There’s a gay wave cresting in Santo Domingo. Although homosexuality remains taboo – and, in fact, illegal – in much of the Dominican Republican, more and more gay men are migrated to the urban capital to find relative acceptance.
Older gay men remain in the closet, explains one out resident, but the younger generation’s found solace in the city’s colonial district:
At the beginning, a lot of people judged us, but society is more accepting now. If people see you walking and holding hands, there is no problem. People may see you, but they won’t judge you. You can do what you want.
Sounds chill to us, but of course there’s more to the story.
Anthony Montgomery, who moved to New York City four years ago, definitely appreciates the social evolution, but points out that there are still no loud, proud public figures: “There are no [prominent] gay Dominicans. There are rumors about prominent gay people in the government, but there is no one who’s going to come out and say I’m gay.”
The dominant Catholic church no doubt has something to do with the linger taboo. Cardinal Jesús López RodrÃguez denounced the gay colonization of the colonial district: “We cannot allow that this place, the historical center of Santo Domingo, to be converted into the patrimony of foreign and Dominican degenerates.” Oh, please! We gays do more for neighborhoods than RodrÃguez can even imagine! Just look at Chelsea!
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oakling
Someone should study the arc of acceptance in different cultures around the world. It’s not the same everywhere, but there are definitely different patterns. It seems like if we could explore the path that it’s taken in countries where there are a lot of gay rights now, we could see what has made a big difference and, you know, pass that on to the good people in the Dominican Republic if they want to hear about what has worked for people in similar places!
Daniel
There are two Caribbean countries with similar names – Dominican Republic and Dominica. Residents of both are called Dominicans. The Dominican Republic does not have a sodomy law. Dominica does. The Dominican Republic has developed gay-owned resorts and hangouts. Dominica does not.
kevin57
These points are well taken. I’m currently in Antigua, right next to the island of Dominica. Very repressive social situation here. Almost everyone is closeted. Really stifling.
Gus
Homosexuality is not illegal in the Dominican Republic. It is illegal in Dominica– a completely separate country in the Caribbean. Daniel is completely correct on this notion.