To slow down the fake spambot profiles, membership in this group requires application for the time being. We regret the inconvenience (for the 'bots...) *biggestgrin*
The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays (JFLAG), in association with U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater and other partners, have produced the first Public Service Announcement to directly address the notorious issue of homophobia in Jamaica. It features former Miss Jamaica World and Miss Jamaica Universe Christine Straw, and her brother Matthew Straw, who happens to be gay. The PSA highlights her love for her brother despite his sexual orientation, and encourages other Jamaican citizens to do the same.However, pressure from the local clergy in particular, have seemingly put an end to this valiant effort.
The government claims it seeks to attain First World status by 2030, but an important part of that ideal is the fostering of a respectful and tolerant environment for all the island's citizens. The churches claim to believe in "loving the sinner, but not the sin." This PSA only seeks to encourage the same.
Please help to get the message out that Jamaica's bigotry is unacceptable in this brave, new world! The target is quite ambitious, yes, but it is necessary to send a very bold statement to the Government of Jamaica, as well as local media, that the rejection of this hateful and irrational behaviour is strong throughout the world.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this, and your support will be greatly appreciated by those LGBT Jamaican citizens, whose voices are drowned by the multitude.
MacDonald's has long been a suppoesed partner in the fight for LGBT equality, and ha held a seat on the board of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. However, they not yet acted upon a single one of their many promises to to the LGBT community. They have recently begun running an excellent, gay inclusive ad campeighn in France, but failed to comment when American conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly compared gays to terrorists, and asked, in reponse to McDonald's' TV ad "Do they have an Al-Qaeda ad, too?" The NGLCC has severed it's ties with McDonal'd in reponse to this two-timing.
High Society on CW network is the subject of controversy. The show is about rich people doing and saying whatever they want. The trailer below shows how racist language like the N word is condoned, and how transphobic insults such as "tranny" are aired.
The article at the following link - http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090823/local/anti-gay-graffiti-sprayed-on-walls-in-mans-home - raises a question in my mind. However, a hate crime is a hate crime and there can be and is no excuse. A friend of mine who some months back courageously went on a talk show in Valetta, Malta to open up eyes and minds. I hope this person at the end of thge hate crime is not him, of course. Still, what individuals versus what a country holds to be true can be quite different, of course
PS: I am guilty of posting this same post in two other groups with a LGBTI focus on this site. Apologies. I am not sure how much crosspollination or cross reading there may be between the groups.
Full citizenship rights should not be dependent and contingent upon one’s sexual orientation. American history has chronicled the painful and unjust suffering of women (gender discrimination), Native Americans and African-Americans (race discrimination). The plight of gay Americans centers around sexual orientation. Gay Americans have been a part of a minority group disenfranchised from full citizenship ever since the founding of this nation. Legal, religious, and social roadblocks and detours have always stood in their way when, like women and African-Americans, gay Americans challenge the white male/heterosexual status-quo. Indeed, America needs to erase the last remnants of apartheid that plague the our nation.
Please take the time to participate in the following petition. Your participation is very important. Additionally, please feel free to circulate this information to friends and family.