Jamaica’s Attorney General has hit out at the US Embassy for daring to fly a Pride flag after the shocking massacre in Orlando.
49 people were killed and 53 injured in the shocking terrorist hate crime attack over the weekend, which saw a gunman open fire inside The Pulse gay bar in Orlando, Florida.
Across the world, countries mourned the victims by flying the Pride flag at half-mast and lighting up buildings in rainbow colours.
In Jamaica, where homosexuality is illegal and extreme homophobia is still commonplace, the decision of the US embassy to fly a rainbow flag has stirred up anti-gay sentiment.
The country’s Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte had responded: “I strongly condemn #OrlandoNightClubShooting but find it disrespectful of Jamaica’s laws to have #RainbowFlag flown here. #MyPersonalView.”
The US Embassy diplomatically replied: “We’re listening. Explain the legal reasoning? It was an attack of terror and hate, targeting the LGBT community”.
After being challenged over her views, the politician claimed her comments had been “misconstrued”.
Senator KD Knight condemned the comments, telling the newspaper :”I thought that in all the circumstances, whatever one may think in terms of the gay community, the fact is that it was insensitive to speak the way she did.
“The US Government will be surprised that the attorney general of Jamaica does not know that the land on which the embassy is built or located is regarded as a part of US soil. They are free to do as they wish there.” Cont.
Story from - Pink News
Image from - YouTube
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