Bahamas Brokeback ban spurs gay backlash

NASSAU - The Bahamas has banned the gay cowboy movie Brokeback Mountain, triggering a new controversy over the island chain's reputation for homophobia.

Gay rights groups and other critics have called on the Plays and Films Control Board to think again, so far to no avail.

The award-winning 2005 film got the thumbs-down from the board after a request for it to be banned from the Bahamas Christian Council.

Last September, Miss Teen Bahamas was stripped of her title after she admitted to being a lesbian.

In 2004, Christian groups led a protest against a cruise ship, which had docked with 1600 gay passengers. Four years ago, employees went on strike at a resort cay after a ship of gays arrived.

- REUTERS