(Sun-Sentinel):

When members of the Sunshine Cathedral heard reports that gays and lesbians were being abused in Jamaica, they extended their reach from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean island.

The church at 1480 SW Ninth Avenue now has a branchin Jamaica 83 members strong, church leaders said.

The congregation established the Jamaican church in December in response to a 2004 Human Rights Watch report that alleged police and citizens were persecuting gays, sex workers and people with HIV/AIDS, according to church pastor, the Rev. Grant Lynn Ford.

Church leaders have travelled to the island to support gay men and lesbians and challenge homophobic attitudes among government and religious officials, he said.

Homophobic mob mentality

"The government says it's not happening. They attribute the death of every gay man and lesbian woman to domestic violence or a trick gone bad," he said. "But it's not that. It's a homophobic mob mentality."

Sunshine Cathedral is an affi-liate of Metropolitan Com-munity Churches, a Sarasota-based denomination that provides spiritual support for gays and lesbians worldwide.

10-year plan

Ford said the Jamaica initiative is part of a 10-year plan to establish churches in diverse communities throughout South Florida and the Caribbean. He said the gay and lesbian community in Trinidad and Tobago already expressed interest in starting a congregation. The church also hopes to plant a branch in post-Castro Cuba and is planning for congregations in the Pompano-Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs and Miami Beach areas to cater to gays and lesbians from Brazil and other Latin American countries.

Ford said the congregation also wants to develop a better relationship with Jamaicans in South Florida, especially those who feel ostracised by their community.

"Our church is largely made up of older, white males," he said. "By planning the sites strategically, we can attract people from other ethnic groups."

The Jamaican church is divided into four groups, one each in Mandeville, Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, church leaders said.