Close to 100 persons participated in the march, calling for persons to be more tolerant of others usually discriminated against, including AIDS victims and gays.
The historic march was led by Reverend Elder Nancy L. Wilson, the openly lesbian presiding bishop of the International Movement of Metropolitan Community Churches. Wednesday's march for tolerance comes in the midst of criticisms being levelled against Jamaica, particularly entertainers for their lack of tolerance of gays. Reverend Wilson, who arrived in Montego Bay fresh from her meeting with US President Barack Obama, told RJR News that affected persons are now emerging from their shells. "This is an amazing event ... it's a day of standing up with people with HIV and AIDS, their families and friends and saying all people deserve justice and health care and dignity and to be free from stigma or hatred just because of who they are or who they love and because of their HIV and AIDS status," she said. Devon Camock, Manager of the Montego Bay Chapter of the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, said while the turn out was not as great as anticipated, they are ecstatic. "We were anticipating more persons, however, at the last minute some persons were late while some didn't show up. It's the first time we've had a tolerance walk and we're taking about tolerance for person who have HIV/AIDS, tolerance for persons who are hearing impaired, tolerance for person who are sex workers, tolerance for everybody as often times, we're not tolerant of each other," he said. RJR NEWS |
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