Can Canada’s Gay Community Do More To Aid Persecuted Sexual Minorities Around The World, Eastern Europe And Central Asia HIV/AIDS Pandemic , American Civil Liberties Union And Garden State Equality Demand Thoughtful Investigation Into Shooting Of Unarmed DeFarra Gaymon, Albuquerque Gay Community Calls Weekend Attack Hate Crime And Calls For Greater Police Protection

Recently, Canada’s Conservative Minister of Immigration Jason Kenney suggested that members of the country’s gay and lesbian community need to “step up to the plate” and aid in resettling refugees who face persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Nicole LaViolette, an associate professor of law at the University of Ottawa agrees, saying that “Mr. Kenney is right to suggest that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Canadians have yet to demonstrate tangible solidarity with persecuted sexual minorities around the world.”

Delegates at the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna heard that official indifference, systemic homophobic, and the criminalizing of drug addicts have created a HIV/AIDS pandemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

In New Jersey, the American Civil Liberties Union and Garden State Equality filed requests with Essex County law enforcement officials seeking specific documents related to the fatal shooting Friday of 48 year old DeFarra Gaymon by an uncover Essex County sheriff officer in an area of Newark’s Branch Brook park allegedly known as a gay cruising spot. Deborah Jacobs, the executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the ACLU said that “what we have here is a situation where an unarmed citizen ends up dead as a result of what would have been a minor crime. Considering the seriousness of the incident and many unanswered questions, this investigation demands the legitimacy that only an external review can provide.” Steven Goldstein, the chair of Garden State Equality, who is asking for information on the estimated 200 arrests for public sexual displays local authorities state they have made since 2005, said “we make no assumption as to the sexual orientation of the victim. Nor do we condone lewdness, but any sting operation targeting gay men or LGBT people specifically, or anyone perceived as such, is unconscionable – and as we strongly believe, illegal.”

Dozens from Albuquerque, New Mexico’s gay community met with local authorities Wednesday night, demanding that action be taken to increase protection in the wake of brutal gay bashing that took place Saturday night. The victim, who does not want to be identified, fearing relation, said that he and his partner were leaving the Effex Club and stopped to help a female on a nearby sidewalk when they were descending upon by five men yelling anti-gay slurs. The victims were pepper-sprayed, and his partner was kicked so badly that his kneecap is shattered and his leg broken. Police are still investigating and have asked any witnesses to come forward to help in identified the suspects. They have yet to determine whether the incident will be deemed a hate crime.