Major Anti-Gay Violence in Jamaica

[Rali_hates_Mondays]

I'm touched that you're deeply concerned for your brother and his partner in a country that is very repressive of gays. The only advise I can give to your brother is to get out now. It won't ever be safe for him and he'll have to stay in the closet but there are times when he needs come out in private (even then there will be rumours spreading around about his sexuality- he'll be used as a scapegoat for violence). Therefore it's a lose-lose situation for your brother and I'm sad to say that the only safe solution for your brother is to leave.

It is the most radical solution but he is living under extreme conditions.

 

[mega]

^ Yes. I've read that the only gay support group in Jamaica reccomends immigration.




http://www.jflag.org/

 

[boyminer]

Is the local government and police active in rounding up the anti-gay gangs and prosecuting them? I know one thing, if I was planning to visit as a tourist to Jamaica, I would change my travel plans. It appears to me that anyone could be a victim of this kind of criminal activity, including tourists.

 

[Paws]

^Is it really that bad in Jamaica...?

Of course it is. Have you never listened to reggae lyrics?

 

[josefjosef]

This just goes to show you that the left-wing dominated gay movement ignores left-wing hatreds - silence kills

 

[edale54115]

The really bad part about Jamaica is tha the natives have hardly any chance to leave. You need lots of money to buy your way out.

 

[mega]

Is the local government and police active in rounding up the anti-gay gangs and prosecuting them?

No, they don't. When a gay person is murdered in Jamaica, they call it a botched robbery. A Jamaican will tell you that their are no gay people in Jamaica...

 

[mega]

Despite whatever the Jamaica Tourist Board says, Jamaica is NOT a safe place to visit. Was there 5 years ago and was advised not to leave the resort after dark; was there last year and witnessed two day light robberies and one stabbing in Montego Bay -- all tourists, and the cops just stood there. If you do plan to visit there, leave your jewelry at home. It just attracts the vermin who prowl the streets looking for victims.

Mexico isn't much better.

Several years ago I saw a program about the Jamaican tourist industry and the multinational corps that run it. They discourage tourist from leaving the resorts by telling them horror stories about crime on the streets. The millions of dollars that are spent each year stay in the resorts and then is banked overseas and the average citizens never sees any of it. The tourist wonder why the crime rates are so high... It's a viscous cycle.

As for Mexico, I've been there many times and I think it's great. I have never felt threatened there.

 

[Soilwork]

If you're lucky enough to have family in Canada, send him to Toronto.

There's a HUGE Jamaican community there and a huge gay community and a rather large and active Afro-Carribean gay community complete with their own clubs and entries into the gay and Carribean parades every year.

Canada is very multicultural and Toronto is the city where being different makes you cool. He'll be not only safe there, he'll be welcomed for who and what he is.

AND once he's established residency, he can marry his partner and he can move up and be with him.

 

[Oden_grey]

I assure you that the whole of the Caribbean is just as anti-gay as Jamaica... in fact I think Jamaica is rather progressive compared to many other islands in that they actually have "gay bars".

If you are to boycott countries that don't protect gays from physical harm then you will have to include every Caribbean island. Quite frankly they'll take your money, but the moment you profess you are gay they'll run you off their island. In many Caribbean countries including my parents' island it is a crime to commit homosexual acts... the European Union has been opposed to such laws but are pretty powerless to stop it since the EU's declining interests in the Eastern Caribbean over the past 2 decades have pretty much dried up most all financial/political influence they previously had over their former colonies. And don't get me started about America's concern or lack thereof in the region (even under the magnanimous Clinton Administration).

Now with China, Japan, Libya, Syria and others increasing their investments across the Caribbean with no human-rights prerequisites, island nations really have no impetus to treat their gay citizens with humanity.

 

[wetdreamer]

I agree that MOST of the Caribbean is homophobic with Jamaica being the worst. I only go to St. Barth's which is a French colony and is perfectly safe and friendly to gays.

I understand that Curacao has advertised to the gay community for tourism. Not sure if they are sincere in their gay friendliness.

 

[slobone]

What was the island that recently refused to let a gay cruise disembark? I don't think it was Jamaica.

 

[Soilwork]

I think that was the Dominican Republic.

either way, I'll happily spend my tourist dollars in Hawaii or in another more gay-friendly place.

Besides, reggae now just makes me think of Paris Hilton and I wanna gouge out my eyes when I hear it now.

 

[greaves]

Thanks J for this brave post. I live and work in west London, which has a large Afro-Caribbean community, and I'm sure most of them would be dismayed to read your account of events in Jamaica. I went to this website to check out the legal situation:

http://www.sodomylaws.org/index.htm

Even on the beautiful island of St Lucia...25 years for male/male anal sex.

I wonder how many JUBbers have visited these islands without knowing these facts.

And, just a note about Mexico: It might not be the most gay-friendly country, but homosexuality has never been illegal there.

 

[wastingmymind]

No, they don't. When a gay person is murdered in Jamaica, they call it a botched robbery. A Jamaican will tell you that their are no gay people in Jamaica...

...I know a lot of Carribean people, and a lot of them hate Jamaicans and think they're the stupidest Carribeans around...

There is light. Like what Soilwork said, there's a somewhat strong queer Carribean community here.

 

[Hudson402]

I was in Jamaica in Feb 2005 as a student. I lived in Kingston for a few weeks and spent some time in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. There was a clear division of what areas of the country were safer for tourists than others. I cannot comment much on homosexual issues in the county, but I do remember Jamaicans dissmissing the revelance of a homosxual person in their country (Im not making a generalized statement about the poeple, just relaying what a few had said to me).

When I was in Kingston, it was obvious that it was not much of a tourist destination. I was called a fair number of racial slurs (because I was white) which made me feel slightly threatened. However, if I was going out at night at all, I was escorted by Jamaicans.
In cities like Montego Bay, since they are geared for tourists, seem much safer. I was able to walk around the area and feel just fine.

I wouldnt discredit Jamaica as a tourist destination as the majority of the countrys revenue is generated from tourism. However, I also dont condone the actions being taken against gays in the country. Its sickening that people have to resort to violence when they dont understand or accept something. *sigh* :-(
If you are going to go to Jamaica, just do becareful. The tourist areas seem safe enough. Just follow any procautions that you would if you were traveling to any foreign country.

 

[levenshulme31]

I seem to recall a case where a gay Jamaican was granted political asylum in Britain because he feared anti-gay violence in Jamaica and was able to satisfy the immigration court here that the Jamaican authorities did nothing to stop hate crimes and were often active participants.
But when so many dancehall songs celebrate violence towards gays, what can you expect?

 

[Oden_grey]

I think that was the Dominican Republic.

either way, I'll happily spend my tourist dollars in Hawaii or in another more gay-friendly place.

Besides, reggae now just makes me think of Paris Hilton and I wanna gouge out my eyes when I hear it now.

It was actually an island which often gets confused with the Dominican Republic...

The Commonwealth of Dominica. It is a much smaller, english speaking island, but perhaps one the most conservative in the region. The tourist ship was a ship full of lesbians attempting to make harbor on its western coast. The coast guard refused them harbor and they were forced to leave. Most people on the island cheered at the government's response against the tourist ship.