GAYS WON'T BOYCOTT JAMAICA - Will not encourage tourists to shun the island
ZJSnyper said
12:33 05/22 2008
Gay rights group EGALE has decided not to call for the boycott of Jamaica as they had previously threatened.
In a release Tuesday, the human rights organisation said it would not suggest that Canadians shun Jamaica as a tourist destination but added that they would continue their campaign against perceived homophobia here.
"We will continue to raise the level of education, and awareness around homophobia in Jamaica, and continuing to fight for sexual freedom on the island and the right to live free from fear as a queer in Jamaica," Egale representative Akim Ade Larcher said.
In March, Egale, a Canadian group, issued an ultimatum in an open letter to Anne-Marie Bonner, Jamaica's consul general in Toronto.
Buggery laws
In the letter, spokespersons for Egale, along with Rev Brent Hawkes, said they wanted the Government of Jamaica to produce public service announcements denouncing homophobic/transphobic violence.
They also called for a national homophobia/transphobia education campaign, and the repealing of the buggery laws and other legislation that further stigmatise, discriminate and criminalise consensual same-sex acts.
Same-sex acts
In the letter the group had promised to make a public announcement on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, calling for, among other things, a Canadian Tourism boycott on Jamaica and a blockade of goods and services from here.
However, earlier this week Egale, while promising to continue its campaign, refrained from advocating a boycott.
"We have a responsibility to continue to educate the Canada LGBT (lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals and transsexual) community on countries which criminalise same-sex acts and we also have a responsibility to LGBT Jamaicans who have sought refuge in Canada to tell their story of persecution and violence whilst in Jamaica. Every Canadian citizen can then make an informed choice whether to travel to such countries," the release stated.
Egale's decision had come after Bonner had sent an official response to the group last Thursday. In the response she stated that the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians All-sexuals and Gays (JFLAG) did not support a boycott of Jamaica's tourism and trade. She added that the Government has taken action to reduce incidence of violence by the security forces and condemns all forms of violence.
Strong condemnation
"You would be aware of the public statement issued by the government on 14th April 2008 reiterating its strong condemnation of mob attacks and violence against any individual or groups for any reason whatsoever," the statement said
The statement added, "The Constitution and laws of Jamaica provide protection and rights for all. There is not an intention to write into the Constitution specific reference to any particular group, as all groups and individuals have equality under the law."
Keneilb said
13:42 05/22 2008
mi nah go waste mi fingers a comment pon dis
***DK*** said
13:42 05/22 2008
keneilb u jus did!!!!
STUWY77 said
14:18 05/22 2008
u c what can happen when wi stand up fi wi rights.. naw switch nor sell out..
Crazypickney said
14:20 05/22 2008
them betta!! brite!!
vybz10107 said
14:29 05/22 2008
faceti and out of order
CREAM said
14:44 05/22 2008
DEM FI DEAD...GUN SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT... BOOOOOOOOM
Garrick said
08:17 05/23 2008
seet deh...dem realize seh jamaica nuh ina dem ting deh. Continue to uphold our morals Mr. Prime Minister.
MonEyBeLLy said
08:18 05/23 2008
boycot unno ma p u s sy
biggaman121 said
14:37 05/23 2008
don`t care it what they think
pistolvaniasfinest said
18:44 05/23 2008
di fish dem back down(no pun intended) because dem know sey if people start boycott Jamaica and mek tings get worse inna di country, den people ago know sey a di fish fault why life hard suh, and di killings ago get worse fi dem.
Gay rights group EGALE has decided not to call for the boycott of Jamaica as they had previously threatened.
In a release Tuesday, the human rights organisation said it would not suggest that Canadians shun Jamaica as a tourist destination but added that they would continue their campaign against perceived homophobia here.
"We will continue to raise the level of education, and awareness around homophobia in Jamaica, and continuing to fight for sexual freedom on the island and the right to live free from fear as a queer in Jamaica," Egale representative Akim Ade Larcher said.
In March, Egale, a Canadian group, issued an ultimatum in an open letter to Anne-Marie Bonner, Jamaica's consul general in Toronto.
In the letter, spokespersons for Egale, along with Rev Brent Hawkes, said they wanted the Government of Jamaica to produce public service announcements denouncing homophobic/transphobic violence.
They also called for a national homophobia/transphobia education campaign, and the repealing of the buggery laws and other legislation that further stigmatise, discriminate and criminalise consensual same-sex acts.
In the letter the group had promised to make a public announcement on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, calling for, among other things, a Canadian Tourism boycott on Jamaica and a blockade of goods and services from here.
However, earlier this week Egale, while promising to continue its campaign, refrained from advocating a boycott.
"We have a responsibility to continue to educate the Canada LGBT (lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals and transsexual) community on countries which criminalise same-sex acts and we also have a responsibility to LGBT Jamaicans who have sought refuge in Canada to tell their story of persecution and violence whilst in Jamaica. Every Canadian citizen can then make an informed choice whether to travel to such countries," the release stated.
Egale's decision had come after Bonner had sent an official response to the group last Thursday. In the response she stated that the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians All-sexuals and Gays (JFLAG) did not support a boycott of Jamaica's tourism and trade. She added that the Government has taken action to reduce incidence of violence by the security forces and condemns all forms of violence.
"You would be aware of the public statement issued by the government on 14th April 2008 reiterating its strong condemnation of mob attacks and violence against any individual or groups for any reason whatsoever," the statement said
The statement added, "The Constitution and laws of Jamaica provide protection and rights for all. There is not an intention to write into the Constitution specific reference to any particular group, as all groups and individuals have equality under the law."