THE EDITOR, Sir:
WITH ALL due respect to Melville Cooke, I believe he overlooked an important factor in his article "The price of life" printed in The Gleaner on Thursday, July 15. Mr. Cooke pointed out that the murder of gay activist Brian Williamson is not a hate crime based on the fact that the motive declared by the alleged murderer was robbery but I think we need to look closer.
PRODUCTS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT
The perpetrators of this crime are products of this environment that fosters hatred of gay people. They have heard countless songs calling for violence against gay people on the radio, at dances and at concerts. We have heard Beenie Man, Sizzla, Spragga Benz, Buju Banton, TOK etc. say repeatedly that gay people should be killed. When Mr. Williamson angered these individuals by refusing them money, those many dancehall songs and sayings that had been stored in the back of their minds probably surfaced with a vengeance.
Remember that Mr. Williamson was not just killed but mutilated with multiple chop wounds! This is not the standard reaction for a person begging money and being told no. This is a much greater hate.
Melville Cooke quite correctly stated that "life is rather cheap" but failed to add that it is even cheaper if you are gay. We have to acknowledge that gays are unjustly being singled out for violent retribution. I understand that Jamaican society does not condone homosexual behaviour but we should not endorse violence against gays.
I am, etc.,
HETEROSEXUAL
AGAINST HOMOPHOBIC
ATTACKS
St. Andrew
