Senior Rastafarian Leader Says No To Repealing Jamacia’s Buggery Law

Senior Rastafarian Leader Says No To Repealing Jamacia’s Buggery Law

by Will Kohler

Jamaica Rastafarian elder, Ras Iyah V, who serves the Rastafarian movement as a member of the Rastafari Millennium Council is staunchly opposing a proposed to change in Jamacia's buggery law.

"I would have to stand with those who oppose homosexuality because that is not our way," the Rastafarian leader said. "From a moral and traditional African point of view, homosexuality is not acceptable," he contended. "Regardless of which church or group is leading the opposition to the changing of the buggery law, we are ready to stand up with them and say a resounding 'No way'," said Ras Iyah V. "Homosexuality is unnatural and must not be encouraged," he stressed.

The Rastafarian movement, which was listed in the last census as being 29,026 members strong, is among the religious groups expected to join the effort to have the buggery law remain in place.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson has pledged that "no one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation"

LGBT rights campaigner Maurice Tomlinson filed a case in Jamaica's inter-American commission for human rights in February 2012, after fleeing the country following death threats originated when news about his marriage with another man in Canada reached the local media.

In Jamaica sexual acts between men are punishable with up to ten years jail

Will Kohler