MSMNPA.ORG Pride 2005

MSM CARIBBEAN HORIZON – Human Rights Watch

BARBADOS - When enough is simply not good enough!

In the Pride ’04 edition - Issue # 7, we featured the performance works of Mannequins in Motion based in Barbados. On the 5 th February 2004 the trio experienced a late night hate crime encounter at a gas station after one of their weekend shows. Diva was shot at by four male attackers whose ages range between 17 – 38 years.

Recently Diva informed that the case was proceeding to the High Court. They recently had three court appearances this March in which the Police Ballistics and Forensic reports were submitted. It is Mannequins’ intention to prosecute their assailants Diva says, “We will go through with this. Though it is an unnerving and troublesome process, but we have to set a precedent. We stand up for our rights to set an example for others who experience violence and are afraid to act.” Diva noted it is an expensive process but Mannequins was able to enlist the services of a committed legal adviser.

Though the four assailants were imprisoned each were subsequently released on bail. But in addition to these charges, the 38 year old individual was again imprisoned on a subsequent murder accusation; and one of the younger ones has previous felonies for four separate incidents. Diva added that their court case may take as long as 2 – 3 years to reach the High Court and their assailants’ additional charges may further prolong all court hearings.

Mannequins in Motion have continued to perform their spectacular shows at Hotels and Night Clubs with their ‘business as usual’ attitude; have added a fourth member called Kitanya, who occasionally fills in for Holly; and will again tour in London for 3 weeks this May. Their next court appearance is set for this June.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA - Where do we go for help?

I am a gay Antiguan Male and two years ago I was on my way home and I was attacked and mugged by 12 guys age range 14-23 years (one of them a student at the St. Joseph Academy) at about 7 pm in the evening. I accepted to give them the money I had on me without a fight. They took it and I was still stabbed and almost lost my life in the process.

The police came to me in the emergency unit at the Holberton Hospital and due to my painful and half unconscious status I could not talk then. I stayed in the hospital 12 days and the police never came back to see me. After I left the hospital I called and the police was mad at me for calling them and treated me as if I am the one who committed the crime( a common practice by the police which I hope will change). In my quest for justice I wrote to the Minister of National Security (I was told the letter ended up in a dust bin because I later found out that one of his assistants was involved).

Because my quest for justice and the system failed me, I decided to go take
my matter in my own hand and a couple weeks ago I got my first victory ,two
of them were involved in killing a young man and they are behind bars.

Mr. Editor, Crime does not know Sexual orientation, Class, Colour or Creed,
thus today is mine tomorrow is yours. Further, Mr. Editor, there is also a growing trend in Antigua, due to the influx of negative Jamaican music, ("so called bad-man culture") for
certain persons to criticise, make nuisance signs, call people names and interfere with persons for no reason at all because of their sexual preference (even police officers in uniform participate in such bashings). But I must inform you Mr. Editor, that whatever choice of lifestyle a person chooses is their right under the constitution of Antigua and Barbuda. Just like anyone has the right to be a citizen of this country.

London Gay Pride 2004 mocks Jamaican hate singers

OutRage reported that last year, four of Jamaica’s top dancehall music stars were mocked and ridiculed as “Killer Queens” in Gay Pride Parade in London 2004, UK, which was dedicated to the memory of murdered Jamaican gay rights campaigner, Brian Williamson.

Poster-size photos of Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and Buju Banton – retouched with pink lipstick, blue eye-liner and red nail polish – were carried by gay rights group OutRage! and black gay Jamaican friends of Brian Williamson.

They marched at the head of the parade, immediately behind the lead banner and the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. Speaking to reporters at the start of the Parade, Mr Livingstone condemned “homophobic lyrics that incite violence against lesbians and gays”. Mayor Livingstone later told the BBC: “As the murder of Brian Williamson shows, homophobia continues to have tragic consequences all over the world”.

Each OutRage! placard featured a camped-up photo of one of the four homophobic Jamaican singers, captioned with the words “ Jamaica’s Killer Queen”. The plackards also carried a quote from singer’s lyrics which incite the murder of gay people, and the catch-line “Stop Murder Music”.

OutRage! says it has received information from Jamaica alleging that “some of the dancehall artistes who sing homophobic songs are themselves secretly gay”.

“It is time Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man came clean and told the people of Jamaica the truth about their sexuality”, said OutRage! Speaking at the Gay Pride rally in Trafalgar Square, Peter Tatchell of OutRage! Said, “Lesbian and gay Jamaicans are being beaten and murdered. The Jamaican government and police are doing nothing serious to stop homophobic hate crimes”. “We demand an end to the murder music that encourages violence against lesbians and gay men – both here in Britain and in Jamaica, “Let’s make a noise for queer freedom in Jamaica”.

In response, the whole of Trafalgar Square, filled with thousands of people, erupted into a huge, deafening roar.