While many divers long to
return to the Caribbean of old, the
Grand Cayman government has
taken a controversial step back in
time by refusing the cruise ship
Leeward permission to dock. Why?
It was chartered by a group of 900
gay men.
In a letter sent to the Norwegian
Cruise Line, Thomas Jefferson
(yup, that’s his real name), the
Cayman Islands’ Minister of
Tourism, wrote: “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.”
Rich Campbell, the California
tour operator who arranged the
charter, expected only a seven
hour stop in Grand Cayman.
“Sheer prejudice,” he said. “We’ve
been all over the Caribbean and
never had a response like this. We
were prepared to spend a lot of
money [estimated at $200,000]
and the shopkeepers and scuba
dive operators will be hurt by the
cancellation.”
A government spokesperson,
according to Reuters, said a gay
cruise ship called 10 years ago and
residents were shocked to see men
holding hands and kissing. Church
groups vowed never again to allow
a gay cruise ship to stop in the
Cayman Islands.
Lori Tucker, a Texas PR executive
representing the Cayman government,
said “This is an ultraconservative,
deeply religious country.
The bars close at midnight. There
are no bathing suits past the pool.”
David Smith, of the Washington
based Human Rights Campaign,
responded to Jefferson by saying
“Regardless of how you feel about
gay issues, [your decision] would
be regarded by most Americans as
unfair and discriminatory.”
Campbell said that the act will
have serious financial implications
for the Caymans. “They have
underestimated how many gay
travelers there are. A lot of
straight people will say, ‘Gee, if they’re that hostile to one group,
how do they feel about another?’ It
does not put a friendly spin on the
Caymans.”
To one Cayman hotel owner, as
Reuters reported, that didn’t seem
to matter. “Anyone who says that
the Cayman Islands does not
welcome gay people,” he said, “is
absolutely correct. Let them go to
other places.”
“Anyone who says that
the Cayman Islands does
not welcome gay people is
absolutely correct. Let
them go to other places.” |
So they headed off to Belize,
where the Tourist Board said it “has
no intention of deterring cruise
lines from visiting Belize based
solely on the sexual preference or
orientation of the passengers.”
Cozumel and Cancun were also on
the itinerary. Grand Cayman officials
said they would review their
policy.