The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) has taken a swing at the church community.

Members of the local gay lobby group, in a release to The Gleaner yesterday, said recent comments made by local church leaders give the impression that they have little or no regard for the human rights and protection of individuals within the homosexual community.

"The latest response by the local church community to the issues affecting Jamaica's sexual minority group speaks loudly to the lack of humanity being extended by the Church," the release read.

J-FLAG's response comes just days after Jamaican church leaders rebuked the actions of the Florida-based Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), whose leaders recently staged protests outside several Jamaican consulates, calling for more 'gay-friendly' policies to be adopted by Jamaica.

The church community was, however, adamant that despite the demands made by the MCC, homosexuality would not be accepted as normal. Several church leaders indicated that they were not in support of mob violence against those who practised a gay lifestyle and that the Church was willing to provide counselling for those who wanted to change their ways.

Continued silence

However, when The Gleaner contacted the J-FLAG office, *Jason, who said he was the organisation's programme manager, said the Church's continued silence shows that members approve of such violence against homosexuals.

"The Church has not spoken out against the atrocities faced by the homosexual community and has waited until external forces have called for a more humanitarian approach towards dealing with the issue to come forward," said J-FLAG.

In a previous interview, Bishop Everton Thomas, of the Jamaica Pentecostal Union, told The Gleaner that the Church in no way supported the killing or assault of homosexuals and recognised that they had a right to life, as any other Jamaican.

*Name changed.