A Jamaican man lost his fight to stay in Toronto on Monday (Feb. 15), claiming that he would be "persecuted for his bisexuality" if he returned to the renown homophobic Caribbean country.
The 28-year-old man, Nickaldo Smith, said Jamaica has laws against bisexual and homosexual people. He has been convicted of assault with a weapon, and he was ordered to be deported in 2005, and has finally exhausted his appeals.
“The applicant asserted that he feared persecution in Jamaica due to his sexual orientation,” Judge Michel Beaudry wrote in his decision. “The applicant discovered he was bisexual after (girlfriend) Karen encouraged him to explore his sexuality.”
Smith testified that he began dating Karen in 2005 and then began a “sexual relationship” with John, a friend of Karen, whom he is still dating. That relationship ended quickly because Smith was put in detention in 2007.
Originally, immigration officials didn't accept Smith's claims of potential discrimination, saying he “doesn’t fit the profile of a gay man.” The officer refused to believe that Smith would face danger or torture if sent back.
The most recent ruling is that Smith will be deported as soon as travel arrangements can be made.
Jamaica is famously known for its homophobia and anti-gay sentiment, and a bisexual British diplomat was murdered there last September.
* Toronto Sun story about the deportation
* Bisexual British diplomat murdered in Jamaica, widespread homophobia is blamed
... these articles about bisexuality & crime:
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Oh, no! That's all we need, the Craigslist killer is bisexual (and more photos!)
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Suspect in murder of bisexual is sailor found dead in his cell
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Bisexual Lindsay Lohan to face arrest, hides out at her lover's place
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Shut up Ted Haggard—you give bisexuals a bad name
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Britain jails bisexual woman in first case of schoolgirl sex grooming
Bisexual reality star Tila Tequila hospitalized after brutal beating, boyfriend charged
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Comments
I am sure he appreciates you drawing more attention to his return. Freedom of press, yes! It's unfair to refer to a country as "homophobic." Just because it's a country rich in cultural and religious traditions that don't represent the contemporary Western views of "anything goes." People are entitled to their beliefs. If that's the case, America is homophobic. Don't be fooled. We still are it's just that money talks in the US it can buy a gay friendly image. For the record, there are more men in Jamaica that have "come out" in the past several years than in previous years. Many views have changed. Besides the Jamaican people have more to worry about than "batty men." Like Economics!
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