Gay Rights Activist Killed in Jamaica

A 26-year-old member of a Jamaican gay rights group was found stabbed to death Friday in what activists said could be a hate crime.

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays said the activist’s dead body was discovered behind an insurance company building in Kingston, according to the Associated Press. His name was being withheld pending notification of relatives.

J-FLAG called for a full investigation of the murder, saying that the man’s life was believed to have been under threat. Some question whether police will treat the crime seriously.

According to the AP, “Gays and their advocates say Jamaica is by far the most hostile island toward homosexuals in the already conservative Caribbean. They say gays, especially those in poor communities, suffer frequent abuse. But they have little recourse because of anti-gay stigma and a sodomy law banning sex between men.”