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THE HAGUE--Jamaica-born Maurice Tomlinson, one of the world's most prominent Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights and HIV activists, met with Members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday.

Tomlinson, along with Kenyan LGBT activists George Gachara, Jim Chuchu and Njoki Ngumi, was invited by Member of Parliament (MP) Sjoerd Sjoerdsma of the Democratic Party D66, on whose request the meeting of the Second Chamber's Permanent Committee for Foreign Affairs took place.

"All over the world we see growing anti-LGBT sentiments, from Russia to Uganda, and from Saudi-Arabia to Jamaica. LGBT Jamaicans live in constant fear. They are threatened, thrown out of their homes, or even worse: beaten or killed," said Sjoerdsma, who chaired Tuesday's meeting.

"D66 has invited Tomlinson to the Parliament to give our support to this prominent defender of LGBT rights in these difficult times and to assess whether the Netherlands can do more to sustain his case," Sjoerdsma said.

Sjoerdsma's two colleagues present at the meeting, Raymond Knops of the Christian Democratic Party CDA and Han ten Broeke of the liberal democratic VVD party, expressed deep appreciation for what they called the "brave work" of Tomlinson and Kenyan activists Gachara, Chuchu and Ngumi. Both pledged their support for the LGBT cause.

Tomlinson, who sought refuge in Canada after he received countless death threats following news of his marriage to another man, praised the proactive role of the Netherlands in supporting LGBT rights, also through the funding of various organisations that work in this field. He said the Netherlands has always welcomed LGBT's, also from other countries.

The Jamaican activist expressed his concerns about the VVD proposal to close the borders for asylum seekers. He said that LGBT's from the Caribbean who were not safe in their own country sometimes needed a safe haven abroad. "Sadly our people cannot go everywhere. The Netherlands and Europe have been welcoming for our people," he said.

One of Tomlinson's major challenges has been the deep-rooted homophobia in the Caribbean. He said that especially in Jamaica homophobia, hatred and violence against LGBT's was a huge problem. He criticised Jamaica dance hall artistes and religious fundamentalists in the United States for propagating homophobia.

Tomlinson has been contesting anti-sodomy and anti-gay laws in the Caribbean. Last week he challenged laws barring LGBT people from entering Belize and Trinidad and Tobago at the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice. He testified via video link so as not to break the country's immigration laws.

Encouraging authorities not to discriminate and use violence against LGBT's, the activist has also been instrumental in setting up sensitivity trainings for police. Training sessions already took place in Suriname and St. Lucia. Trainings are set for Barbados in May and St. Kitts in June this year.

Tomlinson participated at the Movies That Matter Festival in The Hague on Tuesday evening where he attended the screenings of 'The Abominable Crime,' a film that exposes the roots of homophobia in Jamaican society, reveals the deep psychological and social impacts of discrimination on the lives of gays and lesbians and the challenges of seeking asylum abroad.

The film captures the story of Tomlinson, a lawyer and lecturer of law in Toronto who received the David Kato Vision and Voice Award 2012 which recognises individuals defending LGBT rights around the world. At the Movies that Matter Festival, Tomlinson took part in discussions with the Dutch audience, stakeholders and politicians. (Suzanne Koelega)