Pilar Bush Director of Tourism	Aaron Chandler, Visitor

The Department of Tourism has issued an official apology to the man who was detained by police after publicly kissing his boyfriend at the Royal Palms bar last Wednesday night (30 April).

Meanwhile, Cayman Net News has learned that a full investigation is being launched into the incident, where an off-duty officer took tourist Aaron Chandler to the George Town Police Station after he kissed his boyfriend on the dance floor at the Seven Mile Beach bar.

Director of Tourism Pilar Bush subsequently issued an apology for the incident. “I apologize for your upsetting experience and want to assure you that the Cayman Islands is a welcoming jurisdiction to all people,” she wrote to Mr Chandler.

“What happened to you was an isolated incident, and is not representative of Cayman. We know that thousands of gay and lesbian visitors travel to the Cayman Islands every year and enjoy their vacation,” she continued, adding: “I am truly sorry to learn of what you went through during your visit.”

Mr Chandler has filed a complaint to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) over the incident, in which he recalled that after dinner at the Reef Grill he, his boyfriend, and his boyfriend’s sister and husband moved to the adjacent Royal Palms bar. While at the bar, he and his boyfriend were dancing together and “occasionally kissing”, he said.

“At approximately 11 pm, an unidentified woman came up to me and asked me to follow her to meet a ‘friend’ at the edge of the club. I went, but reluctantly,” Mr Chandler said.

The man requested that Mr Chandler walk with him out of the bar where they could speak alone.

“Not knowing him, and having heard numerous accounts of anti-gay violence on Grand Cayman, I refused. He continued to get me to walk out with him, saying that ‘I don’t want to create a scene here,’ but each time I refused.”

The man then identified himself as a police officer and, upon Mr Chandler’s request, displayed his badge. Then, according to Mr Chandler’s statement, the officer told him: “It is against the law for two people of the same sex to show displays of affection in public.”

Mr Chandler’s boyfriend then came over, and as the couple was about to leave, the men kissed one more time, after which the officer physically restrained Mr Chandler by the wrist.

“This police officer, upon seeing my boyfriend and I kiss, walked up to me, grabbed my arm and told me that I was going to be arrested. My boyfriend, his sister and his brother-in-law pleaded with the officer to let me go since we were on our way home, but the officer refused.”

Legal sources have confirmed that the Cayman Islands does not have any law on its books that prohibits same-sex couples from publicly displaying affection.

Mr Chandler also said in the complaint that a crowd of nearly 20 people from the bar pleaded with the officer to release him as he was “dragged” outside.

“I occasionally tried to gently squeeze my arm and hand out of his grip, but each time he told me, ‘Do not resist me’ and tightened his grip.”

Mr Chandler was then placed in a police car called in by the off-duty officer. On the drive to the George Town Police Station, he said the responding officer told him that “the law is stupid and a waste of time, but that he has to enforce it.”

Mr Chandler said he spent about an hour at the police station but was not questioned by an inspector and no charges were laid.

Before leaving the station, Mr Chandler said the off-duty police officer who detained him attempted to elicit a promise not to repeat his behaviour while on the island. Mr Chandler refused and was then driven by police back to where he was staying.

Mr Chandler, an active gay and lesbian rights advocate, is the Board President of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition in Washington DC and former Commissioner of the City of Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities.

The Wikitravel.org website already warns gay and lesbian travellers to avoid the Cayman Islands, saying, “The Cayman Islands is not a safe place for gay and lesbian tourists,” and adding: “It is best to avoid the Cayman Islands as a destination if you are gay or lesbian.”

trent@caymannetnews.com