Jamaica Chases Out Maurice Thomlinson {Their Fiercet Gay Activist)

In this ex bastion of british power, religion became a way to help people with their poor daily lives. Education also took a back seat, since most people were getting religious indoctrination which in many cases was the only free education they could get. Not from professional teachers but from missionaries. This meant that science and common sense took a back seat to fears and prejudices. Today in a modern world these nations in the caribbean, including a United States Territory have locked out the freedom of expression on ones sexuality,  that some enjoy a few hundreds miles or less away.AF*


 The Pink Paper by Peter Llloyd  says, that one of Jamaica's most outspoken advocates for gay rights has been forced to flee his home and country after an escalation in death threats against him, according to The International Planned Parenthood Federation.

Last August, Maurice Tomlinson married his Canadian partner at a ceremony in Toronto but the news was deliberately kept quiet out of safety concerns.

However, recent media reports in Jamaica about this event meant that Tomlinson’s life could not be guaranteed and police warned him they could not offer him any security from vigilantes if he remained in Jamaica.

Jamaica is a country where homophobia is rife and where tacit support for violence against gay people is widespread in both the government and police.

Often regarded as the most homophobic country in the world, vigilante ‘justice’ has resulted in at least 35 Jamaicans being murdered because of their sexuality since 1997. 

Last year 2 people were hacked to death for being gay.  The new Jamaican Prime Minister has expressed a willingness to support gay rights through a Parliamentary conscience vote on the country’s 1864 anti-sodomy law.

Earlier this month, Tomlinson – who is Legal Advisor, Marginalized Groups for international advocacy organization AIDS-Free World – was announced as the inaugural recipient of the David Kato Vision & Voice Award to be held on 29 January 2012 at a ceremony in London. 

Tomlinson will be in London this week to receive the award.

The award is inspired by the life of Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato, who was murdered for his sexuality one year ago.

On the 31 January Tomlinson will take part in a discussion at the House of Commons led by three leading figures from the LGBT movement in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia.

After the intervention of political leaders including Hillary Clinton and David Cameron, the debate will focus on how LGBT people themselves can take the lead in the demand for human rights for all.