Human rights groups take Holness to task for ‘man a man and woman a woman’ comment

Human rights groups take Holness to task for ‘man a man and woman a woman’ comment

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Human rights groups Equality for All Foundation Jamaica and TransWave Jamaica are expressing disappointment with Prime Minister Andrew Holness over his remark that “a man is a man and a woman is a woman”.

The prime minister made the comments Thursday during his contribution to the 2026/2027 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives as he outlined that the country’s core national values on gender will not change.

“When it comes to our values, there are things that define us as Jamaicans that we not going to change on those. A man is a man and a woman is a woman. We are not going to change on that,” Holness said.

However, Executive Director of Equality for All Foundation, Glenroy Murray, in a media release on Friday, cautioned that such statements risk reinforcing stigma and exclusion.

“When national leadership reduces identity to a rigid binary, it not only dismisses the lived realities of many Jamaicans but also risks deepening the marginalisation of communities who already face significant barriers,” Murray said.

“Instead of using LGBTQ+ issues as a smokescreen to justify your foreign policy positions, address the very real needs of the queer Jamaican citizens whose issues have been given scant regard,” Murray added.

Meanwhile, Lamar Grant, interim executive director of TransWave Jamaica, said, “Leadership must affirm the humanity of all people, not reinforce stigma, discrimination or exclusion. Words from leadership matter and they must not come at the expense of our lives.”

“Such statements are not made in a vacuum, but contribute to a climate of stigma, discrimination, and violence against transgender and gender non-conforming Jamaicans. At a time when citizens are seeking transparency and solutions on critical economic issues, the use of divisive narratives only undermines public trust and responsible leadership,” Grant added.

The organisations reiterated their call for leadership that prioritises inclusion and respect for human rights for all its citizens, including LGBTQ+ Jamaicans.