Worldfocus: Gays in Jamaica worship in underground church
I was the correspondent on this video story, which aired on Worldfocus.
Jamaica is often said to hold the world record for the most churches per square mile. There’s a public place of worship for almost everyone. Unless you’re gay. If you are, you must worship in secret.
Correspondent Lisa Biagiotti, producer Micah Fink and director of photography Gabrielle Weiss report on the secret underground church that is welcoming gay men and women to practice their faith. Reverend Robert Griffin, an American priest, leads the secret church and believes religion is at the heart of Jamaica culture of homophobia and the time has come to reinterpret the Bible for modern times.
For more information on homophobia and HIV in Jamaica, visit The Glass Closet, a multimedia project produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
Worldfocus: Violence and venom force gay Jamaicans to hide
I was the correspondent on this video story, which aired on Worldfocus.
In Jamaica, anti-sodomy laws are still punishable for up to 12 years in prison. And society is not ready to tolerate openly gay lifestyles.
Correspondent Lisa Biagiotti, producer Micah Fink and director of photography Gabrielle Weiss report on the dark side of Jamaica’s anti-gay violence and attitudes and explore the ideological beliefs that perpetuate a culture of homophobia.
Worldfocus: Caribbean HIV rate ranks second to sub-Saharan Africa
I produced this interview for Worldfocus: Caribbean HIV rate ranks second to sub-Saharan Africa
In terms of global HIV prevalence rates, the Caribbean region ranks second only to sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 230,000 people are living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. And in some places — like Haiti and the Bahamas — AIDS remains one of the leading causes of death.
Daljit and Julia also look at the role women play in the epidemic. Women make up half of the adults living with the virus in the Caribbean, and are infected by “bridging populations” — bi-sexual men who are leading double lives. Julia raises the possibility of linking women’s rights with gay rights to tackle the spread of the epidemic.
The Glass Closet is a multimedia reporting project produced by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and Worldfocus. It explores the themes of HIV, AIDS and homophobia in Jamaica.
Worldfocus: Reversing the stigma of HIV in Jamaica
I was the correspondent of the video story Ida’s story: Reversing the stigma of HIV in Jamaica, which aired on Worldfocus on Sept. 23, 2009.
Ida Northover is known fondly in her community as “Miss Gene.” She is a volunteer community leader battling stigma and discrimination in one of the poorest inner city communities on the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. Miss Gene’s leadership has proven to be a successful model for encouraging tolerance and support for people living with HIV.
Correspondent Lisa Biagiotti, producer Micah Fink and director of photography Gabrielle Weiss report on how Jamaica’s national AIDS program is targeting community leaders like Ida Northover to educate people about HIV and change the stigma surrounding the disease.
For more on HIV, AIDS and homophobia in Jamaica, visit The Glass Closet, a multimedia project produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
Worldfocus: Jamaica’s battle against AIDS fought in the shadows
I was the correspondent on the video story Jamaica’s battle against AIDS fought in the shadows, which aired on Worldfocus on Sept. 22, 2009.
Jamaica may be on the verge of losing its battle against the AIDS epidemic because of deeply entrenched anti-gay attitudes and laws.
Correspondent Lisa Biagiotti, producer Micah Fink and director of photography Gabrielle Weiss report from the front lines of Jamaica’s battle against HIV and AIDS, a war waged in the shadows.
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