Church leaders on Tobago have called for a boycott of Elton John's upcoming set at the island's Plymouth Jazz Festival, after their request for a ban on his appearance was rejected by the Trinidad & Tobago House Of Assembly. As previously reported, the Christian pastors are concerned that his gig at the event will somehow have an effect on the "impressionable minds" of the island's young people, and turn them gay. Sigh.
As also previously reported, festival organiser Anthony Maharaj protested: "His band has performed in every country around the world. He is not coming here to preach about what lifestyle people should have."
Now Amnesty have voiced their concerns over the attempts to prevent the singer's appearance, the organisation's media director Mike Blakemore saying: "People have a right to be who they are, free from persecution, whether they're a pop star or a roadsweeper. Discrimination against gay people is completely prohibited by international human rights law".