Well isn’t it nice to see Jamaica’s most prominent newspaper, the Jamaica Gleaner, finally acknowledge the obvious: “The fact is, Jamaica is deeply homophobic, or pretends to be. Homophobia attends the country’s sense of machismo; it frees us to go gay-bashing, and not just figuratively.” It’s like the Wall Street Journal admitting, “Yeah, America is deeply capitalistic. It lets us repeatedly rape the poor to fund the wealthy.” It’s not exactly a revelation, but putting it in print makes it truthier. (via MP)
Orpheus_lost
Why are you slamming an op/ed that supports GLBT rights? Anyone reading your headline and posting, without reading the full column from The Gleaner, would think that the article is proudly asserting Jamaica’s homophobia instead of denouncing it in the country’s leaders.
This isn’t just an example of piss-poor coverage, Queerty, it’s an example of purposeful deception. The only question is why are you doing it?
Fitz
The Gleaner’s statement sounds introspective and self critical– I like it, and don’t want to slam them for looking at themselves.
drewbrown
More bitterness and negativity from the Queerty editors. It’s pathetic and sad.
AlanInUtah
I’ve been to Jamaica and I would never want to stay there for more than a day or so. The country is beautiful, but the way of life is blatently obvious that being gay would NEVER go without some sort of daily harrassment if not physical and mental abuse. Until their culture changes, i’ll never go back.
Jon B
@AlaninUtah: Dude, you live in Mormon Country! At least Jamaica has coconuts and palm trees.
@Queerty: I couldn’t agree more with the first three postings. WTF is wrong with you folks? You guys are so pissy you can’t see the good in anything, or, for that matter, the humorous. Last month you posted not one, but TWO stories that came from a satirical website, before even reading the comments, where everyone was telling you the website was a spoof site. I will give it to you though, unlike Limbaugh, you fessed up and laughed at yourself. But seriously, I visit this site out of habbit, but I can’t take all the negativity all the time.
Jim
Thanks to a few folks for calling out what Queerty has failed to see: this editorial calls out the president and opposition leader—and their charter of rights!—for not protecting gays.
Javier
Queerty, you are getting really wacky with your journalistic distortions and misrepresentations. The Gleaner is reporting the reality of the situation in Jamaica, not glorifying it. Queerty is getting to be a joke.
Harvey LiveSF
Wow, very happy about all these comments.
Queerty, it’s in your interest to hype up “Gays vs….” stories, but think. Does it make sense to throw more kindling onto this racially-charged fire? NO.
But beyond that, yeah, you ignorant asses apparently don’t even know how to read! What is significant about that editorial is it indicates an evolution on how gays are written about in Jamaiaca, and opens the door to legal and cultural equality. (And this from someone who helped bitchslap that dumb reporter who advocated for buju here.)
But of course, you just read that the scary black people are bad.
And for the record…I just counted on this page:
23 white faces
Pres Obama
Dan Choi
Caster Semenya
and 3 black jamaican men hyped up for their gay-hating.
Can we please have a little more racial diversity here? I know you don’t mean to exclude people who aren’t white purposely…or hope not anyway…but it’s happening, and queerty has to get its act together.
Mark Wickens
“It’s like the Wall Street Journal admitting, ‘Yeah, America is deeply capitalistic. It lets us repeatedly rape the poor to fund the wealthy.’ It’s not exactly a revelation …”
Capitalism is not about raping or funding anyone. It’s about leaving people alone to produce and to trade.
Cynthia
Harvey LiveSF, I agree 100%. If Queerty writes about black figures, they put them into stereotypical categories. They are quick to demean and prejudge even Black LGBT’s. There is so much diversity within the LGBT community, yet Queerty does not want to face that. Only White privileged gay and straight men are respected and portrayed in a positive manner in this site. Ahhh thats Queerty: Fighting Homophobia with a Racist Agenda.
strumpetwindsock
@ Mark Wickens
Really? I wouldn’t call George Bush’s (and Obama’s subsequent) financial bailouts “leaving people alone”.
It was, in fact a prime example of corporate welfare on the backs of the poor and middle class.
Libertarianism, free market and the invisible hand is a great mantra so long as it only screws other people.
But on this topic, yeah, the headline is pretty misleading.
Considering that The Gleaner is probably going to take a fair bit of heat for publishing a pro-LGBT editorial I think they deserve a bit more respect
Though for a homophobes, they do manage to have some nice cheesecake (if you manage to catch the “Get Ripped in 4 Weeks” ad on the gleaner website).
sal(the original)
its time the caribbean moves to real issues and not who’s gay !!we are gonna sink into a crime and corruption hole if we dont start actin like adults and focus on the real monsters here
jason
The Gleaner has run consistently homophobic articles for many years. They ARE homophobic.
strumpetwindsock
@Jason
Whatever your opinion of their coverage, the fact that their publisher and editors allowed THIS editorial is very significant.
It condemned the government, called for protection under the proposed charter, and called out Jamaican culture as violently homophobic.
It’s not very often you see the mainstream press in our countries taking an unpopular and financially risky stand like that. It is even riskier in a small market like theirs.
If we ever want to help change things down there it is important to support people when they take a difficult stand like this.
On the other hand, if there ever were a sea change in Jamaica against homophobia it would unfortunately leave some people with one less thing to complain about, no?
Mark Wickens
@strumpetwindsock
Outside of a poorly-named Michael Moore movie, what do bailouts, corporate welfare, and George Bush have to do with capitalism? What the US has is a mixed economy. Under capitalism, no one gets hand-outs.
strumpetwindsock
@Mark Wickens
I agree with you there, except that the capitalism you refer to is theoretical, and does not exist anywhere in the world, though there are some lawless states which come close.
There is a whole system of laws and regulations and financial incentives that support the wealthy and corporate interests.
It is only when other people try to get their fair share that they start talking about how the market needs to be free and unregulated.
Every market has artificial controls, whether it is the rule of law, or bribes and mercenaries. While business interests are all for breaking down protection for others,they have no problem using whatever means, legal and illegal to get their way.
I think the accusation leveled in the Gleaner was fair, especially since their point was directed at hypocrisy in Jamaica.