danger zone

The Violent Gay Bar Police Raids Sweeping Jamaica

Jamaica’s Montego Bay just scored their own Atlanta Eagle: Just after midnight last Sunday, police raided the only gay bar in the area’s Hip Strip, with some 20 “heavily armed ” officers bursting through the door before screaming anti-gay slurs while hitting and pistol whipping the patrons, demanding they leave, according to Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays. This probably caused more than one drink to spill. The raid followers a similar one on a Kingston bar earlier last month. Ten individuals required medical attention. Police, meanwhile, have offered no explanation for the raid. Maurice Tomlinson, a gay rights activist there who works with J-FLAG, says his life has been threatened after a letter-to-the-editor about the raids ran in the Jamaica Gleaner.

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated