Rod 2.0:Beta

Apology After Police in the Bahamas Raid Black Gay Cruise Party

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism apologizes after police raided a cruise party owned by an American, black gay-owned event firm.

The October 6 incident at the Hard Rock Cafe in Nassau was first reported by Joe Hawkins, the Oakland-based event promoter with Club Rimshot, and, was "attended by approximately 250" American citizens "and nearly 200 local Bahamian guests", says DaJuan Xavier, the executive director of Ebony Pyramid Entertainment, the popular Washington DC-based promotions form. "The dozen or so police were well armed in full riot-style gear. In addition to their gear, they entered the facility with one of the policeman videotaping the crowd." Xavier says members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force briefly interrogated him and "ordered the bartenders to 'Shut it down!'"

The island's leading newspaper, The Nassau Guardian, published the written apology from Tourism Director General Vernice Walkine who explained the officers were investigating a complaint and "are awaiting the police force's official statement on the matter, but do however, wish to assure you that the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation does not condone discrimination in any form."

It's a significant development that the Bahamian government is mindful of tourist dollars and doing the right thing by apologizing to gay tourists. Unfortunately, the government is not as respectful of their own LGBT population.

Tourism Ministry Apologizes to Gay Tourists [Guardian]
LGBT Caribbean Cruise Raided by Police [Cuppa Joe]
Bahamas Police Harass Gay Tourists [Tribune]

Some Background ...
Christian Activists in the Bahamas Oppose LOGO [R20]
Teen Beauty Queen Comes Out Under Fire [R20]
When Worlds Collide [R20]

Christian Activists in the Bahamas Oppose Gay Channel LOGO

This week, gay activists in the Bahamas meet with powerful social conservative groups to resolve the latest wedge issue between gays and the church: The proposed inclusion of the gay-themed LOGO network to the Cable Bahamas channel lineup.

Bishop John Humes of the Bahamas Christian Council claims the island's cable provider is being forced to participate in the vast, so-called "gay-agenda." His quote to The Bahamas Journal is quite colorful and echoes the same anti-gay rhetoric as American fundamentalists: "Homosexuals can be converted and we must appreciate them as people, but their agenda has to go. No. We can’t allow them to promote their agenda because it is contrary to the word of God and it is contrary to our Christian values. We will not allow them to feel that they can promote their agenda freely in this country."

Erin Greene, the president of the LGBT activist group Rainbow Alliance, says the Council's logic is "ridiculous" and if churches genuinely believed a gay-themed channel "promote[d] homosexuality in the country, then we need to cut off every network channel that runs a show about cops and robbers." Cable Bahamas offers at least ten adult channels and their inclusion was never opposed by the Christian Council.

Two years ago, Miss Teen Bahamas was stripped of her crown after she came out as lesbian.

Controversy Over Homosexual TV Channel [Bahamas Journal]
BCC Against Gay Cable Channel Logo [Guardian]

Some Background.... Teen Beauty Queen Comes Out Under Fire [R20]

· Massachusetts gay activists and opponents both oppose a new website that lists the names and addresses of those who sign a petition backing a constitutional amendment on gay marriage.

· More on the Caribbean teenage beauty queen shake-up. Gari McDonald has been stripped of her Miss Teen Bahamas crown one week after admitting she was a lesbian. The MTB committee press release: "Gari McDonald no longer holds the title as Miss Teen Bahamas." The 19 year says that the committee is upset that she came out, but the MTB says that McDonald has been unreliable and "harassed' another woman, who has threatened legal action. McDonald also threatens to sue.

When Worlds Collide

We've always admired black Britain—Idris Elba's accent, the fantastic range of Shirley Bassey, the soulful Brand New Heavies, Isaac Julien's movies ... or anything Rio Ferdinand-related. So we're excited to discover a black, gay novel that takes place in Britain.

When Worlds Collide is the first novel of Bahamian-born Shawn Forbes, and already we're impressed. The main reason? It's multi-dimensional. The storyline is layered and personalities are complex, hailing from a variety of international backgrounds and circumstances. There are three main characters—Stephen Taylor is somewhat the lead, a young Bahamian who moves to England to attend university. He struggles with his sexuality, confronting several obstacles, a nervous breakdown, and, for some time, tries his hand at marriage. An interesting development, not the usual course in gay novels, but it reflects the reality of many men from the islands whose culture often pushes them into marriage and denial.

Stephen was more confused now than before. He was, after all, in a sham marriage. He had never been in love with his wife. Although he loved her a lot, he had married her only to reconcile with his mother. He realized that he lived in a society where such behavior between men—particularly black men—was not tolerated. He would never be able to fall in love and lead a productive life, enjoyed life with a male partner. Certainly not in a small country like the Bahamas.

Teen Beauty Queen Comes Out Under Fire

"Hi, I am Gari McDonald, the reigning Miss Teen Bahamas and yes, I am a lesbian."

Not the normal statement that you would exect to hear from a teen beauty queen, and the 19 year old student says her candor has not been welcomed by the pageant committee. Bahamas News reports she was given the option of "gracefully stepping down as the reigning queen or deal with the embarrassment of being stripped of her crown because of her alternative life style." McDonald says the pageant has not awarded her any of the prizes that were due, and threatens a sexual discrimination lawsuit.

In the Bahamas, right-wing fundamentalists are vocal opponents of gays and lesbians, but, recent role models such as McDonald—who also lectures on HIV prevention—and novelist Shawn Forbes are trying to raise awareness.