President of The Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention Reverend William Thompson urged Baptists last night to vote in favour of the four bills at the upcoming Gender Equality Referendum.

With less than two weeks before the June 7 vote, Rev. Thompson reaffirmed his support and encouraged Bahamians to do the same.

“It is safe to assert that the heads of the major denomination along with the many non-denominational churches have concluded that all four bills are good and safe for this country,” he told a gathering at the eighth annual session of The Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention at the New Bethlehem Baptist Church last night.

“And as a father, I would wish my daughters to have the same constitutional privilege as my sons. For me it is as simple as that.

“I believe fathers especially have a sacred duty to help create a Bahamas that covers all of his off springs adequately under the law.

“After much thought and consultation, I am convinced that the four bills proposed for the amendment of our Constitution deserve the full and unequivocal support of all Bahamian citizens of good will.”

Bill Number Four, which seeks to end discrimination of the basis of sex, has emerged as perhaps the most controversial of the four bills, with some suggesting its adoption will lead to the legalization of same sex-marriage.

However, Rev. Thompson said these views are without merit.

“I am fully aware of the positions taken by some of my brothers in the Body of Christ who while they may be sincere in their understanding of damage that might be done if Bill Number Four is passed they seemed prepared to allow this prejudice to overshadow their good Christ-like thinking,” he said.

He also addressed those who appear to be opposing the bills for political reasons.

“Those who hold this position are free to do so,” he said.

“However, to use this referendum to act out this opinion would be a grave mistake. The time and forum for acting on such opinions is not this referendum. To subvert the referendum in this way would be a misstep on a national and historic scale.”