Gov't must protect gays
published: Wednesday | August 17, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE GOVERNMENT, through the parliamentary committee on Human Resources and Social Development, recently proposed a debate on the criminal status of sodomy. Many Jamaicans have expressed that even if the anti-sodomy laws are to be repealed, the current mentality of the country will remain.

Hence, the overall sentiment is that the laws should not be changed or will be changed in vain. I believe however that the brunt of the social responsibility to gay Jamaicans rests with the Government and our institutions, which ultimately can, but not necessarily, be influenced by Jamaicans as a whole. Therefore, our Government must proceed.

Apart from repealing the laws to enable some benefit to public health, a much greater problem, violence and negative attitudes towards gay Jamaicans, needs to be tackled. If this apparent public health benefit is to unfold there has to be a safe atmosphere in which gay Jamaicans can interact, seek HIV/STI testing and conduct drives in sexual responsibility awareness. The Govern-ment must also find some way to ensure that crimes committed against gay Jamaicans are not ignored nor encouraged by the police. So while these debates are to be welcomed, all issues currently burdening the gay Jamaican community must be addressed if public health is to benefit.

I am, etc.,

CLYDE PURCELL

cjportmaria@yahoo.com

Warners Lane

Port Maria, St. Mary