Date: 27 Jul 2006
By Terry Tavita, SAVALI Newspaper
Amid the current debate over same sex marriages raised in the media, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi this week clarifies through this publication his views which "are often subject to misinterpretations" in a recent article published by the Samoa Observer newspaper.
The Prime Minister said that he was asked specifically on the issue of gay marriages which are not accepted in Samoa as "in accordance with this country's Christian beliefs and values."
Prime Minister Tuilaepa says that his response was directly at the question of gay marriages he was asked and "nothing more".
On the question on f'aafafine and fa’afatama (lesbians) the Prime Minister said; "Many fa'afafine have become prominent public figures, upstanding individuals." "They are providing great service to their families, communities, government and even their churches and congregations. For many years they have raised funds to help the elderly, the sick and assist in education for physically-challenged children."
The Prime Minister says that fa'afafine have become an important part of Samoan society.
"Medical research has discovered that fa'afafine, or men having feminine tastes and tendencies, is really due to biological and genetic make up.
Same for fa'afatama, he said.
"Females born with a prevalence of male chromosomes though may have all the physical attributes of a female, will tend to have masculine tendencies. They are born that way.
"Same with a child that is born blind. Is it the child's fault that he or she is born blind? No. Do we condemn the child because he or she is born blind? Of course not.
"And if the blind and the fa'afafine are born that way, then did not God create them that way? And should not we all accept and respect all of God's creations as they were fashioned in His image?"
Despite fa'afafine having strong feminine character, the Prime Minister says that many have raised families.
"I personally know of several that have gotten married, fathered children and raised families. But still they have these feminine mannerisms because God made them that way."
The Prime Minister says that fa'afafine is an old concept in Samoa.
"If you look at the historical political divisions of Samoa as told by ancient folklore, Samoa's progenitor Pili had only boys. They were Tua, Ana, Tuamasaga and Tolufale.
"It is said that his son Tolufale was appointed the feagaiga, a female role, which is today the Aiga-i-le-Tai.
"This while the other three brothers were given districts which bear their name to this day.
"A female role of course is that of peace maker when disputes arise within the family.
"I know of families where if there are up to ten sons and no daughters, one son is usually raised like a girl, and is given a female role to assist the mother.
On the issue of same sex marriages, Prime Minister Tuilaepa says that he is not aware of the fa'afafine community here "pushing the issue".
"It's a foreign concept which of course is not accepted as it is not in accordance with the Christian values Samoa is founded upon."
"And these dictate that a man can only marry a woman and not another man. Same for women."
The Samoan fa'afafine community has been caught in the middle of the current debate with some members of the public recently calling for a blanket "ban on gays and homosexuals" in the country.
However, several academics including Unasa Dr. Felise Va'a of the National University, has called for more tolerance towards the fa'afafine community.
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