Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 19:42:00 -0600
From: ACTION ALERT Moderator 
Subject: ACTION ALERT: Cayman Islands

[ Moderator Note: This was found at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) website, at
  http://www.hrc.org/feature1/cayman.html  -- no email address was provided ]

*** SUMMARY ***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 7, 1998 

WASHINGTON -- The Cayman Islands is engaging in discrimination by deciding to
bar a chartered cruise ship from docking there because its clientele is gay, a
spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign said today. 

"Denying routine docking rights to a ship simply because it has gay passengers
aboard is not only economically foolish, it is morally wrong," said David M.
Smith, HRC's senior strategist and communications director. "The Cayman Islands
has effectively said, Travelers are not welcome here if they are gay.' A country
that relies on tourism as its primary staple for its economy has much to lose.
History has shown that unfriendly areas of the world that actively discriminate
against people bring international condemnation. We have registered a complaint
with the government and are exploring further action on this matter."

Atlantis Events Inc., a West Hollywood, Calif.-based tour operator that markets
to the gay community, chartered the ship from Norwegian Cruise Line. In a letter
to Norwegian, Thomas C. Jefferson, the Cayman Islands' minister of tourism,
commerce and transport, stated: "Careful research and prior experience has led
us to conclude that we cannot count on this group to uphold the standards of
appropriate behavior expected of visitors to the Cayman Islands, so we
regrettably cannot offer our hospitality."

The M/S Leeward, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, was slated to arrive in
Grand Cayman on Sunday, Feb. 1. The letter was sent to the port captain for
Norwegian in Miami.

"I am astonished that the government of the Cayman Islands would be so hostile
to a group of gay people as to keep them away from seven hours of touring and
scuba diving," said Rich Campbell, president of Atlantis Events. "If the intent
of tourism is to promote cultural understanding, then they have failed."

*** ACTION ***

The Human Rights Campaign is asking concerned citizens to contact the government
of the Cayman Islands at the following address or phone number, urging that the
decision be reconsidered:

     Hon. Thomas C. Jefferson, OBE, JP.
     Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Transport 
     Government Administration Building 
     George Town 
     Grand Cayman 
     Cayman Islands 
     Phone: (345) 949-7900, ext. 2419 

-- 
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