Pundit: President-elect’s sexual orientation irrelevant

THE sexual orientation of President-elect Paula-Mae Weeks is irrelevant. In a release, Spiritual Head of the Satya Anand Ashram, Pundit Satyanand Maharaj, said this has nothing to do with the competency of Weekes to serve as this country’s sixth President. Maharaj said it was unfortunate that Weekes was forced to declare her sexual orientation, “after social media trolls began spreading propaganda and hate asserting that she was a lesbian.”

He asked, “Is that a new standard that the society is being asked to now adopt?” Maharaj also wondered if this country’s society has become “so ridged and prejudiced that we cannot see beyond a person’s sexual orientation to determine if they are competent to perform a task for the benefit of the nation.” He said, “Sexual orientation has no place in the selection of a candidate for any job, subject to very rare and extraordinary exceptions.”

Maharaj said TT’s Constitution and common law make provision “for equality of rights of all citizens irrespective of creed and race as well as sexually orientation.” He said to suggest that an individual’s sexual orientation would affect their job performance, “is akin to stating that the sexual orientation of the Chief Justice would affect the justice dispensed by the courts.”

Recalling he previously expressed concerns that Government could not have found a single qualified Hindu for the position of President, Maharaj said, “Having regard to the election of Paula-Mae Weeks, as a nation we must respect the appointment and not attempt to sully the good name of the President-elect before she assumes office.”

He explained the Hindu view is that “we reincarnate several times also switching gender as we are born again and again.” According to Maharaj, “Hindu astrology also points out that in one of these births, while the body may have an assigned gender – male or female – the person will have to choose their sexual orientation.”

Saying any form of discrimination is offensive and reprehensible, Maharaj said it is time that Parliament debates “the issue of protection of rights of all citizens who may have a different sexual orientation and keep up with the rest of the modern world.” Weekes was elected unanimously by the Electoral College on January 19. Incumbent President Anthony Carmona demits office on March 19.