It is past time to do something to force the Jamaican government to take it's homophobia problem seriously - although I think the British could be more effective.
And we certainly can't expect any help from the Bush Administration - it would need to be something like a tourist boycott involving not just the US but Canada and Great Britan.
Anti-Gay Violence Claims Another Life In Jamaica
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: January 4, 2006 - 3:00 pm ET
(Kingston, Jamaica) A young Jamaican man plunged to his death off a pier in Kingston after reportedly being chased through the streets by a mob yelling homophobic epithets.
In a desperate attempt to flee his tormentors Nokia Cowan leaped from the pier into Kingston harbor. Unable to swim he died in the rancid water.
Whether Cowan actually was gay or not is known, but he became the third man to recently die as a result of homophobia in Jamaica.
JFLAG, the country's gay rights organization Wednesday called for a police investigation into the events that led to his drowning.
"Most importantly, we implore the highest members of government to clearly indicate that violence based on sexual orientation, both perceived and actual, is unacceptable in Jamaica," JFLAG said in a statement.
Last month, Lenford "Steve" Harvey who ran Jamaica AIDS Support for Life was shot to death on the eve of World AIDS Day. Support for Life provides support to gay men and sex workers. (Full Story)