By ROGAN M. SMITH, Guardian Senior Reporter, rogan@nasguard.com

A prominent member of the gay community believes that the brutal murders of three well-known Bahamian men may be related and is urging police officials not to turn a blind eye to justice just because the men were homosexuals.

Erin Greene, spokesman for the local gay advocacy group the Rainbow Alliance, said she was very concerned about what she described as a "recent trend of gay slayings".

Greene said these recent murders "speak to the high levels of violence in The Bahamas as a whole".

Well-known anti-AIDS activist Wellington Adderley was found dead in his Delancey Street apartment on Monday. There was reportedly no sign of forced entry.

According to reports, his throat was severely slit.

International handbag designer, Harl Taylor and College of The Bahamas dean and lecturer, Dr. Thaddeus McDonald were also both brutally slain late last year. Police have yet to file any charges in connection with those killings.

Both men's homes were located in the same vicinity and there was also no sign of forced entry.

"Due to the vicious nature of these crimes and the fact that these are three prominent men who obviously knew each other and may or may not have socialized with each other we are not excluding that the murders could be related," Greene said.

"Whether it's a spree, there's no evidence to say that there is a person or a group of persons who are randomly targeting gay men or prominent gay men, we can't say that. But, it speaks to the high levels of intolerance of homophobia and the general levels of dysfunction in personal relationships."

Greene said the gay community hopes that police officials do not rule out the fact that the three murders may be related.

However, police officials recently shot down suggestions that the cases could be related. Officials have said there is so far nothing to suggest that the murders are linked.

"I'm more concerned about the fact that they may have known each other, that they may have moved in the same circles rather than the proximity between their residences. That is what concerns me more," she said.

"The truth is, there has always been concern about the level of violence directed towards the gay community," she said.

"These three men are not the first gay men that have been killed in The Bahamas and they are not the first three prominent gay men that have been killed in The Bahamas and they're not the first three gay men who have been killed and their murders have not been solved. Although it's very early to speak to Wellington Adderley's death."

Greene said she wants police to do whatever it takes to find the person or persons responsible for "these vicious murders."

"There is anecdotal and empirical evidence that shows that violent crimes towards homosexuals are treated differently when compared to crimes towards heterosexuals. It's too early to say whether the lack of resolution to these crimes is due to a conspiracy within the Police Force or the very nature of crime solving," she said.

"In this country and this region we're quick to say that (these types of) crimes are perpetuated by people from within the (gay) community. The truth is a number of crimes are committed by people who identify themselves as straight."

Greene issued a warning to the gay community, cautioning members to be safe.

"Be honest with yourself, be honest with your loved ones, your partners and your family because that is the way that we begin to create safe environments," she said.