Dear Editor,

As the mother of a gay son, I felt compelled to write after reading about the decision by Pineapple Beach Club Antigua and The Verandah Resort and Spa to publicly affirm that LGBTQ+ travelers are welcome at their properties.

For many people, this may seem like a simple marketing message. For me, it was something much more personal.

It was a reminder that my son, and countless others like him, deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and kindness.

I have watched my son grow up in a world where people often judged him before they knew him. I have seen the fear, the anxiety and the hurt that can come from hearing others say that people like him do not belong, should not be accepted, or somehow deserve less than everyone else.

That is why the message from these hotels matters.

Not because they are promoting a lifestyle. Not because they are asking anyone to change their beliefs. But because they are recognizing a simple truth: every human being deserves to be welcomed as a guest and treated with respect.

I was saddened, though not surprised, by some of the comments that followed the story. Some spoke of fire and destruction. Others compared LGBTQ+ people to a plague upon society. A few even suggested that people should be harmed or driven away.

As a mother, I ask those individuals a simple question: If it were your child, would you still speak that way?

Would you want strangers wishing violence upon your son or daughter?

Would you want them told they are not welcome in their own country?

The reality is that LGBTQ+ people are not strangers. They are our children, our brothers, our sisters, our coworkers, our classmates, our friends and our neighbors.

They are Antiguans and Barbudans.

Many of the myths surrounding homosexuality have long been disproven. Major scientific research has found no single cause for sexual orientation, just as there is no single factor that determines countless other aspects of who we are as human beings. More importantly, decades of research have shown that LGBTQ+ people are no more likely than anyone else to harm children, damage society or undermine families.

What harms families is hatred.

What harms families is rejection.

What harms families is forcing young people to believe they are unworthy of love.

I also want to commend Antigua and Barbuda for the progress our nation has made. We are not perfect, but we are moving forward. A country can remain deeply rooted in faith while also recognizing the humanity of every citizen and visitor.

I commend Prime Minister Gaston Browne and his administration for helping to create an environment where businesses feel confident enough to welcome all visitors. Whether one agrees with homosexuality or not, there should be no debate that every visitor deserves safety, respect and equal treatment.

There is also an economic reality that cannot be ignored. LGBTQ+ travelers contribute billions of dollars annually to the global tourism industry. They travel, they spend, they invest and they support destinations where they feel welcomed. Embracing inclusion is not only morally right; it is also good business.

But for me, this is not primarily about economics.

It is about humanity.

It is about a mother hoping that her son can walk through life without fear.

It is about ensuring that young people growing up today see examples of acceptance rather than hostility.

And it is about recognizing that love, compassion and decency will always build a stronger society than anger and exclusion.

To the hotels, thank you for your courage.

To the allies who spoke up in support, thank you for your voices.

And to my fellow Antiguans and Barbudans, I hope we continue moving toward a future where every person is treated with dignity, regardless of who they are or whom they love.

Sincerely,

A Mother of a Proud Gay Son