4 Gay Men Attacked With Firebombs In Jamaica, Flee For Their Lives
by Will Kohler
Four
gay men fled for their lives after the house they occupied came under
attack by an angry mob of 14 men Tuesday night near St. James in Jamaica
who firebombed the house they were staying in.
Jamiaca's newspaper The Gleaner states
local authorities were unable to take the men into protective custody
because they would not be safe at police facilities there, but said they
are investigating the attack.
“There
is an ever present atmosphere of hostility towards lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Jamaicans, especially those from lower
socio-economic status who have to be in crowded public spaces and use
public transportation,” Latoya Nugent, manager of education and outreach
at J-FLAG said. “Unlike some, they do not have the economic wealth and
social capital to avoid these spaces that might be more dangerous. As a
consequence, many LGBT live in great fear, and they feel inferior,
powerless and invisible because of their sexual orientation or gender
identity and expression.”
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