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'You should love whoever it is you want to love‘- Skelton-Cline

- reiterated that while same-sex marriage is not accepted in VI, the current constitution does not discriminate against same-sex couples
Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said he will support a person’s right to love whoever they want to love. Photo: Facebook
Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) (right) during his appearance on the Too Inquisitive podcast in June 2026. Photo: YouTube
Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) (right) during his appearance on the Too Inquisitive podcast in June 2026. Photo: YouTube
Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline said the United Kingdom or anyone else should not instruct the Virgin Islands that they are mandated to marry same-sex couples by law. Photo: Internet Source/File
Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline said the United Kingdom or anyone else should not instruct the Virgin Islands that they are mandated to marry same-sex couples by law. Photo: Internet Source/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said he will support a person’s right to love whoever they want to love.

His comments come as the Virgin Islands (VI) constitution negotiating team prepares to meet with the United Kingdom (UK) in July for the first round of negotiations.

Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who will lead the team, revealed that the issue of same-sex marriage will be brought up. During a recent appearance on the Too Inquisitive podcast, the Premier explained that while same-sex marriage is not accepted in the Virgin Islands, the current constitution does not discriminate against same-sex couples.

Expounding on his point, he said, “We’ve decided that same sex marriage is not something that we recognise here…this doesn't mean that you won't have any form of government recognition of same sex relationships, which could be in what you call, like, a civil partnership act”. According to Premier Wheatley, this civil partnership recognition for same-sex couples would clear the path for social security benefits and inheritance to be granted to surviving partners.

During the Tuesday, June 16, 2026, episode of Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM titled ‘What We Know Is Not True Part 3’, Skelton-Cline acknowledged the position the VI is in where the UK seems to be “pushing” the topic of same-sex marriage and the government’s intentions to bring it as a referendum to the people.

Love who you want to love

“Now as for me, Claude Skelton-Cline, I am not here to tell you who you should love, you should love whoever it is you want to love.”

He added that in VI’s “Judeo-Christian tradition”, gender specificity is clear where male is male and female is female and that marriage is between a man and a woman.

“We believe that as part of our cultural mores and ethical appropriation. You can love whoever you want to love, and I will fight for your right to love whomever it is you want to love….I will fight for your right in any civil union and to be the beneficiary or the benefactor of the partnership with the one you choose to love. I will fight with you for that.”

Skelton-Cline said he, however, will not support the UK or anyone else telling the VI that they are mandated to marry same-sex couples by law.

2 things can be true at once

Skelton-Cline said he can understand how some “Christian folk” might feel because “they don’t understand how two things can be true at the same time and how you can advocate for the right of people to have the right to love who they want to love”.

These “Christian folk”, he said, should stand on their philosophical or theological position about what constitutes marriage without denying persons who choose to be in other unions the civil rights and liberties that are afforded to persons who are married in a so-called traditional construct.

“If you and your partner are involved, have a committed relationship and you and us, by law, want to will land or whatever it is, whatever rights, civilly, that a traditional married couple has, then I’ll fight for your right to have that.”

He reinforced that being forced to accept something that contradicts the local cultural mores and using it to withhold rightful freedoms should not be accepted.

“You cannot negotiate with a gun to your head.”

36 Responses to “'You should love whoever it is you want to love‘- Skelton-Cline”

  • Really (18/06/2026, 07:58) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    Rainbow man
    • Jumbi Duck ( ')> (18/06/2026, 08:57) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
      HaHa... TASTE THE RAINBOW!
    • Not rainbow , but practical (18/06/2026, 09:23) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      No , it is lazy to simply make that accusation for anyone who understands that the topic needs granuality and nunance. He is simply saying that he respects and can't legislate how a person might feel about someone else of same sex but that the rights of the religious community must also be protected for their beliefs and feelings that marriage , the word and the act should remain with them. Its a common sense compromise . Give the man credit for coming up with a practical solution to a divisive issue, and in fact the courage for speaking on it.
    • @cline (19/06/2026, 09:21) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      A civil partnership act? Who appointed you to lead anything for us?????? Please remove 'Paster' from your title Mr. and go sit down. Stay out of things you have no right to be involved in because you are NO Paster Whatsoever!
    • Lord help us all (19/06/2026, 09:39) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      instead of this man coming out flat-footed and say that gay marriage is a sin or civil unions as in a man sleeping with a man is a sin...he just skirts around it by saying that "you should live whoever it is you want to love"?? Come on Mr. CSC i really thought better of you.
      • @Lord help us all (19/06/2026, 10:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Why did you think better of him? Has he shown himself to have a personal relationship with Jesus or with man? Truly think about it? Do you think this man is a True Christian? He better stop playing with God, repent and truly seek God's will. The devils are fooling him!
  • Observer (18/06/2026, 08:18) Like (15) Dislike (11) Reply
    This man, CSC, ought to be ashamed of himself. Anyone who still considers him virtuous or deserving of being a Christian pastor needs to have their head checked.
  • Yes (18/06/2026, 08:37) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    You're so right
  • Casper Gomez (18/06/2026, 08:49) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply

    Spoken like a true bu****er.

  • Resposta (18/06/2026, 09:11) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    This man is a sick ???? individual not a Christian, pastor but sick and disgusting human being.
  • BRAD BOYNES (18/06/2026, 09:18) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't worry about what he constitution don't do or say. Let your conscience be your guide clown claude. You are so full of bull nonsense.
  • Listen (18/06/2026, 09:28) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
    If one want to love a goat that is their given right.
  • Macky (18/06/2026, 10:06) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yes because it's not for us to impose our moral views on others, but it is for us to protect the community from social corruption. If subject A is homosexual and wants to leave their assets etc to their homosexual lover, they should be able to. However we do not condone Homosexual marriage. They are already homosexual there's nothing we can do about that but they have civil rights and the givt must look out for all citizens civil rights.
  • hmm (18/06/2026, 10:08) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    WOW! Big Pastor
  • believe (18/06/2026, 10:19) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Csc you you are confused you don't know which side you are on or what to represent clown go sit down with your nonsense
    • @believe (19/06/2026, 09:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      You shall know them by their fruits. A 'title' doesn't get you to heaven!
  • Knowledge, understanding, and wisdom (18/06/2026, 10:25) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    Maybe that is why you love the devil and his plan so much. It is right in loving people, even though they do wrong often, but when ther doing contradicts the way of righteousness, why condone, and stamped your approval shamelessly openly, yet claiming to be a pastor, a defender of truth, Claude Skelton Cline, why, for the love of money, isolator?
  • Love and inlove r different.. (18/06/2026, 11:15) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    A male wasn't wired to be inlove with another male, same for a female ñot wired to be inlove with another female, its all a big lie, fake, controlling, low self esteme and deceptive.... This is no different from steeling, robbing, killing, people choose to do them, knowing they are wrong then try to justify why the are right to do it...
  • Anonymous (18/06/2026, 12:17) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Pastor is wrong god said a man and woman not Adam and Steve
  • Christian council (18/06/2026, 12:28) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please have a siddown conversation with this man.
  • Happy (18/06/2026, 13:43) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
    Gay marriage should not be recognized or legalized in the territory...PERIOD!! however, on the civil side, if someone
    wants to leave money, property, belongings, etc. have a will or get a power of attorney. It's really that simple I'm not sure why y'all are making this mole hill a mountain
    • @Happy (19/06/2026, 00:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      it's really not that simple. what of social security and pension benefits? the Government has a legal obligation to protect the right to non-discrimination. that right there is simple.
  • believe (18/06/2026, 14:31) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yes I think his family should have a serious talk with him because he's one sick lunatic i don't understand why decent people still refer to him as pastor what a sick world we are living in.
  • clowns (18/06/2026, 14:34) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    That's a sick and twisted dude
  • Wellsah (18/06/2026, 14:36) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    none of the BOT's have legalized same sex marriage. how about you pay us reparations and allow self governance before wanting us to bend ova
  • Native Tongue (18/06/2026, 14:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

    That's what the Bible says. You all do what you want to do now. Have your fun. God will deal with you in due course. Keep up the nastiness.
  • Babylon Dutty System (18/06/2026, 16:04) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why must this abomination be upfront and center in constitutional talks. Those who stand against it are labeled as crazy do you understand why the world is in the state that it is in. We have created hell on earth and are headed for destruction.
  • believe (18/06/2026, 18:36) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Where is the Christian council now no comments all of you all fake Christian ????
  • OhMy (18/06/2026, 19:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I seriously cannot believe u say that as a Christian and a man reading the living word of god I just wantt to vomit
  • UK (18/06/2026, 19:48) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Always blaming others. Take the British passport, British pounds and hurricane relief. And still want more. Enjoying your ESTA travel? Grow up and take responsibility instead of complaining about stuff that happened centuries ago.
  • Da General (18/06/2026, 21:22) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Buggering is still illegal pardna….no Hershey Uighway sued in’ or carpetmunchin’…
  • FIRE (18/06/2026, 21:45) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We can clearly see who is on the rainbow ticket.
  • ŴELL WIGGIE DEFENDING (18/06/2026, 22:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    HIS RIGHTS AND BLOGGING UNDER A DIFFERENT NAMES LIKE HE'S FEELING SOME KIND OF PAIN & AGONY THAT HIS RIGHTS YO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO WITH HIS OWN BODY IS BEING VIOLATED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE , THEM WHITE BOYZ LOOKING OUT FOR HE , LETS SEE IF HE GINE STILL CALL THEM WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS AFTER THEY SEEN HIS LONELYNESS WHICH HE EXPRESES WITH ANGER AT THEM USING "RACISM" AND WANTS HELP HIM TO SETTLE DOWN WITH HIS
    MALE LOVER AND STOP TALKING SH*T BECAUSE OF ALL THE FRUSTRATIONS BUILT IP INSIDE HIM / THAT WILL FREE HIM SHAME DND HE WILL BE ABLE TO FLAUNT OFF HIS " WIGGLE " IN PUBLIC FREELY • WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT WEDDING WITH THE DARK CHOCOLATE IN HIGH HEELZ & MAKE UP - LIP STICK - EYE LASHES - AND NAILES ETC • OR ON THE BEACH WITH A THONG ON ALONG WITH HIS WIG • WE KNOW HE LOVES THE SPOTLIGHT •
  • What the shitttttttttttttttt (19/06/2026, 07:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pastor boy your kind is the kind with one foot in and one foot out sin will always rule and the devil will always win souls cause I cant see you taking bout rights........ nastiness sodomites
  • The Question is (19/06/2026, 18:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    this serpent speaks with forked tongue , and he cannot serve two masters , but as we know he thinks he's got the most sophisticated brains on the land and like wiggie their EGOS is always in overdrive with their narcissistic mentality they think that they are " OMNIPOTENT " and ca outsmart anybody with their wits & theatrics / but karma will get around to those two sooner or later .


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