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Haiti LGBT festival cancelled due to threats | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Organisers have called off a festival celebrating Haiti's Afro-Caribbean lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community because of threats of violence and government opposition. | Organisers have called off a festival celebrating Haiti's Afro-Caribbean lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community because of threats of violence and government opposition. |
Jean Danton Leger, commissioner of Port-au-Prince, said he had blocked the event to protect public morals. | Jean Danton Leger, commissioner of Port-au-Prince, said he had blocked the event to protect public morals. |
It came after the Haitian lawmaker, known for homophobic views, called for the Massimadi festival to be banned. | |
One of the event's organisers described discrimination homosexuals faced. | One of the event's organisers described discrimination homosexuals faced. |
"Our festival was postponed precisely because there has been a verbal ban by the government commissioner of Port au Prince, Jean Danton Leger," said Jeudy Charlot. | "Our festival was postponed precisely because there has been a verbal ban by the government commissioner of Port au Prince, Jean Danton Leger," said Jeudy Charlot. |
"Homosexually is frowned upon, perceived as evil. At times, they may be ridiculed, they can be attacked." | "Homosexually is frowned upon, perceived as evil. At times, they may be ridiculed, they can be attacked." |
Meanwhile, Lorraine Mangones, another of the festival's organisers, said her team had been "receiving threats of outrageous violence". | |
Senator Jean Renel Senatur previously condemned the attempt to start the Massimadi festival in Haiti. | Senator Jean Renel Senatur previously condemned the attempt to start the Massimadi festival in Haiti. |
"This festival aims to promote homosexuality in our country - to convey values that are contrary to our social mores," he said. | "This festival aims to promote homosexuality in our country - to convey values that are contrary to our social mores," he said. |
The Massimadi arts and film festival is held each year in Brussels and Montreal and is targeted at Afro-Caribbean communities. | The Massimadi arts and film festival is held each year in Brussels and Montreal and is targeted at Afro-Caribbean communities. |
Agence France Presse said that in July 2013 a protest against gay people, which was organised by evangelical church groups, drew several thousand protesters in the capital Port-au-Prince. | |
There are no laws prohibiting homosexuality in Haiti. | There are no laws prohibiting homosexuality in Haiti. |
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