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"Jamaica Observer" Applauds PM Simpson Miller's Pro-Gay Platform

PHOTO: AP

An editorial in today's Jamaica Observer applauds new Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller for explicitly endorsing gay rights and calling for a review of the nation's sodomy laws. The editors commend Simpson Miller and the People's National Party for recognizing that gay rights are "fundamental human rights."

What we do believe is that Mrs Simpson Miller deserves commendation for her courage. Not only did she speak to the need to review the centuries-old law bequeathed to us by British colonialists, but insisted that she would not "pry" into people's private lives and would appoint "anyone" to her Cabinet based on "ability" regardless of suspected sexual orientation.

WIn one stroke, she departed from the line taken by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who had declared "...Not in my Cabinet" when asked by British television three years ago if he would consider accommodating homosexuals in the Jamaican executive.

WWe sensed at the time, that the cautious, middling response of the then Prime Minister Andrew Holness to the gay rights question reflected a recognition, perhaps unconscious, of the possibility of a 'softening' in Jamaican public attitudes over recent years.

WOf course, any Jamaican Government must also take into consideration the realities in the outside world. For in Europe and North America and many other places, gay rights are routinely considered fundamental human rights.

The 66-year-old Simpson Miller's center left PNP won in a landslide—42 seats in the 63-seat legislature, leaving the incumbent center right Labour party with only 21 seats. Simpson Miller was sworn in for the second time as Jamaica’s prime minister last week.

Simpson-Miller's remarks on the nation's "buggery" laws come after the  first-ever legal challenge to Jamaica's sodomy laws. Although rarely enforced, the law mandates imprisonment of "up to ten years ... for the abominable crime of buggery." Sodomy laws in several Caribbean nations, such as Belize, are also being challenged.

In 2007, the Jamaica Observer and Gleaner published historic editorials that opposed homophobia and anti-gay violence and argued for greater acceptance of gays.

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VIDEO: New Jamaican PM Portia Simpson-Miller Supports Gay Rights

PHOTO: Jamaica Gleaner

There is very good news from Jamaica. LGBT activists on the island are hopeful after the December 29 election of People’s National Party leader Portia Simpson-Miller. The former opposition leader and incoming prime minister came out for gay rights during a televised debate.

Simpson-Miller previously served as Jamaica's prime minister from March 2006 to September 2007, and was the first woman in that role.

Watch Simpson-Miller's historic remarks AFTER THE JUMP ...

Simpson-Miller made the comments during a December 20 debate with Jamaica Labour Party leader Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Both candidates were asked if they were willing to appoint gays to their cabinet. Simpson-Miller's transcript as follows:

"Our administration believes in protecting the human rights of all Jamaicans. No one should be demonstrated against because of their sexual orientation. Government should provide protection. We should take a look at the buggery law. Members of parliament should be able to vote based on their conscience after consultation with their constituents. But for me, I support the [appointment of people] based on their abilities. ... I have no intention of prying in the personal business of anyone."

The question was in response to former Prime Minister Bruce Golding's infamous 2008 statement  that he would never appoint a gay person to his cabinet. PM Holness first avoided answering the question directly, but then noted that most Jamaicans were against appointing gays to public office.

Simpson-Miller's remarks on the nation's "buggery" laws come during the  first-ever legal challenge to Jamaica's sodomy laws. Although rarely enforced, the law mandates imprisonment of "up to ten years ... for the abominable crime of buggery."

The international advocacy organization AIDS-Free World  has petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on behalf of two Jamaican gay men. HIV/AIDS advocates estimate that almost one third of men who have sex with men are HIV positive,  compared to a rate of 1.6 percent in the general population. Many experts believe that the island's homophobic culture and sodomy laws discourage MSM from being tested and/or seeking treatment for HIV.

Sodomy laws in several Caribbean nations, such as Belize, are also being challenged. British PM David Cameron has asked African, Asian and Caribbean nations in the Commonwealth to decriminalize same-sex relations in an effort to fight rampant HIV rates across the global south.

Watch Simpson-Miller's historic remarks AFTER THE JUMP ...