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The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.Jamaican Church all but Endorses Violence Against Gays
Timothy Kincaid
February 18th, 2008
As we have reported before, Jamaica is a violent, homophobic, dangerous place and ought to be avoided by all persons who care about civil rights. We were not alone in our observations.
The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), a gay-welcoming denomination, has started a protest against the Jamaican government’s inability - or unwillingness - to crack down on anti-gay violence.
Rev. Nancy Wilson, MCC’s leader, and a contingent of religious leaders from the MCC’s Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale met with Jamaican Consulate General Richard Allicock and three top staff members for more than an hour in the consulate’s office in downtown Miami.
“We were encouraged,” Wilson told a group of about 25 protesters who came to Miami for the protest from Sarasota, Boynton Beach and Fort Lauderdale. “We had a frank honest discussion. We’re engaged in a long-term discussion and were not going to stop until gays and lesbians are protected in Jamaica.”
Rev. Wilson’s demands were neither extreme nor unreasonable
that the government launch an educational campaign to decry anti-gay violence in Jamaica, and that the Jamaican police begin sensitivity training regarding the GLBT community
One might suppose that a call for the cessation of violence was a campaign which all Christians could support. One would be wrong.
Not only were MCC’s requests reviled in the Jamaican media, but Jamaica’s Christian community did not take well to being told that they ought not murder gays.
The Rev Dr Merrick ‘Al’ Miller, pastor of the Fellowship Taber-nacle in St Andrew, said that Jamaicans generally deem homo-sexuality wrong.
He said the demands of gay activists who are attempting to force their beliefs on society will in no way influence Jamaicans to change their views.
“Homosexuality is wrong from every possible angle,” said Miller. “It’s immoral from a physical, social and spiritual standpoint.” He said that despite this, the Church was willing to help and support those homosexuals who are in need of counselling or assistance to change their lifestyle.
“I have no problem in supporting and helping someone who sees that he is going the wrong way and wants help in changing his life, but where I draw the line is when you say that it is OK and want to force others to accept your abnormal behaviour,” he added.
and
The Rev Dr Lloyd Maxwell, of the AGAPE Christian Fellowship in Portmore, said that Scripture takes a very clear stance on the matter of homosexuality and, as such, the Church would not sanction nor encourage the lifestyle.
Rev Maxwell said the idea of conducting a public awareness campaign to sensitise Jamaicans on the issue is ludicrous.
With the media and the church openly endorsing homophobia and refusing to condemn the murder of gay men, I have little hope that violence against gays will diminish in Jamaica.
Recent and Readworthy - “Church, Are You Listening?” edition « Crossing the T
February 19th, 2008 | LINK
[...] Church leaders in Jamaica have rejected a plea to their government by the International Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches to act to end violence against LGBT people. One pastor called the idea of conducting a public awareness campaign to sensitise Jamaicans on the issue is “ludicrous.” By failing to condemn violence, does the church not share in the moral responsibility for it? (Thanks to Box Turtle Bulletin.) [...]
Tom in Houston
February 20th, 2008 | LINK
Remember this isn’t about same sex marriage or condemning the Gay lifestyle. This is about mob violence, and murderous rage that borders on genocide. This is apparently tolerated by the police (no arrests even though the Jamaican press published pictures clearly showing perpertrators committing violence), by most ministers, and by most governmental authorities in Jamaica.
The MCC is thinking about a boycott. I already boycott Jamaican culture. Here’s a few things that we can do to stop feeding this murderous culture:
1) Stop buying Red Stripe or Myers Rum. If you patronize Gay bars, ask them to stop serving ‘murder liquor’. Extend the boycott to all Diageo products if they continue to sponsor concerts by artists that advocate genocide against LGBT persons (as Diageo subsidiary Guinness did in December 2007 in Portmore Jamaica - source Jamaica Star article on 2007 Guinness Sting concert in Portmore). Remember that Blue Mountain coffee is also from Jamaica. Tell your coffee barista to stop serving that as well.
2) Tell everyone about Jamaica’s murderous culture. Jamaican not only apparently tolerates genocide against LGBT persons, but also has the highest murder rate in the Western Hemisphere. It probably isn’t safe for straight people to do so either.
3) Ensure that major companies such as Hard Rock (source reggae concerts by murder music artist at Hard Rock owned 4th and B in San Diego) that host artists that advocate murdering Gay people that they are assisting in the propagation of murder advocacy within the context of actual mob murder going on.
4) Contact companies like Puma and Addidas and tell them that their glorification of Jamaica in advertising/marketing is not appropriate given Jamaicas current tolerance of genocide.
5) Remember to note that what companies do in the civilised world is irrelevant, their public condemnations of anti-Gay behavior should be held in Jamaica. For example, if Red Stripe wants to state that they don’t believe in discrimination or violence against LGBT Jamaicans, that they should publicize that prominently in the JAMAICAN press, where it can have an impact on the Jamaicans that keep committing these crimes and the police, ministers, and government officials that appear to be tolerating it.
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