tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141703.post5189746157280396945..comments2024-02-21T17:03:05.861-08:00Comments on Petrelis Files: Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08359712473083091475noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141703.post-42344541329304836322009-04-19T18:22:00.000-07:002009-04-19T18:22:00.000-07:00Dear LGBT Bar Owners of San Francisco
I am workin...Dear LGBT Bar Owners of San Francisco<br /><br />I am working with Michael Petrelis and other community activists in SF and<br />NYC to encourage a bar and restaurant boycott of Jamaican products, Myers's<br />rum and Red Stripe beer, to protest violence against the LGBT community in<br />that country.<br /><br />During the past two years, there have been 140 reported acts of violence<br />including murders of individuals who are Gay, Lesbian or Transgendered.<br />The Jamaican government has not taken a stance to protect the rights and<br />safety of these individuals.<br /><br />Enclosed is an opinion article, authored by Michael, that appeared in the<br />Bay Area Reporter.<br /><br />Before even making this formal request, I have heard from a number of<br />establishments, including Cafe Flore, The Midnight Sun, Buck Tavern, Lime,<br />Catch and BOC, among others -- that they will not serve these products<br />until significant actions are taken by the government of Jamaica to end<br />violence against their LGBT Community.<br /><br />We are producing a list of participating establishments, so please let me<br />know if we can add you to our list. In the coming weeks I am also hoping<br />to create events promoting alternative rums from countries that recognize<br />the importance of protecting their LGBT citizens.<br /><br />It should be noted that the Jamaican LGBT organization, J-FLAG has written<br />to say it has a positive relationship with Red Stripe. We are pursuing<br />discussions with their distributor and if they can be determined to play a<br />positive role we will certainly advise you and consider our approach.<br /><br />Feel free to give me a call (415) 554-6968.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />BEVAN DUFTY<br />San Francisco Board of SupervisorsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08359712473083091475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141703.post-90485559031372349272009-04-19T18:19:00.000-07:002009-04-19T18:19:00.000-07:00My letter to JFLAG:
Many activists in USA are sta...My letter to JFLAG:<br /><br />Many activists in USA are starting to wonder if Human Rights Watch's Scott<br />Long was the ghostwriter behind JFLAG's recent anti boycott statement.<br /><br />Why? Because the JFLAG statement is very similar to statements Scott Long<br />anonymously penned for gay Iranians a few years back.<br /><br />I sure would like to know who really wrote the JFLAG statement.<br /><br />Michael<br /><br /><br />The JFLAG reply:<br /><br />Michael,<br /><br />This is just another bit of evidence that you have scant regard for the<br />intelligence of the Jamaican People.<br />This statement comes from the the heart of J-FLAG and its local leaders. It<br />is clear by your actions that you are treating us and our views with great<br />disrespect and you present yourself as careless and are using this boycott<br />as an opportune moment for you and your partners to benefit at the expense<br />of others.<br /><br />Respectfully,<br />Jason McFarlane<br />Programmes Manager<br /><br /><br />Then came the reply from Supervisor Dufty:<br /><br />Jason<br /><br />Thank you for including me on your response.<br /><br />Let me speak to you personally. I serve in the seat held by Harvey Milk on<br />the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.<br /><br />What you might not know is that during the period from 1979-1984 I served<br />as a Legislative Aide to Congressman Julian Dixon, an African American<br />Member of Congress, who served on the Appropriations Subcommittee on<br />Foreign Assistance.<br /><br />My mentor and boss, Congressman Dixon focused extensively on issues<br />affecting the Caribbean and Africa. I have traveled to Jamaica six times<br />for congressional business, with the Congressman, and also for pleasure<br />when I lived in Washington, D.C. I was incredibly active as a staff member<br />working to blunt the legislative efforts by Congressional Republicans to<br />reduce aid to Jamaica because of the election of PM Manley. Over many<br />years I visited USAID projects in Jamaica and sought stronger ties between<br />our countries. So my actions supporting a boycott do not come easily --<br />because of my love and affection for the people of Jamaica, your proud<br />history and beautiful country.<br /><br />At the same time, I have been deeply troubled that in recent years Jamaican<br />politics and culture have become increasingly homophobic and the acts of<br />violence against members of the LGBT community have gone unchecked by<br />police and government institutions.<br /><br />If there are reasons to consider a positive record with respect to Red<br />Stripe, I am willing to consider that and would like to meet with any<br />U.S.-based representatives for Red Stripe.<br /><br />Michael Petrelis is an amazingly effective activist. Without title,<br />organization or wealth, Michael champions causes that many of us were<br />slower to embrace. In recent weeks, Michael sparked worldwide attention on<br />the murders that have taken place in Iraq affecting Gay men. He has also<br />challenged us to harness the economic clout of America's LGBT community to<br />wake up Jamaican manufacturers and tourism sector that passivity in the<br />face of violence and murder against LGBT Jamaicans cannot be met with<br />passivity.<br /><br />I welcome any opportunity to build bridges and build positive change in<br />Jamaica. If I can be of service, please call upon me. I am seeking to<br />meet soon with Jamaica's Honorary Consul General, Dr. Newton Gordon.<br /><br /><br />Bevan Dufty<br />Member, San Francisco Board of Supervisors<br />City Hall, Room 268<br />San Francisco, CA 94102<br />(415) 554-5646Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08359712473083091475noreply@blogger.com