Jamaican Gays and Lesbians to Visit NYC to Discuss Efforts to Combat
Homophobia on Their Island-Nation
Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, January 28,
2005
For Immediate Release
Contact: Inga Sarda-Sorensen, 212-620-7310, ext. 230
WASHINGTON—Activists From Jamaica
to Come to New York’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community
Center on Feb. 1, to Address Volatile Struggle Against Homophobia in Their
Country
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community
Center and Amnesty International present a panel discussion with
representatives of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays
(J-FLAG), the lead organization in Jamaica campaigning against homophobic
violence, on Tuesday, February 1, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
& Transgender Community, 208 West 13th Street, New York City.
“Homophobic violence knows no boundaries,” says
Miriam Yeung, director of Public Policy & Government Relations at the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, the largest LGBT
community center on the East Coast. “It is a scourge that is found around
the globe, and one that we must work together across cultures to combat.”
A comprehensive report released in November 2004 by Human
Rights Watch, a U.S.-based non-profit organization, detailed what it deemed as
extensive, state-sanctioned abuse in Jamaica of people living with HIV/AIDS
and sexual minorities. In addition, Jamaican recording artist Beenie Man has
been slammed by critics due to his song lyrics calling for the killing of gays
and lesbians.
This free event is one stop in a U.S. tour of J-FLAG
representatives organized by Amnesty International’s OUTfront program, which
has been campaigning in collaboration with J-FLAG to hold Jamaican authorities
accountable for protecting the human rights of its LGBT citizens.
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