02 Jan 06

by: Dennis James
MSM: No Political Agenda (MSMNPA) joins the international community in support of its recent stand against homophobia and related issues of stigma and discrimination in the wake of  the murder of Lenford “Steve” Harvey - Jamaican HIV/AIDS Activist.

“This is the second time in the last two years that a Jamaican has lost his life because of his public involvement in the health and social development of marginalized communities. It is a downright hate crime,” said Dennis James, Project Director of MSMNPA. “This demonstrates that in the Caribbean, not only in Jamaica, that an individual’s life can be erased because of ignorance, hate and fear. This Silence maintained within our region must be immediately addressed by all stakeholders - our, parliamentarians, our community service organisations, our media and civil society to denounce this and other acts of violence.”

Jamaica has a reputation for homophobia and there have been claims by international human rights organisations that not only are gay men targeted there but that they do not expect protection from the police who, allegedly, often are perpetrators of similar acts. Last year Brian Williamson, the founder and leader of the gay rights group J-Flag (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays) was found dead at his home on the 9th June 2004, with multiple stab wounds.

Harvey, aged 30, was abducted by gunmen who forced their way into his home at 1 am on the 30 November 2005. The kidnappers drove Harvey to a remote rural area where he was shot in the head and back, in an execution-style killing.

Though the Jamaican authorities often state that there is no government-sanctioned policy of abuse of gays, critics claim that there are frequent attacks and murders of homosexuals. They point to the fact that Jamaica has one of the world’s highest murder rates and a low rate of solving crime. The authorities in this instance have remained under both subtle and overt pressure to act swiftly in the Harvey case and others involving gays. In an apparent first for Jamaica, the police are to appoint an independent monitor of this investigation and other hate crimes against gays, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Mark Shields.

Recent statements issued by The Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), UNAIDS and international Stakeholders, regarding tearing down the walls of stigma and discrimination, which can undermine our collective efforts to effectively respond to homophobia and the HIV/AIDS epidemic requires bold and decisive leadership. MSMNPA stands in support of this forward thrust to address our existing national policies regarding Human Rights for those marginalized, living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.