diversity

I would also like to know if there is any surfing in St Croix?

TDC,
It has been my experience on STX that most people don't care what you are, they care who you are. As long as you accept the island ways, the island and islanders will accept you. I have found that to basically be true regardless of race, creed,religon, gender or sexual orientation. That would be my opinion.

Ric

Email me please.... I am also in discussion about a medical position on STX. It would be intersting to compare notes.

Barbara

Hi TDC:
after visiting st. croix last year i noticed a lot of gay and gay friendly people. there is even a gay business organization.
there are a few resorts, sandcastles and some beach resort.
we where considering st. croix but there wasn't enough tourism.
all the people we met there where very friendly to both of us.
we are planning to move to st. john in the fall.

good luck

STX has a wonderful community. I am here purchasing a house and my partner and I will be moving here sometime in the next year. I think you will love it. Private message me with you email address and we can chat.
Lea

Homosexuality is tolerated but not accepted on St. Croix, for the most part. Like other Caribbean islands, people are against it and do not support that for mostly religious reasons, but we are not as vocal about it as other countries like Bahamas and Jamaica. We tolerate it enough that we have a gay business organization and a couple of hotels for gay tourists, but it stops there. Hypothetically, if there was a gay cruise ship that wanted to come here, or if the number of gay tourists increased, you will most definitely see backlash from the community. One time, the gay business organization (I don't know the name) had an idea to make St. Croix the only place under the US that legalizes gay marriages so that gays could come here and get married and it would help the economy. Pretty much all the senators were fervently against that idea, saying that it wasn't proper and would go against our religious beliefs. I was actually pretty offended as a Crucian that someone would even suggest legalizing gay marriage here.

TH, I am very sorry to hear that anyone wishing to have the same rights under US law offends you. I guess once you no longer have to struggle for equality you can feel free to decide who should and should not have this same protection. Ironic...... wouldn't you say?? I should think that you of all people would have a better understanding of what it means to be discriminated against just because you are different???? I say shame on you.

i agree with TDC. why should religion have anything to do with marriage period. all people do not share the same religion.
st. thomas has gay cruise ships and they do not seem to have a problem with it. actually gay tourism boosts most economies.
the people i met on st. croix that where not gay did not seem to have any problem with me or my partner.
the gay marriage thing well be prepared once it continues here on the mainland its probably going everywhere else also.
and again i am a tax paying citizen, why shouldn't i have the same rights as everyone else. if your straight you can go off with whoever you want marry them and get divorced the next day. where does religion play a role in that???

http://www.gotostcroix.com/diversity/index.htm

try this link

From my perspective the culture of the USVI is quite religious and modesty is prized. A West Indian friend told me that, when a gay cruise ship docked, he heard many complaints about hand-holding and public kissing. I asked if that would be a problem if heterosexuals did the same thing and he indicated that blatant public displays of affection are just not the cultural norm. In other words, most Crucians are tolerant of different lifestyles but do not like them flaunted. As Ric says though, in the end it's about who your are, not what you are, that matters.

I'm sure that TDC, Kelly and Imaceyko would be/are welcome as contributing members to the island community.

WOW, had no idea I would get such a response. How exciting. I do apologize to anyone that I may have offended when suggesting how quickly people can forget about what it is like to be targetted when you are not considered "equal" in the eyes of the law. Just think, woman as a whole where once second class citizens. People are still struggleing for equality just because of the color of their skin or because of their religion. Just imagine if I, being a lesbian but holding a very important role in serving the community, where to base whether or not I was going to save you or your families life on whether or not you had the right color skin or believed in the same god or better yet loved only as I do? Under the law, all of you are protected. I however, am not. My partner has no rights when it comes to my well being. If I were to get hurt, she can not decide what is best for me? We jsut want what everyone else has and some have struggled very hard to get. It is our turn to fight back now. And have been doing so for many years. Who would have thought that the very people, religious and racial, who have struggled for so long, would end up being our biggest antagonists? IF there be a judgement day then so be it. There is only one judge and it is not you.

My patients absolutley love me. And it is because of who I am, not what I know. DO they know that I am gay? Not all. But what does it matter? Is loving another woman going to make me lesser of a person? Is it going to affect how I treat you? I have dedicated my entire life to caring for those who otherwise can not afford healthcare. Why? Becasue I hate the inbalance and injustice of our capitalist society. Becasue I don't think it is fair that we are not all treated equally in these basic needs of life. Sure, I get paid for my services, but not as much as you think. This is a choice I have made in good conscience. I will continue to follow this path regardless of what one might think of my personal beliefs. I did not choose to be who I am. The universe has chosen this path for me. I am just attempting to master the path. With that said, I will get off my soapbox with one more thing........... if you disciriminate against gays, chances are very good you discriminate against much more. As for bounty hunter.......... who made you god?

Now on a much more important note........ is there any surfing on the island?? Anytime of year?? I have no intention of allowing a small percentage of individuals change my thoughts on moving. If I did that, I would ahve no place to live.

I don't quite think that TH speak for the people of the Virgin Islands. If it were so, we wouldn't have some of the elected representtives that we have in office right now, including very high officials!

RL

Much about moving to a "new" place is about reinventing yourself.

The Virgin Islands has a conservative history, but I suspect the the "antigay" or homophobhic comments on this thread are not from from islanders, but from the closed mind and "marine mentality" people off island who "lurk" in all of our society.

We are facing some serious and freightening choices in our future. Our government (the United States federal government) is attempting to subvert our ability to have freedom of speech and freedom of choice..

Let's hope that the Virgin Islands can be a beacon of liberty and freedom in America.

Incidentially, I am an"older" married, father and grandfather.
I have no agenda...just acceptance and respect.

friendly fellow

Here, here!!
This is what I was hoping to find in VI. Someplace where freedom still exists. Or at least the educated thought process of freedom. I too agree that our government has taken a great many steps backward in time. I fear this to be a bad omen.

I honestly don't think some of the previous posters really know our culture enough to make statements like these. The majority of VIers are against the practice of homosexuality although we are not as vocal about it as other Caribbean countries. Just respect the fact that we do not respect homosexuality, and you will be okay. Just because we're a US territory doesn't mean we don't have our own cultural values and ideals. Don't think that just because you're in a US territory that you're really in "America." Just think of it as a separate country - only the people carry blue books that say "United States of America" (passports) and we have access to certain things that states have access to like the court system and social security, etc....

Also, Ronnie's comment about elected officials. Yes, the governor is gay, but we're smart enough to not let that interfere with our perception of his ability to get the job done.

alright...

i was gonna stay off of this subject. for me, to one his/her own. who cares? live the life you were destined to live. diversity is accepted by most, tolerated by some, and out right frowned upon by a few.

now for the comment of "Yes, the governor is gay, but we're smart enough to not let that interfere with our perception of his ability to get the job done."

HA! HA! and more HA! there is no perception to interfere with. his ability to get the "job" done is non-existant. why do you think vargrave is constantly taking over as 'acting' governor?

No way...
He's gay?!?!

I'll probably get crap for making a comment but who cares! I'm a heterosexual female and used to live in San Francisco in my late teens to mid twenties and had friends who were gay. Twice a week I went to the gay clubs and went to raves with them and had a blast! Most of the time I had more fun with with my gay friends then my straight friends. At that time my best friend was a gay man. He would give me advice about my man problems, things that women don't know or understand. It was like talking to my female friends. I found it interesting how he could mesh the two genders together and relate to both. I never understood why we are so obsessed with this topic...should gays/lesbians be able to get married and or adopt childern? Why not?! IMHO gay/lesbian couples are excellent parents, probably better than most "straight" parents today. It's so sad that in all these years we, as a human race have not learned a darn thing and they, as a government have destroyed this country. What a shame!!

No crap given for opinions. Have you just been lurking lately? I haven't seen any posts. I know that I am so done by the end of the day (8pm) that I haven't even been able to keep up with email and such that I should.

I am no ones judge. That is left to someone with much greater power than I could ever dream of. It is not my concern who (or what gender) someone else sleeps with. I have many friends who are gay or bi-sexual. I also have my deep personal feelings on the subject. That doesn't affect my friendship with those mentioned friends. They don't care who I sleep with (or date, etc.) any more than it is my business who they cavort with.

I have a hard enough time being concerned with MY (lack of) love life. LOL!

Acceptance of people as they are is what leads to openness and communications. Diversity is not just a sexual thing, but cultural, religious, etc.

I have always found that when there is something I don't like about someone, it is generally something about them that I don't like within myself.

I think most people will accept whoever/ whatever you are, if you not in their face about it. I don't care for anyone / type that is my face about anything whether it be gay, religion, politics,etc.

We met a real nice couple for dinner a couple of weeks ago, as they are planning their PMV in August. They were upfront that they were a couple, I'm guessing that we were to be uncomfortable, we wouldn't have to make the dinner plans. Very nice, they didn't hide the fact, but was not in anyones face about it either. They were just a couple, just like my wife and I are, except both ladies. Would be proud to have them as friends, or neighbors.

So don't go there with a chip on your shoulder, and I
m sure you will get along just great.

Terry,

What a classy post. Tabra and I both thought you two were wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you for showing us all of your St. Croix pictures!! If anything, they have made us even more anxious to go, and the countdown is seeming to take forever!!! (65 days to PMV) 🙂

You have been a great help.

Thanks,
Beth

P.S We got our Settler's Guide in the mail today!!!

aimee-

for once we agree on something. kuddos!

-adam