Archbishop John Holder put a biblical case for decriminalization of homosexuality under the noses of hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans this week, as his talk about sexuality and the Bible was reported by the Gleaner newspaper on Page 1 and by the Observer on Page 4. Continue reading
Jamaica’s official Public Defender, Arlene Harrison-Henry, has appealed her exclusion from a lawsuit before the Jamaican Supreme Court that seeks to overturn the country’s anti-LGBT sodomy law. Earlier this month, the court blocked the LGBT-friendly Public Defender from participating in the suit as an interested party, but opened it to nine conservative Christian groups. Harrison-Henry alleges … Continue reading
At the first hearing of my constitutional challenge to the Jamaican anti-sodomy law held today [Feb. 23], the Public Defender (PD) applied to be joined as an Interested Party. The PD is seeking to exercise her statutory right and obligation to protect and promote the rights of Jamaicans. [Editor’s note: Jamaica’s Public Defender is Arlene … Continue reading
Jamaican LGBTI rights activist / attorney Maurice Tomlinson explains here some of the background of his legal challenge against Jamaica’s anti-sodomy law. Court action on that challenge is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday). Why I fight the Jamaican anti-sodomy law On March 19, 2012, I (AGAIN) reported an email death threat that I had received as … Continue reading
I considered myself to be a very confident person. That changed suddenly a few years ago when I received a particularly vicious email death threat because of my advocacy for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Jamaicans. In vulgar language the author made plain that, if I did not immediately … Continue reading
Activists in Egypt and Jamaica are seeking outpourings of international support for their efforts to combat homophobia. The request from Egyptian activists is for online messages in blogs and on Twitter on Sept. 24 and 25 to protest an ongoing wave of arrests and harassment of LGBTI people. The request from Jamaican activists is for … Continue reading
As this blog reported yesterday, Jamaican activist Javed Jaghai has ended his challenge to Jamaica’s anti-sodomy law. Here’s why: “I am no longer willing to gamble with my life or the lives of my parents and siblings.” — Javed Jaghai In a signed affadavit to the Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica, plaintiff Javed … Continue reading
The Associated Press reports: A young Jamaican gay rights activist who brought an unprecedented legal challenge to the Caribbean island’s anti-sodomy law has withdrawn the claim after growing fearful about violent backlashes, advocacy groups and colleagues said Friday. Last year, Javed Jaghai made headlines after initiating a constitutional court challenge to Jamaica’s 1864 law that … Continue reading
“[Gays] are now forcing society to accept their dictates or they will kill you.” — Richard “Dickie” Crawford Popular Jamaican journalist and university lecturer, Richard “Dickie” Crawford, has been a very vocal supporter of the anti-gay moral panic sweeping the country. This phenomenon is largely the handiwork of the island’s fundamentalist evangelical churches. Among other … Continue reading
A Jamaican activist writes: HOMOPHOBIC JAMAICA OBSERVER SEEKS TO POISON PARLIAMENTARY VOTE? The homophobic tabloid, the Jamaica Observer (owned by the principals of Sandals Resorts) published this very suspect article on the front page [June 11]: Male jogger gang-raped Man assaulted in early-morning attack by armed men at Queen Hill. PEOPLE who flock Queen Hill … Continue reading
