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WORLD NEWSWednesday 30 March 2016

Dominicans see LGBT rights advancing with gay US diplomat

EZEQUIEL LOPEZ Congressional candidate Deivis Ventura, right, makes his case “Wally has become an even if they had mixed
Associated Press to a grocery store clerk as he campaigns in the Herrera neigh- iconic figure in the LGBT feelings about it, that over-
SANTO DOMINGO, Domini- borhood of Santo Domingo Oeste, Dominican Republic. movement because the all it was a net positive,”
can Republic (AP) — Deivis movement does have said Shawn Gaylord, a
Ventura is still just a candi- (AP Photo/Ezequiel Abiu Lopez) strong local figures,” said lawyer for the group who
date for the Dominican Re- prominent activist Alexan- works on LGBT issues. “The
public’s Chamber of Dep- coast. Latin American country. der Mundary. presence of Ambassador
uties, but he feels like he’s That they can run openly Brewster’s appointment Dr. Victor Terrero, director Brewster has really spurred
already scored a victory. as homosexuals is the sign angered some religious of the National Council on a larger conversation.”
The 42-year-old former of a cultural shift that activ- leaders and their followers HIV and AIDS, noted that The Dominican Republic
private school teacher, ists say has been helped by in the Dominican Repub- Brewster and his husband does not have laws crimi-
the first openly gay per- the presence of U.S. Am- lic, but it was an important have been guests of Presi- nalizing homosexuality as
son to run for his country’s bassador James “Wally” move for people who’ve dent Danilo Medina and numerous English-speaking
Congress, is delighted his Brewster, the first openly long felt marginalized in the ambassador has host- Caribbean countries do.
campaign has not en- gay top diplomat the Unit- the conservative Caribbe- ed many of the country’s But the U.S. State Depart-
countered overt hostility as ed States has posted to a an country. notable figures. ment said in its annual
it likely would have in the “The presence of the am- human rights report that
past. bassador has contributed non-governmental orga-
“It’s an important moment to the breaking of much of nizations who work with
for our country,” Ventura the stigma,” Terrero said. LGBT people in the country
said one recent afternoon “It has shown in a way that have reported widespread
during a break from cam- (homosexuality) is not a sin, discrimination in health
paigning with a transgen- nor is it something to get care, education, the jus-
der friend. “The fact that crazy about.” tice system and employ-
we have openly LGBT can- Representatives of U.S.- ment. Ventura says he was
didates in an important based Human Rights First dismissed from his teaching
political party speaks of said every person they job when he came out as
change.” met with before issuing a gay in 2008 and others tell
Another openly gay man, December report on the similar stories.
Yimbert Telemin, is running status of LGBT people in The Human Rights First re-
in the May election for city the Dominican Republic port said transgender peo-
council in La Romana, an mentioned Brewster in their ple are vulnerable to vio-
area of famed beach re- conversations. lence in the country, with
sorts on the southeastern “Everyone seemed to think, several dozen suspected
hate-crime murders since
US fines Terminix $10M in USVI toxic pesticide case 2006.
A bill that included an ar-
DANICA COTO ticide on the U.S. mainland thorities in the Virgin Islands rological damage while ticle prohibiting discrimina-
Associated Press and in its territories. found the chemical was their parents had to under- tion on the basis of sexual
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney used at 12 residential units go therapy. orientation failed in the
— The U.S. government lev- Ronald Sharpe said the in St Croix and another one Justice Department offi- Congress amid opposition
ied a $10 million fine on Ter- case highlights the need to in St. Thomas between Sep- cials said Terminix will make to a provision for sex edu-
minix companies Tuesday comply with environmental tember 2012 and February a good faith effort to re- cation in primary school.
over its workers spraying a laws. 2015. It also was used at the solve the family’s medical Terrero is coordinating
toxic pesticide at a U.S. Vir- “Tragically, the defendants’ Sirenusa Condominium Re- expenses through a sepa- an effort to get a bill that
gin Islands resort that nearly failure to do so resulted in sort in St. John last year. rate civil process as part of would bar any form of
killed a vacationing family catastrophic injuries to the The investigation be- a three-year probation. discrimination, including
last year. victims and exposed many gan after a Delaware They added that the crimi- based on sexual orienta-
The pest control company others to similar harm,” he family vacationing in nal investigation was con- tion, before lawmakers in
was charged with illegally said. St. John was poisoned tinuing. the coming weeks.
using methyl bromide at A Terminix spokesman said in March 2015. Authorities Federal authorities also are “The Dominican LGBT pop-
a St. John resort and 13 the company would issue a determined that Terminix investigating the use of ulation has woken up,” said
residential locations across statement soon. used methyl bromide at a methyl bromide in Puerto Telemin, a 36-year-old at-
the U.S. Virgin Islands in re- The Environmental Protec- vacation unit below the Rico. Earlier this month, torney and activist. “Peo-
cent years. The U.S. Justice tion Agency banned meth- one the family had rented. the EPA filed complaints ple aren’t afraid now.”
Department said Terminix yl bromide for residential Two teenagers were hospi- against a pest control com- Earlier this month, about 20
agreed to pay the fine and applications in 1984, but talized in critical condition pany and two businessmen businesses came together
has stopped using the pes- an investigation by U.S. au- and have permanent neu- in that U.S. territory. to form the first LGBT cham-
ber of commerce, with
support from USAID.