Thursday, May 22, 2008

Time for a Change Jamaica!!


Jamaica is a beautiful country with a wonderful cultural heritage and considered one of the premier Caribbean travel destinations. Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for the country. If you randomly went around asking people what they thought of Jamaica as a travel destination, they would most likely indicate that they have visit there on vacation or would love to travel there one day. So you would think it would be more tourist friendly, especially for homosexual. Gay and Lesbian love to travel and spend lots of money. But we need to feel comfortable and safe in our surroundings.
Jamaica isn't exactly 'Gay Friendly'. Basically it’s not friendly at all to homosexuals. It's has the worst record on Gay and Lesbian treatment in the New World. Its newly elected Prime Minister has openly expressed his arrogant views in the media. They still have a sodomy law in which the punishment is 10 years in jail. I can't imagine living there and being Gay or Lesbian. So I can't imagine traveling there for a holiday with a partner or other homosexuals.

365gay recently wrote an article on the new Prime Minister. This is very sad. Here is part of the article. Click on the link above to read the full article.

(London) Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding is being blasted at home and in London for remarks he made about gays and lesbians during an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Golding condemned Britain and other Commonwealth countries for criticizing the treatment of gays in the Caribbean nation.

''Jamaica is not going to allow values to be imposed on it from outside,'' he said during the interview. Golding is in London on an official visit to the UK.

Asked if he would ever appoint an openly gay person to his cabinet the Prime Minister bristled, saying "never". Golding told the BBC that he has the right to make that decision and to form a Cabinet that represents the Jamaican people.

Golding has been a staunch supporter of maintaining Jamaica's sodomy law.

Gay sex is illegal in Jamaica, punishable by ten years in jail, with the possibility of hard labor.

Jason McFarlane, a spokesman for Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), said Golding's remarks were likely to incite more violence against gays in the country.

The situation for gays in the Caribbean nation has been of concern to other Commonwealth countries and international human rights groups for several years following a number of violent attacks.

Here is a wonderful clip from a someone who is giving here view of the issue in Jamaica on homosexuality.



2 comments:

TPC said...

It's such a shame, isn't it? Because Jamaica is so beautiful, and so many wonderful people there. It's strange, many of the Jamaican-born people I know are very respectful and accepting of gays and lesbians. Perhaps because of these ingrained laws, people are afraid to speak up. It's a shame because many people generalize that all Jamaicans are homophobic, but it's not the case.

It's very difficult because I would love to go to Jamaica, but I would be too afraid.

Avenue Road said...

I agree. Its sad. I have been there twice and most likely will be heading there in the near future. Its a beautiful country. But as a gay man it scare me. There is no protection for you. I also know a few Jamaicans... hence I'm part Jamaican due to one parent. And not all of them have such a negative view of the subject. Unfortunately the ones that can be the most vocal with a lot of attention are the ones encouraging such negativity.