Jamaica doesn’t have the best same-sex track record.
Who could forget when Prime Minister Bruce Golding insisted there’s no place for gays in his government? And, of course, there’s the sick history of homophobic attacks, like when a mob attacked a transvestite last year.
Though many Jamaicans hope to keep their island clear of queers, scholar Dr Donna Chambers insists the nation needs to clean up its act, particularly in terms of tourism:
Tourism stakeholders, the lecturer declared, must determine if they could continue to ignore this market estimated at US$65 billion, or five per cent of the annual US$1.3 trillion global tourism market.
“Can Jamaica afford not to market itself to lucrative gay travel in an increasingly competitive global tourism market?” Chambers [asked].
Obviously that’s rhetorical.
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Chambers went on to say that Jamaica can only foster gay tourism if it creates a queer-inclusive space. She then begged the question, “Can the economic imperative precipitate cultural change?” Considering that the colonial economy helped engender Jamaica and others’ anti-gay attitudes, we’d say “yes.” Can they in today’s cultural environment – and without subjugation? Probably not as easily.
ousslander
Yes, blame the British for it’s all their fault the governmeent of Jamaica sanctions mob killings of gays.
now the Jamacains don’t have to be responsible for anything.
Ian J UK
What? 45 years after we left, everything is still our fault? 45 years and you have done nothing?
That’s just a cowards excuse for doing nothing!
Queen
Let them and their homophobic island go to hell. They won’t be getting any of my money.
retrofit71
I was a click away from booking a vacation for my boyfriend and I in Jamaica, until the uneasy sense I couldn’t shake from reading all that’s on the WWW about the homophobic island kicked in and made me think better of it. We had a lovely time, and spent lots of money in Mexico.
im2bused
It will be cold day in hell when my hard earned vacation dollars go to Jamaica. There is no good reason to go to some homophobic island hell, when so many other options include gay owned and operated business here in the USA.
CHURCHILL-Y
“Jamaica Needs Gay Tourism
“Jamaica doesn’t have the best same-sex track record.”
“Considering that the colonial economy helped engender Jamaica and others’ anti-gay attitudes”
LOL, I don’t known which of the three should be the recipient of Queerty’s idiotic statement of the day. Honestly I couldn’t agree more with Ousslander, Ian J UK and all others so far, to blame their stupid and murderous homophobic ways on colonialism is getting LAME and OLD they murder Gay people on that Ape backwater because they choose to do so! Had they had so much reverence and endearment for colonialism all the colonial laws would’ve been intact and currently observed and they wouldn’t been an independent(and I’m going to use this term loosely when referring to such a subhuman inhabited place) nation. But to all of those who still think of going to any majority Black inhabited Caribbean island here’s what awaits you(images are from KILL BATTYMAN in Jamaica):
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/images/lynching.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c70/TerranceDC/472c0ea2.jpg
CHURCHILL-Y
That Island was safer for Gay people when the British and pirates were the ones in charge of it.
Tom
I would consider going to Jamaica because it is the birthplace of one of my inspirational heroes, reggae legend Bob Marley. People who generalize and condemn Jamaica over the statements of one government official and a few homophobic citizens obviously have other issues, hypocritical being just one. We have some of the same crap here in the US where the Republicans favor admending the US constitution to ban gay marriage/civil unions and gays are murdered all across the country just for being gay. So what some people there don’t like gays, identify one country in the world where that is not true. If your test for where you go is that everyone loves the gays and there is no violence or discrimination, then you probably never leave your house.
Tom D Frog
Similar “Colonial” homophobia pops up all the time in India as well. Africa homophobia also has roots in their Colonial era laws and religions. Just look at all the bickering in the Anglican Church.
I would only dare venture to one Caribbean island and that is Puerto Rico. No, they are not perfect, but then no place on earth is perfect. At least there my US Citizenship affords me some protection and recourse if something happened.
There are good People in Jamaica. Friends of mine travel there often (str8 friends). It is the people of power and authority who keep me from going there (much like the state of Texas). Most Jamaican immigrants I meet in the US are wonderful people with a rich culture and down to earth love that anyone would be blessed to earn. I treasure their friendship. They also have little desire to go back. That speaks volumes.
t.
Bob R
I don’t think I ever met a Jamaican that wasn’t a homophobe and very proud of it. And they all expressed no remorse at any violence that was visited on a gay person, here or in Jamaica. And I knew and worked with many Jamaicans in South Florida. You could not pay me enough money to go to Jamaica or almost any other Caribbean island. Tourist dollar? Never from me. I won’t even touch Jamaican rum. Fuck ’em all and let them rot on that barbaric island of theirs.
David
#8,
Tom,
My firm has defended several Jamaicans seeking asylum and it’s more pervasive than just a few officials.
“People who generalize and condemn Jamaica over the statements of one government official and a few homophobic citizens obviously have other issues, hypocritical being just one.”
You should research the issue better. It’s serious. People die or are scarred,or their families are hurt in retaliation. One government official it isn’t. It’s the culture. One of my closest friends doesn’t visit family in fear of getting hurt. It’s not a light issue. It’s not one love. Hypocritcal are those that gloss over the truth and passively accept the horrors as exagerrations. Stonings happen often. Jamaica obviously isn’t alone. Things happen here in the U.S. too but we’ve got an ability to punish here the aggressors. It’s practically state-sponsored there. A huge difference.
Ted B. (Charging Rhino)
Just like Port Royal 200-years ago, the entire island can just sink beneath the waves. For that matter, there’s hardly an island in the Caribbean that’s gay-friendly. Good thing it’s still hurricane season…there’s still hope for a good cleansing.
Trenton
Comments 1, 2, 4…
They are still accountable for their own actions, but Queerty is correct in stating that the current climate of homophobia took shape in reaction to colonial rule, much the same as in other countries. It doesn’t make me sympathize with them any more; there are more fruitful ways to sped one’s time and energy than fretting about inveterate bigots five thousand miles away. Better to focus on creating a sanctuary here and let those who are familiar with the culture or who descend from it work toward a solution…or just help others escape and let the rest of them self-destruct.
Tom
Good thing AIDS is becoming drug resistant…there’s still hope for a good cleansing.
Do you see how moronic some people sound when their comments are so braodly applied to an entire group of people?
The evil in the hearts of men really has no limits.
tallskin
Um, dunno if you folks in the US are aware of the news here this side of the pond, but press here have been full of news of two british couples (straight, cos no gay couple in their right minds would go anywhere near the caribbean or bahamas) recently raped/murdered etc etc
First case was of a newly married doctor shot dead and her husband also shot, died later, in a sadistic killing on their honeymoon.
Second was of an elderly retired white british couple on holiday, she was sadistically raped and he bashed, skull fractured and jaw broken etc etc
I am reliably informed that the UK is currently dumping convicted criminals from that area of the world back there for them to sort out. A lot of the scum were brought up in the UK and have never lived in the caribbean/ bahamas, so they only life they know is criminality – refused to use the education and opportunities offered to them here in Britain etc.
Trenton
Good god…Thanks for the news, Tallskin. It’s utterly disgusting to here, but helpful…
I’m thinking any new copies of Cool Runnings should be sold with warning labels: “May induce the delusion that Jamaica is a friendly, peaceful place where they won’t kill you as quick as look at you.”
But what am I saying…? Who the hell would buy Cool Runnings anyways?
Trenton
here = hear… My most loathed typo of all. I need a drink.
retrofit71
Trenton, you also had a typo in post 13; sped=spend. But what I really don’t understand about that post is how it’s “Better to focus on creating a sanctuary here”.. Last I checked there is no white sand and palm trees down at Christopher St. Piers. I guess we are stuck with Palm Springs and Key West for our beachy vacations.
James
Some posters just don’t have the balls to say no to a vacation in Jamaica! I guess you don’t keep up on current events and if you do, your short term retention is gone. Hate is Hate and Jamaica does not welcome Gays. It has been made perfectly clear to those of us who don’t wear rose colored glasses. Key West is as far south as I go if I want a tropical vacation. No passport required either.
Lady P
Bob R, you are extremely ignorant. Just because you haven’t met a Jamaican who doesn’t hate gays do not mean they don’t exist.I am a proud Jamaican woman. I don’t believe in violence towards gays, and I believe everyone should love who they love without being punished or harmed for it.
I can tell by your scathing comments that you are a true a**hole. Maybe the Jamaicans you met didn’t really have a problem with your orientation; it was probably just your horrible personality.
Kid A
I still think that coming out to a truly homophobic Jamaican was one of the bravest things I’ve done. I was only able to do it because he was a wonderful person otherwise. It all turned out fine, but I was shitting myself for a bit there…
I think I helped by putting a familiar face on something he hated in principle. I think that’s one of the most powerful social tools we have, just being out.
Dairyqueen
You couldn’t pay me to vacation there. Why would I want to go to such a homophobic island and not be able to relax. Fuck that.
Trenton
Retrofit:
Harumph. So I need a drink and a spellcheck…although “sped” is just a missed key and here/hear is homonym hell. More to the point…
“Last I checked there is no white sand and palm trees down at Christopher St. Piers. I guess we are stuck with Palm Springs and Key West for our beachy vacations.”
When I say sanctuary, I mean a social sanctuary, not beaches or resorts. Perhaps I was glib; perhaps you understood and are being facetious. Either way, my point was that having awareness of this is important, but wagging tongues and fingers doesn’t do us much good. Those who have experienced the oppression there might be candidates to enact change, but I find it a rather hopeless mess which we can’t possibly hope to fix, especially while we are fighting our own battles here.
In other words, there is no sanctuary in places like that, and no hope that tourist dollars will do anything but feed the hegemons who take the lion’s share of those profits. Its best to create go about our business and create a better climate here here to which the lucky few can escape and regroup before taking the fight back to their native land…or saying goodbye for good.
BobP
I think Tom should take a little trip to Jamaica, if he’s so enamoured by it. He could share his homosexuality with the natives and get his head bashed in or maybe his throat slit open and his tongue pulled out, which, by the way, is know as a Jamaican neck-tie by law enforcement.
Don’t fool yourself, my friend, it’s got the highest murder rate in the WORLD. Lovely God fearing people, indeed.
No Gay dollars for Jamaica, ever.
My heart goes out to gay people who can’t manage to get the hell out of there.
mark
Jamaica….uh….F*CK NO!
traveling there is slightly less likely than openly dating an Iranian college student inside Iran
Bob R
Lady P, do you spout your love of gays and liberal love philosophy in Jamaica? Or are you ensconced safely else where? The Jamaicans I worked with had no idea of my sexual orientation, not all gay folks are obvious or open. I think if they had known I was gay, there would have been talk, but probably not to my face or within my hearing. I’m sure there are Jamaicans who are not homophobic. I’m also sure they keep it to themselves if on the island. I may be an asshole and ignorant, and since you don’t know me, your assuming that the same way I make my assumptions about “all Jamaicans”. So your perception of me is I’m ignorant and an asshole. Reading many of the other posts, I’m in good company. If you’re a proud Jamaican, then go to the island and try to educate your ignorant countrymen. Meantime, my perception of you is you is you’re an obnoxious bitch. So who is right?
brian
“Jamaica can only foster gay tourism if it creates a queer-inclusive space.” So it will be OK for me to go if I stay in the queer zone? It would be interesting if Jamaica would start this segregation policy. I guess it would help out the Jamaicans who are gay.
a proud trini
I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, and I know lots of gay people there who are leading comfortable and successful lives. Tobago is a beautiful island with fantastic hotels, Trinidad is more vibrant, urban and festive. We’ve got a thriving arts and cultural scene, and there are definitely gay clubs that are popular. You just need to ask around.
Of course when traveling anywhere you should do your research to make sure you’re in a safe neighborhood — but if you’re looking for a Caribbean island to visit, I think you would face less danger, judgment, and harassment in parts of Trinidad and Tobago. Just my two cents.
Mr C
Amen proud Trini,
Please let some of these people know that all of the Carribean isn’t HOMOPHOBIC and to ones that are SHAME ON THEM.
There are many places (islands)that are beautiful that are HOMOPHOBIC even places right here in the GOOLD OLE’ U.S.A!
John
Jamaica and it’s ignorant witch-hunting population can rot in hell. I know a gay Jamaican man who owned a small hotel that he advertised in gay trades on the east coast. The towns people found out and smashed his windows, tore the place apart and chased him down the street to his aunts house who helped him escape by car. This man was 45 and lived there all his life, then one day the town completely turned on him and tried to kill him.
Jamaica blames their lack of work and poor conditions on gay people and anything else “western”, not the fact that they mate too much and bring more children into a land that has no work or resources to support them. Idiots deserve to destroy themselves and their society.
Charley
Reggae is not gay. They believe in the words of their saviour, Halle Salasse, the most dangerous homophobe that ever lived, surpassing Jesse Helms. Sandals, the resort does not allow same sex couples. Jamaica, a beautiful island, is hell for gay people.
MasterD
Its really sad that in 2008 we even have to deal with this. Unfortunately these people are very afraid and this is expressed thru hate and violence. I have heard it is beautiful there but when I take a vacation I dont really want to fear for my life.
go figure
Sean S.
Well I can safely knock off half of the comments here for being ridiculously racist, and presuming, for some odd reason, that there is an intrinsic, as opposed to cultural reason, for Jamaica’s homophobia. Obviously, like the homophobia of many countries around the world, its bolstered and fed by the dominant culture. This doesn’t let individuals off the hook, but it also means that it not a lost cause either.
Obviously how change comes about in Jamaica, or in any country, is something that those who are GLBT in the country have to fight and struggle for themselves as only they would know how best to convince the people around them. That doesn’t mean they have to stay there; certainly I wouldn’t begrudge anyone who decided to simply dip out of the country and flee to more tolerant digs somewhere else. And I’m not quite sure which is better; boycotting them, or spending money in an effort to show the value of gay tourism. As a person who lives in a place that recently saw its own gay tourism snafu (South Carolina) I’m on the fence as to whether or not a boycott hurts or helps the local gay population. Personally I think its worth it to go to places that may be less welcoming, and then frequenting or spending money in hotels, bars, etc in the area that are welcoming. It would be great to see more out of towners in Columbia’s gay bars.
MJ
And the homophobic Straight Pride reggae parade will still be in Brooklyn on August 31, with all those wonderful murder-music performers.
Lady P
Bob R, yes my assumption of you is correct. You are an a**hole. You’re probably too stupid and uneducated to realize that homophobia is alive and well in the good old USA. I’ll educate the mass Jamaicans on homophobia after you complete your teachings in the States.
Bob R
Lady P, bitch. You’re the stupid one. Had you read my comment it’s obvious that I was talking about homophobic Jamaicans who bring their trash culture to the US or A. I am well aware of homophobia in the US. I’ve suffered some because of it. Not any physical violence, but subtle discrimination. So, you start with a bogus argument: “I’ll educate the mass Jamaicans…when you complete your teachings in the States.” You’re obviously a fool and not very bright.
I’ve been educating my community for many years. It hasn’t always been so, but for the past 15 or mote years it has been one of my challenges. I’m not always successful. Religious morons, like so many in the US and Jamaica just cling to their god mythologies and the best you can get is “love the sinner, hate the sin”. There’s violence against gays in the US, but not nearly on the scale it is in Jamaica. It’s prosecuted here and we’re a little more civilized. I live in a rural community (Appalachia) openly, with no difficulty. My partner and I try to be examples of what gay people actually are. You go to Jamaica, anywhere on the island and do that. You, Miss arrogant bitch, go to Jamaica and openly promote gay rights.
When do you go back to Jamaica and start? Much safer for you here in the US of A, right? I promote gay rights every day in my community. Why don’t you go back to Jamaica and promote gay rights there? I’ll never be finished here, too big a country for just one man and his partner. But we have large and active organizations making big inroads here. There has been some progress. Even a couple States allow gay marriage. What about Jamaica? Any organizations working there for gay rights? But, I’m sure you’ll make a big impact on that little shit box island. Why not put your money where your big mouth is?
Bottom line, it’s apparent we don’t like each other very much. Too bad. I’ll look forward to reading about your gay outreach in Jamaica, and seeing pictures of your blood soaked body being dragged through the streets by a jubilant mob. OH, and I think you have some education. At least your prose is readable, otherwise I’m not impressed. Buh bye!
cosmicsistren
The ignorant comments are just disgusting. Have any of you ever been to Jamaica? My family is from Jamaica and I have been there. I plan on going very soon as well. I have been to Kingston and have seen gay people walk around and NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. Of course they are homophobic people there. Same goes here. Alot of what has been written is the same crap that has been written about black people from white racists. You all should really check yourselves.
“Reggae is not gay. They believe in the words of their saviour, Halle Salasse, the most dangerous homophobe that ever lived, surpassing Jesse Helms.” – ONLY RASTAS BELIEVE IN HAILE SELASSIE and not all rastas do. He was the biggest homophobe? You clearly don’t know your history about this person.
“And the homophobic Straight Pride reggae parade will still be in Brooklyn on August 31, with all those wonderful murder-music performers.” – This is complete bullshit. First the “Labor Day Parade or West Indian Day Parade” is on September 1st. Have you ever been to the parade? I have been going for over 10 years. I see gay people there. All types go there.
“Good thing AIDS is becoming drug resistant…there’s still hope for a good cleansing.” – This is disgusting and you should be ashamed for even writing something as evil as this.
People will write anything online whether or not it based on truth doesn’t matter. Those that say F@ck Jamaica I say right back to you. You have probably never been to the island anyway to experience it for yourself. The elitist attitudes are why alot of foreigners don’t like Americans. You all are quick to condemn another country and don’t even look at the ugly problems facing America. Remember here in the great USA gay marriage isn’t even legal. You can get kicked out of the armed forces for coming out and saying that you are gay. Gay people die in this country too just for being gay.
“Those that live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”.
Sean S.
“When do you go back to Jamaica and start? Much safer for you here in the US of A, right? I promote gay rights every day in my community. Why don’t you go back to Jamaica and promote gay rights there?”
Why does anyone have to be the sacrificial martyr for a community, as evidenced by your and other posts, that isn’t accepting of them anyway? Like I said in my previous post, I don’t begrudge anyone for wanting to get the hell out of Dodge; I know many people who have left South Carolina to go to greener pastures, and there are valid reasons for simply not wanting to put up with bullshit.
Either way, I find the responses on this post incredibly disappointing. Especially considering the relative strength of the LGBT community compared to many developing countries, American’s should have a positive and helpful attitude towards other countries where our voice and our money can be powerful in swaying things for those whom don’t have the same in their own country. Feminist organizations have used international condemnation as a bludgeon to force theocratic countries such as Saudi Arabia and others to reverse or ease on discriminatory laws and treatment. Why can’t we? Either way it seems like we have a long way to go on educating the community here about how things are playing out internationally.
Michele
Let the sick homosexual men all rot in their veil, disgusting life style there are living.
Stay your sick minded ass out of Jamaica. They are real men. Men who love women. Jamaican men are not sick mentally so they don’t believe 2 men having anal and oral sex is normal or healthy, you sick-minded individuals.
Homo-Men>>>get off your knees and stop-bending over like you are women. You are a man. Go have children with women. Go love a woman. You are not a woman.
Statistics show that most gay men where raped as young boys. Can anybody say Catholic Church? Let’s fix the problem of the rap of our young boys in this world.
How disgusting for 2 men lying in the bed together having anal and oral sex and talking about they love each other?
mark
Michele thanks for sharing
Now take your bloated pootang somewhere it’s appreciated,
can we get some Fabreeze in here, the whole site smells of LOW TIDE.
Michele
Mark,
How does it feel having sex in the bathroom with your penis through a hole? Is that love to you?
How beautiful for a man when he looks at his first born child or his son (first born). Loving his women who helped him bring this beautiful life in this world together. He brings the boy up to be a decent man and he raises his daughter to be a beautiful girl. His greatest accomplish.
No homosexual man will experience this joy as long as you think love is in another man’s ass. (YOU HEAR ME MARK) You are so unhealthy mentally and physically, MARK, where does one begin to describe you? . You are using your output as an input and destroying your whole body as all your filth says inside of you instead of coming out. Why don’t you understand that there are strong God-loving men in the world who doesn’t want your sick mentally ass around?
Will you try to have sex with my son, my uncle, my dad, my brother or nephew? WHICH child will you try to rap or seduce this week Mark?
Michele
MARK:
WHAT SMELL A HOMOSEXCUAL MAN KNOWS IS A LOW TIDE!!
Michele
TO MARK:
BUT HOW DOES YOUR BODY SMELL AFTER A MAN BENDS YOU OVER, PUTS HIS PRIVATE PART IN YOUR OUTPUT AND THEN COMES IN YOUR FILTY FACE OR HOW DOES YOUR BREATH SMELL AFTER YOU GO DOWN ON A MAN, YOU SICK-MINDED-PERSON WHO IS ASHAMED OF BEING A MAN, ASHAMED OF BEING CALLED TO STEP UP LIKE A MAN, HAVE CHILDREN LIKE A MAN AND LOVE A WOMAN IS SUPPOSED TO?
what about that smell battyboy?
David
Michele,
If we’re so repulsive, why are you trolling a site that has a gay agenda?
As for your supposition, you do know that many homes in Jamaica lack fathers…..batty boys indeed.
BobP
And now we have the lovely Michele, whoever it is, showing us the level at which these lowlifes think and act. What do all of the jamaican defenders think now? This is typical rhetoric which I’ve heard it over and over. Whats interesting is that the idea of sex between two men repulses them, but they’ll fuck anything that breathes. Seriously, anything.
HYHYBT
#39: A veil lifestyle?
Sammy
Such hateful comments.. Maybe the rest of the world should stop visiting the us.. Now that’s a country with a bad rep! Murder, rape, wars, racism…
Scratch to surface of a queen, and u find a racist.. so true
scott
Wow! In some ways I’m glad that Michele and people who share her views have posted here. Their comments are pure examples of the unexplainable hatred they have for a fellow human being.
This really should show why traveling to Jamaica and possibly other Caribbean countries may not be the wisest of choices. Certainly, homophobia exists in many places and you must be careful, even in this day and age, when deciding to show PDAs.
But really, the LGBT community needs to spend their money on LGBT friendly destinations. Like Key West. Money is one of the great equalizers. And because of it, sometime in the far future I’m sure the Jamaican government will rethink their policy on LGBT people. But even then, who wants to be someplace where you’re not wanted.