Photo: RNZ Pacific
Vanuatu's constitution could soon be amended to recognise only two sexes - male and female - at birth.
However, questions are circulating about how this will affect freedom of expression, which is protected by the country's constitution.
The Vanuatu Daily Post reported the proposed amendment is being portrayed by the government as a move to align the country's laws with "Melanesian values and Christian principles" upon which Vanuatu was founded.
Vanuatu Christian Council chairman Pastor Collin Keleb said the amendment would limit lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual individuals (LGBTQIA) from mobilising or forming associations influenced by Western ideas.
Comments from an LGBTQIA group circulating on social media questioned why some national leaders and churches are targeting them, when there are other Biblical laws being broken by Christians.
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.
He said 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.
Keleb said there was consultation between the government, the church and the chiefs to discuss the regulations.
Last year, Vanuatu changed its marriage act to state marriage is a union of a male and a female.
Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat said that the law, as passed, stipulated that same-sex marriage cannot be registered.
LGBTQIA+ and gender issues are not new in the Pacific.
The Human Dignity Trust, which considers same-sex laws, lists Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu under "criminalises LGBT people" (as of December 2024).
However, these laws appear not to have been enforced in recent years.
