Gay man seeks asylum in Canada

[Lazie]

Thursday, 14 February 2008

Prominent member of gay rights group Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, J-FLAG, Gareth Henry, 22, is trying to claim refugee status in Canada.

Mr. Henry, who spoke at Pride London last year about the plight of lesbian and gay people in Jamaica, told CBC News that 13 of his friends have been killed in the last four years.

He claimed he was one of three gay men stoned by a huge mob in a homophobic attack on Valentine's Day last year.

Police eventually escorted the men from a pharmacy in St. Andrew, where they had been hiding for almost an hour.

An angry crowd had gathered outside the pharmacy, hurling insults and threatening to kill the men.

Officers dispersed the crowd with tear gas.

Mr. Henry told CBC that police officers are leading mob attacks, turning up at people's homes.

He also claimed he had police turn up at his home in the company of civilians and point guns through his window, stating he had to leave the premises or he was going to be killed.

International human rights organisations have described Jamaica as one of the most homophobic places in the world.

Sex between men in Jamaica is illegal and punishable with up to ten years in jail, usually with hard labour.

[Lazie]

13 of his friends? Almost 3000 people got killed in the last 2 years, is he certain his friends got killed because they were gay .. or simply because they lived in a country with a high murder rate? Is it possible he is embellishing his story to live a Canada?

[Gamma]

look like him neva tell them WHY dem the whole truth and nothing but the truth.....

[Gamma]

or whether most or all of them were killed by other ************s!

[DiGlor]

This Gay bwoy and his friends were the cause of the beating they received in the Pharmacy in New Kingston. They were behaving in the most boisterous way in the pharmacy and went as far as to throwing some form of liquid on a sales clerk, thats when all hell bruk loose pan dem.

[Mosiah]

Are we sure what type of asylum he's seeking in Canada?

[Yuttie]

a quad!

[Naminirt]

Jamaican gay activist seeks refugee status in Canada


Thu Feb 14, 5:53 AM



TORONTO (CBC) - Gareth Henry, a leading Jamaican gay activist, has come to Canada claiming refugee status.


Henry says 13 of his friends have been killed in Jamaica since 2004. One 22-year-old friend who was suspected of being gay was chased by a mob, Henry told CBC News. The only place he could run to was the harbour. He couldn't swim.

"Everyone," said Henry, "stood and watched him drown."

Henry, who was vocal activist with the country's pioneering gay-rights organization J-FLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, has had his own troubling experiences. On Valentine's Day last year, he was caught in a pharmacy and surrounded by an angry mob, he said. There was no protection from the police or state.

"When you find police officers who are leading mob attacks, turning up at people's home like myself, pointing guns at my window, with civilians with them, and saying that I need to leave or they're going to kill me, it reinforces homophobia."

Henry said he wants to stay in Canada and is claiming refugee status. He says Canada understands and protects human rights and that Jamaica is not a place he can return to.

[Bricktop]

One 22-year-old friend who was suspected of being gay was chased by a mob, Henry told CBC News. The only place he could run to was the harbour.

"Everyone," said Henry, "stood and watched him drown."

Hahahahahahahahaah Yuh sure it's swim him cyaan swim or....?

[Mosiah]

brickie...ah bwoy!