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Content about Maurice Tomlinson

December 28, 2012
Jamaica paper publish anti-gay hate cartoon for Christmas

One of the Jamaica's most widely read papers has published an anti-gay cartoon designed to inflame hate, say LGBT rights advocates

The Jamaica Observer, one of the country's main daily papers, published an anti-gay editorial cartoon on Christmas Day (25 December), designed, according to local gay activists, to inflame hate.

The cartoon is meant, according to Jamaican activists, to foment hate by ridiculing gays and depicting them as a threat to young boys.

December 19, 2012
Activist to sue Belize entry ban on gays

A gay Jamaican activist is suing the government of Belize over its entry ban against homosexuals

Maurice Tomlinson, an LGBT advocate is to challenge Belize’s entry ban on gays in an international court.

Tomilnson, a Jamaican national and legal advisor for the NGO AIDS-Free World has been invited to conduct training and sensitization sessions regarding the rights of individuals infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

December 15, 2012
Court to challenge Jamaica TV stations ban on pro-gay ads

A Jamaican court has begun a historic deliberation on whether two Jamaican TV stations rejection to air paid pro-gay ads breached the country’s constitution

Maurice Tomlinson, a Jamaican gay activist, had recently sued the two station alleging they breached Jamaica's constitutional charter on fundamental rights and freedoms by refusing the air the pro-gay ads.

During the first hearing on 12 December the court assigned three judges for the constitutional case and marked the next formal hearing to take place from 27 to the 31 of May, 2013.

November 27, 2012
Activist to sue Trinidad and Tobago entry ban on gays

A gay Jamaican activist is suing the government of Trinidad and Tobago over its entry ban against homosexuals

Maurice Tomlinson, an LGBT advocate is to challenge Trinidad and Tobago’s entry ban on gays in an international court.

Tomilnson, a Jamaican national and legal advisor for the NGO AIDS-Free World has been invited to give two presentations during the month of December.

One invitation is by the United Nations Population Fund to participate in a HIV workshop, and the other is to attend a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) conference on human rights.

November 3, 2012
Jamaica, j’accuse

Jamaican gay rights advocate, Maurice Tomlinson, says his country's government is directly responsible for the brutal homophobic attack on a young student

In most modern understandings of criminal law, an accessory is a person who assists in the commission of a crime but who does not actually participate in its commission as a joint principal.

The principal on the other hand is someone whose acts or omissions, accompanied by the relevant malice, is the immediate cause of the criminal act.

October 26, 2012
Jamaica TV stations sued for rejecting pro-gay ads

Jamacian gay activist is to sue two Jamaican TV stations after they rejected paid pro gay awareness TV ads, alleging they breached Jamaica's constitutional charter on fundamental rights and freedoms

Jamaica’s major television stations, CVM TV and TVJ, have previously refused to run paid ads calling on Jamaicans to love and respect their fellow citizens who happen to be gay.

October 1, 2012
Anti-gay hate forces closure of Jamaica gay homeless center

Jamaica's only drop-in center for homeless LGBT youth was closed due to anti-gay sentiments by local authorities and media

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals & Gays (J-FLAG) – a charity organisation, was forced to close down the Caribbean island state’s only drop-in centre for homeless gays which it managed with the Jamaica Aids Support (JAS) organization.

The announcement was made by a J-FLAG representative at a recent meeting in Jamaica's capital, Kingston.

September 10, 2012
Jamaica study finds increased support for gay rights

A national study of attitudes towards LGBT found increased support for gay rights, while homophobia is still very prevalent affecting discrimination and HIV infection  

A recent study reveals increased support for LGBT rights in Jamaica, particularly amongst the younger generation, while homophobia and negative perceptions of gays and lesbians still present social and health challenges.

The study by Professor Ian Boxill of the University of the West Indies shows that almost two in every five Jamaicans believe the government is not doing enough to protect and promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons to freedom from discrimination, violence and other forms of harassment.

August 14, 2012
Nomination deadline nears for David Kato human rights award

Less than three weeks remaining for nominations for the 2013 David Kato Vision and Voice award.

There are now less than three weeks remaining for nominations to be submitted for the 2013 David Kato Vision and Voice Award.

The accolade, named in memory of human rights activist David Kato, who was murdered in his home in Uganda on 26 January 2011, recognizes those working to eliminate violence, stigma and discrimination and demonstrate courage and outstanding leadership in advocating for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people around the world.

August 6, 2012
First Uganda gay pride a success despite police raid

Uganda held a historic weekend long gay pride which turned out a success despite a police raid, widespread homophobia and anti-gay laws 

Uganda’s LGBT community was able to conduct a weekend of gay pride events despite police arrests and harassment.

The historic LGBT pride was a series of events held at Entebbe starting with a party and including a beach parade, more parties and a small film festival.

The event was well attended, despite the fact that in Uganda gay people face life imprisonment according to law and widespread homophobia from the public.

July 13, 2012
Jamaica police chief blames gays for hate violence

Outgoing former Scotland Yard officer Les Green says Jamaican gays are too flamboyant and that most gay murders are domestic violence

Jamaica’s out-going assistant police commissioner Les Green has denied the existence of widespread homophobia in the country and blamed the gay community for the violence it faces.

The former Scotland Yard officer told the Jamaica Observer the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community were too flamboyant and public about their sexuality.

LGBT campaigners in the country have condemned his comments.

July 10, 2012
Anti-gay laws obstruct fight against HIV, UN body says

Independent international commission criticizes laws that hinder the prevention of HIV

Laws that criminalize homosexuality obstruct HIV prevention, said a report published yesterday by the Global Commission on HIV and the Law.

The report, HIV and the Law: Risks, Rights and Health, is based on first-hand accounts from over 1,000 people in 140 countries. It specifically criticizes countries which penalize homosexual acts with either the death penalty (Iran and Yemen) or long prison sentences (Jamaica and Malaysia).

July 7, 2012
Pride in a hostile environment

A film about pride in Latvia, and the state of World Pride in London, both lead Linda Wilkinson to conclude that the visibility such events brings is vital

Uber butch dyke and performer Lea Delaria hosted a panel discussion on Friday (6 July) at Amnesty’s Human Rights Centre in Shoreditch, east London, around a film about the history of LGBT prides in Latvia.

At 90 minutes long, the film pulled no punches. We heard opinions from every quarter, from the hilariously religious mother figure who carried a cross and lay down in an attempt to stop the marches; to the frankly terrifying right wing fascists. Interested and engaged queers were counterbalanced by those who simply wanted to hide in their corner.

June 25, 2012
East End Film Festival launches its boldest gay program

Award winning film on LGBT struggles in Uganda premieres in London

London's East End film festival has teamed up with Amnesty International UK this summer to support the festival’s biggest program of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered films.

The Hackney Picturehouse will be screening the award winning film Call Me Kuchu on 5 July. It explores the struggles faced by the LGBT community in Uganda – one focus of the film is on the murder of LGBT activist, David Kato in 2011.

January 30, 2012
Jamaican activist Tomlinson wins first David Kato award

Jamaican attorney Maurice Tomlinson receives award for activism just weeks after having to flee due to death threats

A Jamaican gay activist who has been forced to flee his home due to death threats against him has received the inaugural David Kato Vision and Voice Award.

Maurice Tomlinson picked up the award, named after the gay Ugandan activist who died in January last year, at a ceremony in London on Sunday evening (29 January).

January 30, 2012
Why I fled Jamaica but hope to return

Award-winning Jamaican gay activist Maurice Tomlinson on the death threats that forced him into exile and the state of LGBTI rights on the island

Articulate, charming and beaming with delight as he picked up an award for his work on Sunday (29 January) in London, Maurice Tomlinson does not seem like a stereotypical refugee.

But this youthful-looking attorney from Jamaica had to flee his country this month after his LGBTI rights work and highly publicized marriage to his partner in Canada made him the target of a series of death threats.

January 27, 2012
Death threats force Jamaican gay activist to flee

Jamaican Maurice Tomlinson faced escalation of death threats. He is now in London to receive first David Kato LGBTI award

One of the leading advocates for gay rights in Jamaica, Maurice Tomlinson, has been forced to flee his home after an escalation of death threats against him.

Tomlinson married his Canadian partner at a ceremony in Toronto in August 2011 but the news was deliberately kept quiet out of safety concerns.

December 20, 2011
Caribbean Christians attack gay law repeal

Backlash against attempts to decriminalise gay sex in the Caribbean

Outraged Caribbean activists have condemned anti-gay adverts that have appeared in newspapers in Trinidad and Jamaica.

Trinidad’s Sunday Express published an advertisement titled ‘What you should know about homosexuality’ while a Jamaican paper published a similar piece on World AIDS Day.

The Trinidad advert said ‘homosexuality is a manifestation of sexual brokenness’ and argued this was caused by childhood trauma.

December 20, 2011
Ugandan activist honoured with new awards

Jamaican lawyer Maurice Tomlinson is first winner of awards named after murdered Ugandan David Kato

Murdered Ugandan activist David Kato is to be honoured in an inaugural global award championing LGBT rights work.

Jamaican lawyer Maurice Tomlinson will be the first recipient of The David Kato Vision and Voice Award to be held at the Kensington Roof Gardens on 29 January.

The award recognises an individual who demonstrates courage and outstanding leadership in advocating for LGBT people, particularly in dangerous environments where these people face marginalization, isolation and persecution.