Members JKane Posted March 24, 2012 Members Posted March 24, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIgiWu_ANSU I hope to hell cruise ship companies start bypassing this shithole and it tanks the local economy! Update:Retired police officer Dennis Jay Mayer and his partner, John Robert Hart, the gay couple arrested on the Atlantis Cruise ship in Dominica are speaking out about their experience, KTLA reports."I'm not going to implicate myself one way or another, but we were charged with being naked on the balcony," he said.A photo shows Mayer and Hart, under police escort, being led from court to go to a bank to withdraw money for their fine, as a crowd of residents watched. "I've never seen something like this," Mayer said. "I've never seen people chanting and protesting in the street. It was amazing."Mayer and Hart have been together 17 years, and told the station "We weren't trying to put on a show for people." Mayer says the judge called them "rogues and vagabonds and authorities wanted to have them medically evacuated to determine whether or not they had engaged in anal sex.The charge of "buggery" (sodomy) was dropped. Mayer and Hart say they were taunted all night long in a jail cell with no light, no water, and no toilet. Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/#ixzz1q4kjO3gk Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted March 24, 2012 Posted March 24, 2012 Why would they go out on the balcony naked and have sex in the first place in a foreign country? Gay cruise go there all the time and a lot of gays participate in the local excursions without any problem... I think partly it's their fault.. Dominica is a very conservative society and they should have known better. Quote
Members JKane Posted March 25, 2012 Author Members Posted March 25, 2012 I'm not sure that's what they did, they may've been naked together on their balcony, or may've been visible having sex within their private cabin. For all we know they could've just been kissing on *their* balcony... Either way, for a country to invade a ship and take people into custody--for something not illegal in the country the ship is flagged under--seems problematic, more so when it's something as loaded as sodomy. Even if it'd been public display of affection or sex on land, this seems like lose-lose for the country that chooses to prosecute, given the prevalence of homosexuality among cruise employees (and passengers) combined with the importance of cruise ships to the local economy! Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 I think better judgement could have prevailed here on their part. Unless of course they were trying to make a point. But there are better ways to do that in such a conservative country. Quote
Members OneFinger Posted March 25, 2012 Members Posted March 25, 2012 I think better judgement could have prevailed here on their part. Unless of course they were trying to make a point. But there are better ways to do that in such a conservative country. Below is a statement from Atlantis Cruise President Rich Campbell: We appreciate the comments on this board regarding the incident in Dominica yesterday, but would sincerely ask that most of you get the facts correct before condemning Atlantis or Dominica for what happened. Here are the facts: Yesterday morning around 9:30 am two of our guests were seen engaging in a sexual act outdoors on their balcony in full public view of the port and town. Not only did many of the residents witness the act, several of our guests saw this incident as well. The local authorities responded to a complaint by several residents. The two gentlemen were arrested on a misdemeanor charge of public indecency and detained overnight. They appeared in front of the local magistrate this morning, paid a small fine, and were released in full. Please understand that the complaint and subsequent arrests had nothing to do with the guests’ sexual orientation, nor was any “anti-gay” law invoked. These guests were engaged in behavior that is inappropriate in any port of call, or major city for that matter. The guests were never left on their own. We had both representatives from Atlantis and Celebrity cruises with them at all times during their ordeal and had our local representatives look after them last night. Furthermore, we worked closely with the US Embassy in Barbados to assure that their safety was always being monitored. http://instinctmagaz...irectory=100011 I've been on several Atlantis cruises. I think the most important point by Campbell was that the behavior of those arrested was unacceptable. Sexual acts, done in the view of the public, should not be tolerated. I was also impressed the Atlantis AND Celebrity made sure that those arrested were not just left alone to deal with the problem. IMHO, the actions of the guests were inappropriate. Atlantis and Celebrity should be commended for the way they handled the situation. Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted March 26, 2012 Posted March 26, 2012 That's what I thought. Gay cruises go there all the time and it's rare that gays get arrested. They even go on many excursions. Quote
Members JKane Posted March 27, 2012 Author Members Posted March 27, 2012 I am very glad to hear that the assumed worst was not in fact the case! Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 There is still a lot of disagreement about what really happened. The two guys say they weren't having sex; however, the complainers say they were. The cruise line is downplaying it and now the bloggers and the commenters are wondering why a gay cruise line would stop in an anti-gay port anyway. But I think it might be hard to find a port that isn't anti-gay in the Caribbean. Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 Well it is also suggested some passengers on the ship saw what these two men were doing... Dominica is a beautiful place to visit and I hope they behave next time. There is still a lot of disagreement about what really happened. The two guys say they weren't having sex; however, the complainers say they were. The cruise line is downplaying it and now the bloggers and the commenters are wondering why a gay cruise line would stop in an anti-gay port anyway. But I think it might be hard to find a port that isn't anti-gay in the Caribbean. Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 Well they finally admitted to "fucking on the balcony" in plain view of everyone. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/dominica-gay-cruise-couple-arrested_n_1522637.html?ref=gay-voices&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009 Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted May 17, 2012 Posted May 17, 2012 I knew it. But they still have not learned their lesson, that's unfortunate. Well they finally admitted to "fucking on the balcony" in plain view of everyone. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/dominica-gay-cruise-couple-arrested_n_1522637.html?ref=gay-voices&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009 Quote
