protests follow ‘brokeback’ ban in bahamas: gay rights groups calling on control board to reverse decision

Source: EURweb

April 3, 2006: Folks in the Bahamas wanting to check out “Brokeback  Mountain” must travel to another country to watch the film after the island’s government decided to ban it from theatres.      

Gay rights groups are charging the Plays and Films Control Board with discrimination and censorship, and calling on the government body to reverse its decision to prohibit theatres from showing the film about a love affair between two gay cowboys.      

"You have a group of people who are telling grown men and women what they can and cannot watch," Philip Burrows, a theatre director in the island chain, told The Associated Press. "I cannot understand denying people the right to make their own choices."       

Ads for the film were already hung at theatres in Nassau Friday when the board announced its ban at the request of the Bahamas Christian Council.       

"The board chose to ban it because it shows extreme homosexuality, nudity and profanity, and we feel that it has no value for the Bahamian public," Chavasse Turnquest-Liriano, liaison officer for the control board, said Wednesday.       

Mainland China has also banned the film, and Turkey has restricted viewing to those over 18. The long buzzed-about movie won three Oscars, including best director for Ang Lee.