After reading comments by the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS) all over the media, I am forced to respond to what is obviously mass propaganda and hysteria. We never hear of this group when gruesome child abuse cases are reported, but mention the word 'gay' and everyone jumps. Who are they to attempt to define the rights of any human being based on their sexuality?
These people like to rebuke the suggestion that Jamaica is indeed homophobic and they commend PM Simpson Miller for her defiant response to gay activists who heckled and interrupted her recent speech in New York on what is still a very serious issue.
JCHS suggests that gays tell lies on Jamaica and attempts to embarrass the PM who said, "No one ever hears the Government of Jamaica beating up gays". This was a simplistic response, if not absurd. What should be said is that the Government has not done enough to denounce gay discrimination and related hate crimes, they are silent on these issues and refuse to proceed with the promise made to review the antiquated buggery law which criminalises gay acts between consenting adults. This law feeds into a culture of hate and prejudice which is mostly perpetuated by the uneducated and uninformed.
If Jamaica is not homophobic, as some suggest, why did former PM Bruce Golding tell the BBC that gays cannot serve in his Cabinet? And why did Opposition Leader Andrew Holness avoid answering the question during the last electoral debate? Have they forgotten about the cross-dressing teen, Dwayne Jones, who was viciously murdered by a mob? J-FLAG reports hundreds of incidents in recent years. We also see and hear of incidents reported on the news. Isn't this homophobia? A government must be custodian for its citizens and cannot turn a blind eye to discrimination. Any government that creates, endorses and enforces laws which criminalise gay acts between consenting adults in privacy is not serious about defending human rights. This is not an issue to be put to the people, it's an issue to teach the people.
So, yes, Obama is very likely to raise human rights concerns with PM Simpson Miller, as he does everywhere he goes. She promised to review the buggery laws. No other PM to my knowledge has ever done this. Yes, we agree some progress has been made, but if the PM now believes Jamaica is no longer homophobic and that gays are spreading lies, I urge her not to delay any further the buggery law review which she promised years ago. And she can still do so defiantly with "the blood of Nanny of the Maroons and the spirit of Marcus Mosiah Garvey", as both were great heroes who fought defiantly to defend human rights.
Pete Delisser
pdelisser1988@yahoo.com
Healthy coalition nonsense!
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These people like to rebuke the suggestion that Jamaica is indeed homophobic and they commend PM Simpson Miller for her defiant response to gay activists who heckled and interrupted her recent speech in New York on what is still a very serious issue.
JCHS suggests that gays tell lies on Jamaica and attempts to embarrass the PM who said, "No one ever hears the Government of Jamaica beating up gays". This was a simplistic response, if not absurd. What should be said is that the Government has not done enough to denounce gay discrimination and related hate crimes, they are silent on these issues and refuse to proceed with the promise made to review the antiquated buggery law which criminalises gay acts between consenting adults. This law feeds into a culture of hate and prejudice which is mostly perpetuated by the uneducated and uninformed.
If Jamaica is not homophobic, as some suggest, why did former PM Bruce Golding tell the BBC that gays cannot serve in his Cabinet? And why did Opposition Leader Andrew Holness avoid answering the question during the last electoral debate? Have they forgotten about the cross-dressing teen, Dwayne Jones, who was viciously murdered by a mob? J-FLAG reports hundreds of incidents in recent years. We also see and hear of incidents reported on the news. Isn't this homophobia? A government must be custodian for its citizens and cannot turn a blind eye to discrimination. Any government that creates, endorses and enforces laws which criminalise gay acts between consenting adults in privacy is not serious about defending human rights. This is not an issue to be put to the people, it's an issue to teach the people.
So, yes, Obama is very likely to raise human rights concerns with PM Simpson Miller, as he does everywhere he goes. She promised to review the buggery laws. No other PM to my knowledge has ever done this. Yes, we agree some progress has been made, but if the PM now believes Jamaica is no longer homophobic and that gays are spreading lies, I urge her not to delay any further the buggery law review which she promised years ago. And she can still do so defiantly with "the blood of Nanny of the Maroons and the spirit of Marcus Mosiah Garvey", as both were great heroes who fought defiantly to defend human rights.
Pete Delisser
pdelisser1988@yahoo.com
Healthy coalition nonsense!
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