Jamaican Gay Leader Murdered. Jamaican PM urged: combat homophobic violence. OutRage! condemns the murder of Brian Williamson, a leading human rights campaigner in Jamaica and a founder of J-FLAG.
Jamaican Gay Leader Murdered.
Jamaican PM urged: combat homophobic violence
LONDON – “The Jamaican Prime Minster PJ Patterson must repeal the ban on homosexuality, order a police crackdown on homophobic hate-crime, ban dancehall lyrics that incite the murder of gay people, and initiate an education programme in schools to combat homophobic prejudice.”
The call comes from Brett Lock, speaking on behalf of queer rights group OutRage! in response to the latest homophobic murder in Jamaica which has claimed the life of one of the country’s leading gay activists, Brian Williamson.
Mr Lock also called on the British Home Secretary, David Blunkett, to “give a clear public undertaking that lesbian and gay Jamaicans fleeing persecution will be eligible for refuge in Britain.”
“This killing is a wake-up call to the Jamaican government and police. It’s time they stopped tolerating widespread violence against lesbian and gay Jamaicans. They are allowing queer-bashers to get away with murder. Killers of gays are almost never arrested and put on trial in Jamaica,” says fellow OutRage! campaigner Peter Tatchell.
OutRage! condemns the murder of Brian Williamson, a leading human rights campaigner in Jamaica and a founder of J-FLAG, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays. Mr Williamson’s mutilated body with multiple stab wounds was found at his home by a friend.
J-FLAG has been campaigning since 1998 to overturn Jamaica’s harsh sodomy laws which outlaw homosexuality, punishable by 10 years hard labour. Violence against lesbians and gays is commonplace and is given free reign by the government’s refusal to tackle it. Queer-bashing is also fuelled by Jamaican popular music which glorifies the murder of gays.
OutRage! has been working very closely with J-FLAG over the past two years to draw international attention to the plight of lesbian and gay Jamaicans. Despite widespread homophobic violence, Home Secretary David Blunkett includes Jamaica on his so-called “white list” of supposedly safe countries. This has frustrated asylum appeals by lesbian and gay Jamaicans fleeing the violence and oppression.
“Because some of Mr Williamson’s possessions were missing, the Jamaican authorities are refusing to treat his murder as a hate crime” says Lock, “This is consistent with the Jamaican Government’s callous disregard for the rights and safety of lesbian and gay Jamaicans.”
Jamaican PM urged: combat homophobic violence
LONDON – “The Jamaican Prime Minster PJ Patterson must repeal the ban on homosexuality, order a police crackdown on homophobic hate-crime, ban dancehall lyrics that incite the murder of gay people, and initiate an education programme in schools to combat homophobic prejudice.”
The call comes from Brett Lock, speaking on behalf of queer rights group OutRage! in response to the latest homophobic murder in Jamaica which has claimed the life of one of the country’s leading gay activists, Brian Williamson.
Mr Lock also called on the British Home Secretary, David Blunkett, to “give a clear public undertaking that lesbian and gay Jamaicans fleeing persecution will be eligible for refuge in Britain.”
“This killing is a wake-up call to the Jamaican government and police. It’s time they stopped tolerating widespread violence against lesbian and gay Jamaicans. They are allowing queer-bashers to get away with murder. Killers of gays are almost never arrested and put on trial in Jamaica,” says fellow OutRage! campaigner Peter Tatchell.
OutRage! condemns the murder of Brian Williamson, a leading human rights campaigner in Jamaica and a founder of J-FLAG, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays. Mr Williamson’s mutilated body with multiple stab wounds was found at his home by a friend.
J-FLAG has been campaigning since 1998 to overturn Jamaica’s harsh sodomy laws which outlaw homosexuality, punishable by 10 years hard labour. Violence against lesbians and gays is commonplace and is given free reign by the government’s refusal to tackle it. Queer-bashing is also fuelled by Jamaican popular music which glorifies the murder of gays.
OutRage! has been working very closely with J-FLAG over the past two years to draw international attention to the plight of lesbian and gay Jamaicans. Despite widespread homophobic violence, Home Secretary David Blunkett includes Jamaica on his so-called “white list” of supposedly safe countries. This has frustrated asylum appeals by lesbian and gay Jamaicans fleeing the violence and oppression.
“Because some of Mr Williamson’s possessions were missing, the Jamaican authorities are refusing to treat his murder as a hate crime” says Lock, “This is consistent with the Jamaican Government’s callous disregard for the rights and safety of lesbian and gay Jamaicans.”
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Jamaican addresses
11.06.2004 11:12
Addresses for protest letters etc....
The Rt. Hon. P.J.Patterson,
Prime Minister of Jamaica,
Jamaica House,
1 Devon Road,
Kingston 6, JAMAICA.
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In the UK>
Her Excellency Miss Maxine Roberts,
Jamaican High Commission,
1-2 Prince Consort Road,
London SW. (sorry forgot the post code but letters should get there)
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see also Amnesty Intl website and the LGBT section of Amnesty for more info on the
background for this. www.amnesty.org.uk
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I hope Outrage will be staging a demo at the High Comm asap (with other groups) ???
Would it be safe to have a demo at the up coming Notting Hill Carnival-If that's still
going ? Suppose might have to be careful of Yardie types too. (??)
pirate
Vigil for Brian Williamson
11.06.2004 12:29
Brett Lock
e-mail:
indymedia@outrage.org.uk
Brian's murder and police response not a surprise
14.06.2004 20:21
Moreover, I am NOT one bit surprised that the police claim the motive was robery. One supposes, if one hates anyone and kills them then empties the victim's pocket. The police would assume the motive to be pickpocketing. Those edyotts!
As far as I'm concerned, Brian Williamson will live on forever.....his death will not be in vain.
Bryan Feol
NYC
Bryan Feol
e-mail:
feol@hotmail.com
BRIAN WILLIAMSON'S MURDERER GETS HIS
21.05.2006 20:09
BRIAN WILL NOT COME BACK. THE WORLD LOSES A STRONG SOUL TO INSANITY. THE VERMIN GETS FREE ROOM AND BOARD......
WELCOME TO GAYMAICA!!!!
BRYAN FEOL
e-mail:
FEOL@HOTMAIL.COM