Vanuatu’s Constitution will soon be amended to recognise only two sexes—male and female—at birth.
However, the question remains as to how this will impact the constitutional law of freedom of expression and why other sins are not being put under the microscope, especially if the amendment is based on the constitutional preamble of ‘Christian Principles’.
Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC) Chairman and Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV) Clerk, Pastor Collin Keleb, has shed light on this matter, explaining that the new constitutional amendment will limit Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA) individuals from mobilising or forming associations influenced by Western ideas.
“We cannot allow someone from outside to influence or empower them (LGBTQIA) which will cause them to go astray instead of maintaining and uniting ourselves as children of God,” he said.
The proposed amendment, recently approved by the Council of Ministers (COMs), is being framed by the government as a move to align the country’s laws with the preambles of “Melanesian values and Christian principles” upon which Vanuatu was founded.
From a public standpoint, comments from the LGBTQIA group circulating on social media questioned why some national leaders and churches are targeting them, when there are other commandments and biblical laws being breached by Christians in the country.
Comments include why the citizens have accepted tattoos or set up tattoo shops even though the Bible or the Christian Principles is against this, Leviticus 19:28 which says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”
But this is not the only sin that is being ignored by the Church today in addressing or pushing to a limit of amending the constitution, there is also sex before marriage, drinking, stealing, murder, but to whatever the true reasons may be, the Church chooses to turn a blind eye from all these unholy sins and target a minority group who are victims of abuse, domestic violence and societal shunning.
Pastor Keleb said there are many issues that are out of hand, with influences from other countries, but limiting the movement of the LGBTQIA group is the first step.
“These unacceptable behaviours or attitudes do not reflect who we are according to our custom and beliefs,” he said.
He noted that the level of abuse inflicted upon the minority groups is a reality, but it depends on how a Christian should respond to that situation, those who abuse the weaker ones are not Christians and the Church stands against all forms of violence and encourages the people to treat everyone fairly.
Pastor Keleb said there were consultations held between the government, the church and the chiefs to discuss the regulatory of the two-gender amendment. But there were no consultations held with the LGBTQIA groups concerning their rights and freedom of expression in the country.
A legal advisor who wished to remain anonymous, and who is also part of the LGBTQIA minority group, has spoken up saying even though the government says the activities of V-Pride contradicts the Vanuatu constitutional preambles – Christian principles, faith in God and Melanesian values, it will breach their constitutional rights as a Ni-Vanuatu citizen.
The advisor said that Vanuatu is a democratic nation and people are free to express themselves with respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms.
He pointed out that the amendment is another attempt made by the society to suffocate the minorities but everyone should realise that V-Pride and LGBTQIA+ is not a threat to society.
Pastor Keleb explained that they are not against the LGBTQIA community, but are more concerned about the relationship between the minority group and their families, as well as preventing western influence from leading them away from God.
The VCC Chairman made it clear that this is not about putting a label on oneself, but rather about avoiding division among people, especially within communities.
“This is what the Church believes in terms of Christian principles, to unite every Christian families as one, regardless of denomination and social differences, there should not be a barrier that divides us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC), Pastor Bernard Yalimyau says the VCC has formally endorsed the recognition of only “male and female by birth” at least seven years before United States President Donald Trump announced a similar policy for his government in January 2025.
The VCC Statement on Biblical Sexuality comprises 14 Articles and was signed by 27 pastors, chiefs, and women leaders under the umbrella of the Christian churches of the VCC on 06 April, 2018.
This position excludes the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and others (LGBTQ+) community.
