JAMAICA’S POLICY TOWARDS HOMOSEXUALITY

PANEL TO EXAMINE JAMAICA'S POLICY TOWARDS HOMOSEXUALITY, INCLUDING THE RECENT REPORT “HATED TO DEATH” BY HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ON: HOMOSEXUALITY, VIOLENCE, AND THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS IN JAMAICA.

The issue of Jamaica’s official policy towards homosexuality has been much talked about in the international and local media in Jamaica. The Economist and the New York Times both ran articles highlighting the country’s policy towards gays after Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report, “Hated to Death” on Nov. 16, 2004, describing Jamaica’s policy as one that facilitates a climate of hatred towards gays. The HRW report also claimed that Jamaica’s policy contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS by attaching a stigma to those that have the disease, making it difficult for them to seek and receive treatment.

JAMPACT has reached out to representatives from both sides of the topic and will be hosting an event on Saturday, January 29th at which the salient aspects of this issue will be discussed.

RSVP: It is important to RSVP for security reasons by Friday, January 28th at jampact@jampact.org.

WHEN: Saturday, January 29th at 2pm

WHERE: St. Francis College
Callahan Conference Center
180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201.

Subway: M, R, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Trains to Borough Hall Station

Speakers:
His Excellency Dr. Gordon Shirley
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the U.S.

Larry Chang
Jamaican gay activist, successfully filed for Asylum in the U.S.

Rebecca Schleifer
HIV/AIDS and Human Rights Program, Human Rights Watch – authored “Hated to Death Report”

Dr. Peter Figueroa
Chief, Epidemiology and AIDS, Ministry of Health, Jamaica.

Moderated by:
Dr. Basil Wilson
Provost, John Jay College of Criminal Justice