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(Kingston) One of Jamaica's leading advocates for people with HIV/AIDS has been killed by two men shouting anti-gay epithets. 

Lenford "Steve" Harvey who ran Jamaica AIDS Support for Life was shot to death on the eve of World AIDS Day. Support for Life provides support to gay men and sex workers.

News of his murder was released by Christian Aid, a London-based group that helped fund Support of Life.

Harvey was openly gay and well known in Jamaica.

Police are looking for three men who broke into Harvey's home Wednesday night confronting him and his two roommates. 

The armed men demanded money. "We hear that you are gay," the gunmen yelled at the trio.  The two housemates denied it but Harvey apparently remained silent. The housemates were gagged and bound.  

Harvey was ordered at gunpoint to help the gunmen carry valuables to his car.  He was forced into the vehicle and kidnapped by his attackers.

Two hours later, he was found, shot dead, Christian Aid said.

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These stories are so common that I have changed the thread title to become an ongoing thread on the treatment of gays in Jamaica in general.

[ 04 January 2006: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

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Originally posted by Hephaestion:
Damn....

On World AIDS Day, I mourn Steve Harvey, Brian Williamson, and so many other brave men and women in the LGBT community that have lost their lives in Jamaica. They may be gone, but the organizations they created -- "Jamaica AIDS Support for Life" and "JFLAG" live on and bravely carry out their work in the face of horrific violence and hatred,

These people are among some of the bravest I have ever heard of, and Harvey and Williamson will not be forgotten.

[ 02 December 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

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Originally posted by Ichy Smith:
It is time we took the appropriate action and started to boycott Jamaica. No Gay person or friend or relative, or person of conscience should enter Jamaica until Gay rights and protection for Jamaican Gays is guaranteed.

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But, go for it, if you like. Most tourists who stay in the resorts are very well protected.

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Originally posted by shaolin:
I think his point was to boycott in order to pressure the government to actually prosecute those who murdering gays. Making gay sex legal might be a nice first step, as well.

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Originally posted by Makwa:
Hm. Of course you would need a police force that might actually arrest someone who doesn't do it in front of hundreds of witnesses. Good luck.

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But isn't this the thing that progressive people should be trying to solve? This is another case of Black on Black Violence, another wasted death, Whites have no control here. How do we encourage reform in Jamaica if we have no influence there? jamaica

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The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS on Thursday told the Jamaican government it isn't doing enough to find the killers of Lenford "Steve" Harvey.

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Steve Harvey’s death is a profound shock and loss not only to the AIDS movement in Jamaica and the Caribbean, but to the whole world,” the UNAIDS said in a statement.

The agency also called for stepped-up efforts by the Jamaican Government “to address homophobia and other causes of stigma and discrimination, which are fuelling the spread of AIDS not only in Jamaica but across the Caribbean.”

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Jamaica To Appoint Civilian Monitor In Gay Murder Probe
A day after the United Nations accused Jamaica of dragging its feet in finding the killers of a gay AIDS activist the government has announced it will appoint a civilian monitor to ensure police are doing their job.

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A young Jamaican man plunged to his death off a pier in Kingston after reportedly being chased through the streets by a mob yelling homophobic epithets.

In a desperate attempt to flee his tormentors Nokia Cowan leaped from the pier into Kingston harbor. Unable to swim he died in the rancid water.

Whether Cowan actually was gay or not is known, but he became the third man to recently die as a result of homophobia in Jamaica.

JFLAG, the country's gay rights organization Wednesday called for a police investigation into the events that led to his drowning.

"Most importantly, we implore the highest members of government to clearly indicate that violence based on sexual orientation, both perceived and actual, is unacceptable in Jamaica," JFLAG said in a statement.

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Originally posted by Hephaestion:
Stories like this make me wish I believed in hell, 'coz that's where I'd like to consign Jamaica's ruling elite.

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Originally posted by Makwa:

Dam - why the elite? This situation was borne and bred by the violent and cruel world that the British slaveholder brought to this part of the world. It's too late to blame the latest elite.

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Originally posted by Ichy Smith:

It is time we took the appropriate action and started to boycott Jamaica.

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The tourist embargo, ideally voluntary, which is well-suited to Jamaica, since there are so many essentially equivalent competitor destinations. And, my favourite except that it requires government support, the embargo of elite individuals -- no visas for top civil servants & politicians (or their families).

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Four people have been charged with the killing of Lenford "Steve" Harvey who ran Jamaica AIDS Support for Life.

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A 23-year old, two 19-year olds and a 16 year old girl are charged with murder, robbery and illegal possession of firearm.

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[ 10 March 2006: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]