From: dm47@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Dirk McCall)
Subject: Queer Nation Action Against Carnival Cruise Lines
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 05:03:41 GMT


Once again, big business capitalizes on the Queer community and then abandons
responsability to human dignity by sticking it to the same! - The case of
Malcolm Chapman and Carnival Cruise Lines

After serving 17 years in the British Navy, Malcolm Chapman was discharged 
because he is gay. He went to work for Carnival Cruise Lines which caters two
cruises to a strictly gay clientele. He was employed with Carnival as a 
purser.
While in port in the Bahamas, Malcolm and a friend decided to go skinny-dipping
at around 4 A.M. A passer-by saw them from a distance while they were getting
dressed and thought they were having sex. Charges of same-sex acts in public
were brought against Malcolm which is a felony crime in the Bahamas punishable
by up to 20 years imprisonment.
Malcolm was imprisoned and his passport was held while the charges were filed.
Several times, the projected court date was postponed with the prosecution
using various delaying tactics including the fact that they couldn't produce a
witness.
During the time that Malcolm was incarcerated, his family, friends, and 
co-workers sought to raise money for his bail and defense. Carnival actively
discouraged his co-workers from assisting Malcolm and officially reprimanded
one of them.
The prosecution agreed to dismiss the intial charge when they realized that
they had insufficient evidence to convict under the sexual offenses act. The
attourney general's office of the Bahamas worked to resubmit charges against
him and the judge held his passport for the next ten days. Special police were
assigned to the airport, where they check passports upon exit as well as 
entrance to prevent his leaving Malcolm cooperated fully to prevent jeopardy
to his employment with Carnival.
Malcolm was compelled by financial circumstances to plead guilty to a lesser
misdemeanor of indecency. Nine weeks of incarceration to date was considered
sufficient time served for this charge. He then returned to Carnival for a new
assignment.
Carnival not only made no effort to help Malcolm, but actually made efforts at
preventing his getting justice. They led him to believe he would return to his
job, but informed him by telephone that he could not be "rehired" since he now
had a criminal record. Prior to this, they had never told him he had been 
fired.
Malcolm returned to live with relatives in England. He has been deprived of his
job, exhausted his savings, and robbed of his dignity. He would like to
continue this fight.
This case is especially repugnant since Carnival actively pursues the gay
traveller with its gay-oriented cruises. The Carnival Line certainly does not
warn its gay customers of the archaic and severe laws regarding homosexuality
in the Bahamas. The Bahamas has not provided any statute outlawing       
heterosexual sex in public areas.
The Advocate, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, and
Mr. Chapman's attorney all believe that this is a homophobic injustice on the
part of Carnival Cruise Lines. Both Queer Nation (NYC) and the International
Gay and Lesbian Association are mobilizing for action against Carnival. Speak
Out! Don't 
allow this kind of homophobia to go unchallenged! Express your opinion!

Call Carnival Public Relations Department at 1-800-325-1214
Call Carnival Reservations Department at 1-800-327-9501

Information assembled and compiled by Will Johnson and the Carnival Working
Group of Queer Nation (NYC). Contact Will at (914) 242-5348 or (914) 242-5349.

We are also trying to get in touch with any Queer Nationals in the greater
Miami-Ft-Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area. Please contact Will either at his
numbers or through e-mail at dm47@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu