I have long been outspoken on the abuses of GLBT people in Jamaica and the need for action. I can’t imagine why any American, European or Canadian who cares about human rights would spend a dime visiting this island bubbling over with hate. Last week, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, firmly stated how he approved of the persecution of gay people. He stated that gay rights groups are “perhaps the most organized lobby in the world” and he vowed to fight to keep the nation’s sodomy law on the books.
“We are not going to yield to the pressure, whether that pressure comes from individual organizations, individuals, whether that pressure comes from foreign governments or groups of countries, to liberalize the laws as it relates to buggery,” said Golding.
Timothy Kincaid at Box Turtle Bulletin wrote an excellent piece describing the abuses in Jamaica.
Personally, I’ve had enough of the prejudice and persecution. Golding’s comments are one step too far. It boils my blood when our straight friends (and uninformed GLBT people) continue to travel and spend money in Jamaica. There are thousands of people, if they knew the truth, who would not visit a place more accurately described as “Ja-Murder.”
Today, Truth Wins Out purchased www.BoycottJamaica.org. We are not yet sure if we want to launch a full-fledged boycott. But, it is nice to know we have this site in our back pocket and can take action against this nation that seems to have a unique and disturbing – if not psychotic – antipathy towards GLBT people.
It is worth mentioning that the local gay Jamaican group is against a boycott. We take their opposition very seriously. But, to tell you the truth, what else would one expect from them? If they supported a boycott they would be labeled unpatriotic and turned into scapegoats. And, from their public statements, they sound like hostages reading from a script. Do they have any choice but to publicly reject a boycott?
For years, we have heard that if we just keep quiet about this issue, things will get better. But, they haven’t. Sometimes, direct action is needed to make change.
We would appreciate the thoughts of our loyal readers.
Finally, a word to the Jamaican government. If Truth Wins Out elects to launch a boycott, we plan to succeed. Please don’t underestimate our commitment and resolve.
daivd, you obviously have a really short term memory – you made that stupid analogy to race yourself, comment no. 34, with reference to Alabama, and ‘all-white’. It’s there for all to see.
(As for Red Stripe, to repeat, give up a bad job. It makes lettuce taste interesting.)
It seems you’re perfectly happy to stand by and make excuses for bigots and murderers. You’re determined not to lend any support to these victims, and you’re determined no-one else should either. Well, unlike you, we aren’t going to be guilty bystanders. The gangster language of thugs like Buju Banton, your politicians, videos of lynchings are there for all to see. So don’t pretend it doesn’t happen.
Surely, Donovan, since you despise gay people so much, what could be more satisfying than knowing that no gay or gay-friendly person will be consuming Jamaican products? We’re helping make that a reality, hopefull as fast as possible.
I have put David and Donovan on moderation since they seem unwilling to 1) acknowledge and oppose the violence, and 2) refrain from insults, unsubstantiated claims, strawman argumentation, threats, and off-topic rhetoric about U.S. foreign policy. They have had more than enough space on this page to make a constructive case, and they have wasted that opportunity.
If antigay expatriates truly oppose the island’s mob violence and police complicity, then I recommend that they go back and make a positive difference in that country, instead of promoting ignorance, opposing morality, dismissing violence, and shouting down human-rights messengers in the States.
To Michael ..How can you put someone on moderation because they do not agree with you,isn’t that a form of bullying.Most of the reasons you are giving for moderating them, you yourself are doing. ‘Mr.Airhead’I agree is a bit harsh but you yourself are insulting Jamaicans by labelling them as nutcases and their politians as demented and calling their internationally renowned beer tasteless.David and Donovan are trying to rationalize with you and trying to defend their beloved country by giving arguments which I think are just absolutely brilliant.Don’t they have the right to do that.
I have come to the realisation that you yourself are not listening to David and Donovan.You still call them anti-gay,even though they say they are not and do not condone violence against gays in Jamaica.It’s like you are talking over them.They like myself are somewhat frustrated because of the singling out and demonization of a poor develeping country when in other countries in the world their is anti-gay violence.They kill people in Saudi Arabia for being gay.In Russia they are still hanging gay people and no one says anything about it.
It is no point in arguing with somebody who can reason with you.
They like myself are somewhat frustrated because of the singling out and demonization of a poor develeping country when in other countries in the world THERE is anti-gay violence.They kill people in Saudi Arabia for being gay.In Russia they are still hanging gay people and no one says anything about it.
It is no point in arguing with somebody who CAN’T reason with you.
Marsh: Please demonstrate where someone has called all Jamaicans nutcases, or all their politicians as demented. You are resorting to same false argumentation as David and Donovan:
Adrian-T referred to “religious nutcases” and “demented politicians.” There are, in fact, religious nutcases and demented politicians who promote violence against gay Jamaicans. Nobody said all Jamaicans fit that description.
Furthermore, nobody said there is not serious antigay violence in the United States and Russia: Truth Wins Out and Box Turtle Bulletin have reported on that violence for years. We do support boycotts against U.S. products, I do support a boycott of Saudi oil (as I said previously), and I believe we would support boycotts of Slavic and Russian products if they had a significant presence in the States.
All that does not mean — as Jamaica’s defenders contend — that we should ignore the violence in Jamaica and continue to pay our consumer dollars and tourist dollars to antigay commercial and government interests.
If a boycott can be fine-tuned to favor specific gay-tolerant businesses, that’s worth discussing. But to argue that Americans should continue to write blank checks to the most violent elements of Jamaican tourism, government, and music is pointless and unethical.
If you wish to promote some sort of middle ground, by all means do so. But anyone who favors the violent and immoral status quo is not worth listening to.
Marsh,
People can believe whatever they want to believe, but when it hurts others, you gotta keep your beliefs to yourself.
What if I called a girl a w***e? By your logic, I have the right to do that because it is “free speech”. But that girl wouldn’t agree, would she? No because it’s a harassment.
Big difference………
To Michael,well thank you for appreciating that not all Jamaicans commit anti-gay violence and nor do they condone it.But the current emphasis on Jamaica in the media is making all if not most Jamaicans look violent against gays,ignorant,backward and unintelligent.There is so much talk about Jamaica right now that Jamaicans feel that they are truly being singled out and misrepresented in the media.Foreign media is painting a picture of most Jamaicans as psychos on a blood thirsty rampage for homosexuals to beat or kill, when it is only a few who do that.And to some extent Jamaicans feel the boycott reinforces those misrepresentations. The media is not talking about Saudi Arabia,Russia.It is talking about tiny Jamaica.The majority of Jamaicans feel like the media is lumping them with in one group.
As the regards the anti-gay music it is only 8 Jamaican artists that sing these songs.These 8 artists are not representative on the entire Jamaican music .Most Jamaican artists would really like these 8 artists to just shut up and keep their anti-gay lyrics to themselves.
Marsh:
I’d like the Jamaican majority to stand up and speak out against this violence. I’d like to see a grassroots groundswell calling for the end of buggery laws.
To all the Jamaicans who are horrified by the anti-gay bigotry and violence – take a stand. Speak up. Help us end the boycott.
Our efforts are to shine a spotlight on a problem. If you help end the problem. The spotlight stops shining.
Wayne,the buggery law of Jamaica as you know was instituted by the British and it is something that Jamaicans have gotten very used to as believing is right . It will take sometime for Jamaica having a conservative culture to relax or even eliminate the buggery laws.It cannot be done through what Jamaicans see as foreign lobby groups engaged in ‘cultural bullying’ of a sovereign nation.It simply is not in Jamaicans culture, being very proud people,to yield to pressure from outside forces. It has to be done through gradual sensitizing and continuous open dialougue and sorry to say this will take some years.It will not happen over night.
Also the more Jamaicans feel as if they are being attacked and being singled out for a boycott,the fiercer will be their resistance.It is actually the reason why these anti-gay songs came about.These songs were actually a response by the artists (the majority of them dancehall) who wrote them to protect what they felt was an attack on their culture and morals when more and more programmes with gay characters were being shown on TV in America , when more gay people in the media were coming out and when gay lobby groups started to turn up the pressure.
What I and many Jamaicans don’t understand and are upset about with gay lobby groups that are calling for
a boycott is that the same problems of anti-gay violence are taking place in their own countries and 79 other countries where homosexuality is illegal ,but they have chosen to boycott only 1 out of 80 countries.They have not even chosen to boycott the six countries ( exluding Jamaica)where homosexuality is punishable legally by death.No one is calling on those other 79 countries to get rid of their anti-homosexuality laws ,so Jamaicans are like why only us.If it is about the music,do any of these 8 artists still continue to sing these anti-gay songs which the majority of Jamaican artists condemn.I heard they haven’t song these songs in a long time.
Even though I must admit like many Jamaicans, I struggle to get my ‘head around’ homosexuality due to the society in which I was raised ,I myself have never and would never beat or kill a gay person and I myself will speak out against anti-gay violence.Jamaican artistes have spoken out against it and companies like Redstripe have policies of not discriminating against gays.I know that most Jamaicans do not condone anti-gay violence and most genuinely think that it doesn’t take place often and that the incidences are far amd few between.Jamaicans also believe the police statistics that say that gays were mostly killed by their lovers.
Marsh, by your own admission, buggery laws are a result of imperialism. They are not native to Jamaican culture, and it is the antigay musicians who undermine Jamaican culture and public morals with their hate.
When will Jamaican police take action to stop mob violence and defend gay people equally? When will Jamaican police and media stop lying about the violence and blaming the victims?
The issue, to my mind is that Jamaicans don’t by and large see this as a civil rights issue. Over the years we have kind of operated on a ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ basis with regards to gay people in our society. And that seemed to work for us. However, as a black woman, I realise that if persons hadn’t been willing to challenge the status quo on behalf of people of colour, we would probably still be second class citizens.
So, I guess I understand the push, but at the same time, wish this initiative wasn’t coming from outside our shores. I think I would actually be more willing to support a local initiative, because this just feels like another case of the big American bully pushing us around just because he can.
I would love to say ‘good luck guys’ but can’t. Anyways I think your hearts are probably in the right place so it’s more like ‘heaven help us all’.
Batty boy fi dead!
Yall talking bout violence, what about yall lack of morals. Leviticus 20:13. What about that. Screw whatever u like, just dont expect me to accept it. Keep that crap to yourself. Literally!
Violence is immoral, Tallis.
It appears that you not only lust for violence, Tallis, but you also harbor false lustful thoughts about what gay people do. Lust as you wish, Tallis — just don’t expect decent people to visit your town or buy products from people such as yourself who suffer from a lack of morality.
If the name of this site means anything to you at all then for God’s sake START THE BOYCOTT.
It is the responsibility of people in the rest of the world to speak out and to simply inform vacationers and music lovers of the monstrous ignorance and cruelty that has become endemic in Jamaica’s people.
If I had known of this long ago I would have taken my business elsewhere had I only known.
Now’s the time to inform others through a much deserved boycott.
I’m baaaack!. Really. See this site hasnt gotten much traction. I wonder why? Let me hazard a guess. Many of those who have read the postings recognise the foolishness of boycotting and punishing a country, based on ignorance. They recognise that those who are leading the boycott have little knowledge of Jamaica and Jamaicans and that their inabilty to put a few logical thoughts together in itself undermines their call to action.
Since posting on this site and taking a deeper look into the situation in Jamaica, I am sorry to report that for many weeks now, no beatings or killings of homosexuals have taken place in Jamaica. No news reports of harassment, no letters to the editors calling down bloodfire and dmanation on homosexuals.
I cant say that no preacher has used his pulpit to harangue the issue but no newspaper has bothered to publish their comments.
Of the many people I’ve spoken with, I’m sorry to say that none have condemned homosexuality much less urged death upon them. In actuality, the few people i broached teh subject with, dismissed it quickly. I wonder why?
Hmm.
Let me tell you. The basis for the boycott is based mainly on a small minority or on many tisues of lies. Most Jamaicans really don’t care. The issue is a non-issue. Homosexuals are not on our radar. We are not nationally homophobic… unless YOU want us to be.
We have many more immediate concerns.
So Guys and Girls, with all due respect. Its time to put this issue to bed. Sorry you all wasted your money buying the site and trying to make put yourselves in the annals of gay history, but this issue will have little traction.
A little investigation would have saved you a lot of money. Peace out.
PS. I do wish and urge that we all respect each other. I respect you irrespective of your race or sexual preferences as long as you respect me. I respect the rights of all peoples including gays. I have championed such rights. I have put myslef in danger calling for such rights.
I’m with you as long as your cause is just. This one just isnt.
David & Donovan its senseless to try to let Adrian T & Airhart understand your position. Its like beating a dead horse. They are stuck on their beliefs and there is nothing we can do to change it. I AM JAMAICAN AND I DO NOT BELIEVE IN MURDER OF ANYONE INCLUDING GAYS. Do I condone their livestyle, NO but my stance on that is thats between them and God. I dont think America or any other country should try to force their beliefs on us. The time that you are taking to boycott JA for klling gays(which is rare case) you should use it to boycott the places in your own country where the rime rate is very high or may be they dont count because they are not gays. I could understand if you were thinking of boycotting JA because of the high violence that happens everyday and not single out a group of people as if the others are not worthy of fighting for. What I will tell you will happen if the boycott goes thru is the few that are violent towards gays will step up their hostility and go on a rampage. My advise DONT do it. Try another method. Jamaican dont respond well to strong arm we tend to retaliate in a negative way.
David please try to lower your level or writing so these people can understand what you are stating. Maybe smaller words and sentences would work. I’m amazed at the responses to what you wrote. One would think it would have given these people an insight and prompt them to do more researches outside of HRW & other media groups that go to JA and interview a small part of the country and claim thats the belief of the entire island.