriminalizing homosexuality on Friday, April 14.

Speaking in the parliament, Prime Minister Mark Brown said: “Every country in the world, at some stage, has had to deal with this matter of removing discriminatory laws that criminalize people. Our country is no exception.”

“It is not the job of government to tell people what their sexuality is. It is the not the job of government to absolve sin. It is not the job of government to tell people how they can or cannot have sex. The government does not have a place in the bedrooms of the people,” Brown continued.

“We are a people of love and respect. Today we are doing our job as lawmakers. We have removed a discriminatory and unjust law that goes against our constitution and our values as a nation. We are doing what is right and what is just. We are protecting our people. That is what we have done today.” Credit: Parliament of the Cook Islands via Storyful

Video transcript

MARK BROWN: Every country in the world, at some stage, has had to deal with this matter of removing discriminatory laws that criminalize people. Our country is no exception to this.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: Today, we heard the message from our chaplain and also from some of our wannabe reverends inside the house.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: But it is the role of the churches, Mr. Speaker, to teach people and to raise awareness as to what the Bible says about any human activity and the effects of pursuing those principles.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: In other words, revealing to people to the original intent and purpose or why and how God created humankind.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: That is the role of the church.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: The choice to follow or not to follow those principles rests entirely with the individual.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: What is important here is that the choice be made based on informed decisions, spiritually or otherwise.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: This bill is not intended to change the word of God or the Bible or the interpretation of homosexuality.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: In the eyes of God, it is still defined as a sin.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: The role of the government is to protect our people and to protect our rights.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We are the government for all of our people, not just the government for some of our people.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: And as a government, we must protect the rights of all our people, especially the minorities in our community.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: It is not the job of government to tell people what their sexuality is.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: It is not the job of government to absolve sin.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: It is not the job of government to tell people how they can or cannot have sex.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: The government does not have a place in the bedrooms of the people.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We are a free country.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We have freedom of speech. We have freedom of expression.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We have freedom to worship. We have freedom to observe our Sabbath, whether it be on a Saturday or Sunday.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We have freedom to start a business. We have freedom to work on a Saturday or Sunday.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We have freedom to love who we want to. We have freedom to be who we want to be.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We all should have the right to live our lives free from discrimination.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We say we are people of love and respect.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: Today, we are doing our job as lawmakers.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We will remove a discriminatory and unjust law that goes against our constitution and our values as a nation.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: We are doing what is right and what is just.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: Simply put, Mr. Speaker, we are protecting our people.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: That is what we have done today.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

MARK BROWN: Mr. Speaker, with the support and agreement of my team, I stand on behalf of all our government members to support this bill before the House.

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

- Thank you, Prime Minister. And thank you [INAUDIBLE].

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

- Thank you, honorable members. I will now [INAUDIBLE].

INTERPRETER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

- The question is that--