By Hasani Walters—
Following harsh criticism from a Canadian gay rights group, Queen Ifrica has been removed from the line-up of the Rastafesta International Reggae Concert to be held at Downsview Park, Canada this Saturday.
Her removal comes days after the Jamaica Association of Gays and Lesbians Abroad (JAGLA) launched a Facebook campaign to prevent the entertainer from performing on the basis that her homophobic outburst at the Grand Gala was disrespectful to the gay community.
“The campaign was launched by the group JAGLA with the aim to use the international platform to raise awareness about the sad realities of LBGT (Lesbians, Bisexuals, Gays and Transgender) persons in Jamaica,” said a representative of JAGLA who asked not to be named.
“We also aim to lobby the international community in an effort to promote respect for human rights in Jamaica. We are guided by the mission of truth, love and respect,” he added.
The event is sponsored in part by the Toronto Public Library.
“Off the heels of her recent homophobic outburst days after the death of Dwayne Jones, our members felt disrespected that she would be allowed to perform in our country. It’s a gross double standard on her part, to even travel to Toronto, one of the most diverse countries in the world to perform for money,” the gay group representative said.
Dwayne Jones is the MoBay cross-dresser who was murdered earlier this month.
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