A gay/lesbian cruise charter to the Bahamas has sparked a fierce debate.
The islands are well known for their poor record on LGBT rights, which raises the question - was it wise to charter a gay cruise there?
The cruise, aboard NCL's Norwegian Sky, is due to take place in April after the second annual Pride Parade Parade and Expo in Florida.
The Bahamas does not have a law against discrimitation against gay people, and a series of anti-gay incidents has sparked international concern. They include picketing of Rosie O'Donnell's Family Holiday cruise, a ban on the screening of the film 'Brokeback Mountain', and the aquittal of a man who used 'gay panic' as an excuse to murder a man who was HIV-positive.
Human rights organisations often blame the colonial heritage of many Caribbean nations for their poor record on gay rights.
Whatever the reason, it seems they have a long way to come on gay rights, compared with the rest of the western world.
This being the case, would it not be best to avoid chartering gay cruises to this part of the world?
Or do you think these cruises should carry on, in the hope to make a difference by encouraging acceptance and tolerance?
The islands are well known for their poor record on LGBT rights, which raises the question - was it wise to charter a gay cruise there?
The cruise, aboard NCL's Norwegian Sky, is due to take place in April after the second annual Pride Parade Parade and Expo in Florida.
The Bahamas does not have a law against discrimitation against gay people, and a series of anti-gay incidents has sparked international concern. They include picketing of Rosie O'Donnell's Family Holiday cruise, a ban on the screening of the film 'Brokeback Mountain', and the aquittal of a man who used 'gay panic' as an excuse to murder a man who was HIV-positive.
Human rights organisations often blame the colonial heritage of many Caribbean nations for their poor record on gay rights.
Whatever the reason, it seems they have a long way to come on gay rights, compared with the rest of the western world.
This being the case, would it not be best to avoid chartering gay cruises to this part of the world?
Or do you think these cruises should carry on, in the hope to make a difference by encouraging acceptance and tolerance?
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