Jamaica is a very homophobic place
Because of the influence of the Rastafarian religion and
also conservative Christianity, Jamaica is an extremely homophobic country.
This is also true for other countries in the Caribbean, but particularly for
the Caribbean countries that are former British colonies.
This article is primary about Jamaica, but it applies to
many of the other countries in the Caribbean, even countries like The Bahamas,
where same-sex sex is decriminalized.
In Jamaica it is common to hear people openly calling for
gay men to be killed in ordinary conversations. At music performances in
Jamaica, particularly performances of reggae music, you are likely to hear
songs performed that openly call for gay men to be killed. Performers may call
out from the stage for gay men to be killed. Audiences may be asked to raise
their hands if they think that gay men should be killed.
Under Jamaican law, sex between two consenting adult men is illegal.
Conviction under Jamaica's anti gay laws could mean up to 10 years in prison at hard labor. The law is rarely enforced, but it makes all gay men in Jamaican unindicted
criminals.
Sex between consenting adult women is not outlawed in
Jamaica. But many Jamaicans think that it is. Lesbian and bisexual women are
subjected to the same persecution and violence as gay and bisexual men in
Jamaica.
The United States has been granting asylum to LGBT people
from Jamaica since 1994.
Given this background, high levels of violence are directed
at LGBT people in Jamaica and LGBT people are subject to persecution and
discrimination by all segments of Jamaican society, government, police,
education, churches. Human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and
Amnesty International have documented the violence and abuse of LGBT people in
Jamaica for decades.
Jamaican homophobia and religion
The Rastafarian religion tends to take some parts of the bible
Old Testament literally. This is why Rastas don’t cut their hair or trim their
facial hair, or eat shrimp or pork. Some of the Rastafarian mansions even
follow Old Testament biblical laws about sequestration of women during
menstruation and during and after pregnancy. Although the Rastas tend to
emphasize the verses in the Old Testament that call for gay men to be killed,
they also tend to ignore verses that prohibit adultery. Conservative Christians in
Jamaica certainly agree with the Rastafarians about the treatment of LGBT
people.
Rastafarians say that you cannot be gay and Rastafarian.
Jamaican Christians are strongly influenced by the most
homophobic, anti LGBT Christian groups in the U.S. and, perhaps the U.K. Anti LGBT Christian evangelists often visit
Jamaica to proselytize their hate.
Jamaican homophobia and music
Jamaican music, particularly popular dancehall and reggae music, promote and reinforce the very strong and pervasive homophobia in Jamaica.
Guernica Magazine “Murder Music” does a very good job of
explaining the role of music in promoting homophobia in Jamaica.
Jamaica can and must change
There are efforts to change Jamaica’s strongly anti gay
laws. But there is very strong resistance to change in Jamaica. It is going to
be a very long and difficult process for Jamaica, and for other homophobic
Caribbean countries, to begin to understand and accept lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender sexual orientations.
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