Jamaica: A Killer Vacation For Gays

This week, I joined San Francisco organizer Michael Petrelis and Box Turtle Bulletin editor Jim Burroway in launching an international boycott against Jamaica (www.boycottJamaica.org). While the island appears laid back, gays are under attack.

Forget business as usual. Instead, we should stop doing business with a country that is proud of its persecution against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Our goal is to turn Jamaica into a pariah state, as long as GLBT people live in a state of terror. This means no more subsidizing the anti-gay slaughter by drinking Myers Rum and Red Stripe Beer. It requires skipping that Carnival Cruise to Jamaica - so your money won't support murder.

If Jamaica were anymore homophobic, it would change the name of its signature music, reggae, to "ray-straight." The national song would be, "Wasting the Gays Again in Murderitaville."

Why boycott? Because Jamaica is on a downward spiral and suffers from collective cultural dementia on this issue. There is clearly a pathological panic and homo-hysteria that has infected this nation at its core. Consider that the Jamaica Cancer Society has raised concerns that the fear of being labeled gay is causing some Jamaican men to avoid prostate examinations, causing one of the highest prostate cancer rates in the world.

The second reason to boycott is because traditional activism has failed. I first read about Jamaica's horrific violence against gay people in a 2004 New York Times editorial, "Hated to Death in Jamaica." In 2006, Time magazine had an article about the island headlined, "The Most Homophobic Place On Earth."

One would think that such chilling headlines would have spurred worldwide action against Jamaica. Instead, the climate has only deteriorated, with a 2008 New York Times article titled, "Attacks Show Easygoing Jamaica Is Dire Place for Gays."

A scathing State Department report on Jamaica's treatment of homosexuals reads like a horror novel:

"The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals, and Gays (J-FLAG) continued to report human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, mob attacks, stabbings, harassment of homosexual patients by hospital and prison staff, and targeted shootings of homosexuals."

Questioned by the BBC, Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that he would not allow gay people to serve in his Cabinet. In March 2009 he added, "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."

A third reason for a boycott is because we can have an impact in Jamaica. The tropical island earned $2.1 billion from tourism in 2006, with 1,025,000 arrivals from the United States. Clearly, Jamaica is uniquely vulnerable to economic pressure and thus every effort should be made to push for change.

A fourth reason to boycott is that a message needs to be sent throughout the world: "Gay people will no longer sit by passively while our people are brutalized and killed."

If we do not stop the hate in the one place we can - Jamaica - it will continue to be open season against gays across the world. There must be consequences for state sanctioned gay bashing. Such countries will not change on their own - so economic carrots and sticks must be applied.

The current, failed strategy is "treadmill diplomacy", where we send off a few letters to embassies and hope things will magically improve. It may feel like we are advancing, but we are really, at best, running in place. This explains why the news headlines about Jamaica's treatment of gay people in 2004, look remarkably like the terrifying ones in 2009. The choice is ours, we can be meek in the face of madness - or we can take action.

Finally, Jamaica is an island of self-righteous hypocrites. The Bible is used to rationalize brutality, and vigilante violence is justified with talk of virtues and values. But, the island is quite comfortable with ganja and gratuitous sex for heterosexuals. Jamaica's new motto should be, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" (Unless you're gay).

If you are a bar owner, please take Jamaican products out of your establishment. Consider a "rum dump", where Myers' rum is poured down the sewer. If you care about gay people, tell everyone you know about the dismal human rights record of Jamaica. And, if a friend has booked a trip - express your disapproval and send him or her accurate information.

It is truly a crime if you spend another dime in this homophobic hellhole. If you have gay family members, neighbors, coworkers or friends, book a holiday where it is okay to be gay.

As for Jamaica, don't play, don't pay, don't stay.

ACTION: On Wednesday, April 15, 6:30 PM, we are launching the East Coast portion of the campaign with a historic "rum dump" at the famed Stonewall Inn - the birthplace of the GLBT movement. We hope you will join our action and participate in the 'rum dump'

Comments

[JackFertig]

Of course male-on-male rape has nothing to do with gay identity. We who feel same-sex desire and practice same-sex love understand that from experience. But the experience of men who've been raped by men is just a bit different.­...


Oh.... right... other people's experience and perspective doesn't matter, and doesn't need to be considered in our efforts to educate them. Of course, we're Americans and we know better. Dark-skinned people in small, poor countries can't speak up for themselves. We've done SO much to improve the world by speaking up for and impos... er... bringing democracy to them.

[papapj]

"Of course male-on-male rape has nothing to do with gay identity"

I agree with you 100%, but the historical legacy means that a lot of Jamaicans and Caribbeans in general need to be made aware of this via education and public awareness.

JFLAG have an effort underway to improve the lot of gay Jamaicans. They're the people who need help the most, not patronizing colonialist interlopers.

[FiyuPikni]

Unless you are working directly on the ground, and with politicians, to get support for these legislative efforts, the goal of the boycotts will not be achieved. Further, whatever lofty goals one has to change the way Jamaicans perceive queers must be reevaluated. Pushing Jamaicans further into poverty will NOT make them more sympathetic of the needs of disenfranchised queers.

So I ask. In tandem with your support for the boycotts, are you also working directly with the LGBT rights advocacy group on the island to see what else can be done on the ground, with a grassroots approach. Are you encouraging people to write letters to the various members of parliament, who will ultimately have to vote on proposed legislation?

This problem will not be solved easily, because homophobic people are not rational, and so our cries will continue to fall on deaf ears, at least for a while. Clearly then, the issue must be approached in a holistic way, lest we exacerbate the dangers faced by queers, and particularly gay men and transgender individuals, in Jamaica.

[FiyuPikni]

As a gay Jamaican, I am heartened by the efforts of our international allies, who are trying to increase general awareness of Jamaica's homophobia, and what it means for queer identified individuals there. I agree with your approach, in that we need to be more proactive in our advocacy, if the Jamaican government is ever to recognize queers as citizens with inalienable rights.

That said, I am perturbed by the actions taken by boycott groups thus far, for they are exceedingly insensitive to the socio-cultural reality in Jamaica. Do not misinterpret me- doing nothing is not an option, but I hope that those who desire to boycott Jamaican products, for example, are sufficiently aware of the real challenges faced. Jamaica's most homophobic citizens are perhaps the most likely to react with belligerence to the boycott efforts. Jamaicans do not like to be told what to do, or think. Generalization, yes, but i can promise you that this is the reaction the efforts you are supporting will yield. This will in turn make people more hostile towards queer identified individuals, and less receptive to issues affecting LGBT individuals.

The task at hand should really be to have the government decry violence against people of a queer orientation, and enact legislation to guarantee protection for them. They aren't very empathetic to our cause now, and will be even less so once these boycotting efforts are in full gear.

[Ccouncil]

Wow let's boycott a a whole country, where the poor will suffer the most. I am sure there are other countries who are homophobes, but let's pick the brown/black one and the poor one. So typical of "hidden racism". If you truly want to make changes why not boycott ALL homophobic countries. What do you think is going to happen when you boycott a country that's riddled with poverty and some ill-educated, the people will bunker down and the violence will get worse and spread to not only homosexuals but heterosexuals (especially those who have nothing to do with it and supporters of gays). This is what we call "cherry picking" our battles, because Jamaica is a easy target.

[papapj]

I tried to tell him same.....

[rcdcr]

It's time for Heterosexuals to get over themselves and stop this crap.

That, as usual, they commit these crimes in the name of God is dispicable.

What is worng with Heterosexuals that they need to conduct themselves in this manner?

[Wayne Besen - Huffpost Blogger]

"Daedelus and Wayne Besen, have woefully misinterpreted my message"

Reply: Actually, no, it is just that your "message" is woeful. You pretend that you are the only person who has ever picked up a history book. Arrogantly pat yourself on the back. Then offer no solutions for today's problems. Pretty pathetic, in my mind. People are getting murdered, and all you add to the debate are glib comments. Thanks for the help.

[papapj]

Steve;

Do you really think that someone who subscribes to White supremacy now is thinking that those who (s)he maligns was in chains 6 generations ago thereby it their birthright to treat them as if they were subservient?

Daedelus was correct; male on male rape is a common feature of the treatment of conquering societies over the conquered as a I myself noted is about POWER and nothing to do with love. Only thing is there wasn't much of a judiciary around when it was being meted out to "uppity" slaves at the time...

Daedelus and Wayne Besen, have woefully misinterpreted my message, choosing instead to shoot the messenger, and in Waynes case insultingly make idiotic and prejudicial generalizations about a whole nation ("Jamaica is an island of self-righteous hypocrites­.") .

ANY love is to be celebrated, not just same sex love but just as racism infests our society now as a remnant of days gone by so does homophobia effect the society of the conquered.

Just as with homophobia the pathology of racism will only be eradicated by EDUCATION as previously stated and realization of the causes which manifest them. This phenomena of homophobic legislation is endemic in the Caribbean, not just Jamaica for exactly the reasons I outline. Resources being as they are in the Caribbean these matters unfortunately are not of a high priority.

The echoes of slavery are still reverberating, and the homosexual community are feeling the aftershocks just as the African diaspora is...

[deadalus]

Of all the things that the gay and lesbian community are fighting for, an end to the government­-sanctione­d murder of our people should be the least controversial. And yet your initial comment finds fault even with Mr. Besen's basic moral outrage. Even more offensive is your suggestion that Mr. Besen's position is rooted in white upper-middle-class privilege. This tactic conveniently inoculates yourself from criticism (who would argue against the horrors of slavery, right?) while trotting out the useful trope of the Wealthy and Spoiled Gay Male. In this sense, you join forces with homophobes on the left and right who maintain that Mr. Besen, as a card carrying member of the ruling class, really should just learn to keep his mouth shut about such minor inconveniences as the lack of marriage rights and having to live with the constant threat of violence, which is a reality for many gays and lesbians not only in Jamaica, but in the U.S. as well. THAT's what rankles most about your first post, and I make no apologies for any alleged misinterpretations of your intent.

[papapj]

You are a fine judge of nothing and certainly not me, thankfully.

Mr Besen's social status is not at issue and any misguided assumptions about Wealthy Spoiled Gays is way off the mark.

What constructive solutions have either you or Besen offered save somehwat bigotted, arrogant rebukes and the sabre rattling threat of onerous, sweeping sanctions that would pile further pain on poverty stricken people?

If you'd at all bothered you'd note that JFLAG themselves, the people he deigns to speak for decry such an option.Did you ever bother to consult with them at any length before launching on your crusade?..

http://jflag.blogspot.com/2009/03/word-on-san-fransican-gays-launch.html

Mr Besen's 'basic moral outrage' you so generously coined amounted to no more than an arrogant rebuke designed in no way to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Nobody's asking anybody to stand back and watch wanton carnage like this but I don't know of an instance in history when a foreign-originated boycott of an entire country produced any result other than giving the boycottees a foreign scapegoat for their economic woes (which I'm sure their government will appreciate in this economy), which could lead to increased violence against LGBTQ Jamaicans.

The message of education keeps missing you and it's more likely speak for those who would impose a value system on a Jamaican society they know very little of..

[Wayne Besen - Huffpost Blogger]

Papapj: "Now, this is an explanation, not an excuse"

Reply: No, actually, it is a pathetic excuse. Gay people are being beaten and murdered, and all you do is offer a pseudo-int­ellectual, self-congratulatory "lesson" with not one proactive suggestion of how to stop the violence. Thanks - I'm sure the gay people with machetes in their backs will feel better knowing they are part of a much broader historical trend. Your useful input is greatly appreciated.

[papapj]

Wayne;

The antipathy toward male gay sex displayed by many of the African communities in the Americas does have a historical component.

Rape is about power, not sex and in many Caribbean and American plantations it was meted out to both men and women alike.

Men (our fathers) were often emasculated in public by slavemasters as a reminder of dominance, much like that which occurs in prisons today.

Women (our mothers) were raped whenever the master pleased and wherever, it was his property. This further underlined the hopelessness of the men and spawned the word mother***ker.

Just like the origins of the word mother***ker have been shrouded with time, so has the antipathy toward male gay sex , but the root cause is the same....

Now, this is an explanation, not an excuse and attitudes that you have misappropriated due to your ignorance of the situation in full can only be alleviated by education.

Start with yourself..­...

[deadalus]

Start with yourself, buddy. Learn to distinguish man-on-man rape from gay identity.

[StevenKeirstead]

Why does something that stopped over one hundred years ago have anything to do with aniti-gay murders now? Do you really think the perpetrators are thinking "6 generations ago one (or more) of my ancestors was raped!" I really doubt that. And as Daedelus pointed out, male on male rape is not anything like same sex love. Rape should be handled by judicial trial and punishment, while same sex love should be celebrated because it is a good thing..

[Porkeater]

While i agree with many of your assessments about my country, i promise you that boycotting Jamaican products is only going to hurt the Jamaican poor, whose very poverty is what keeps my people ignorant and easily led by churchy fanatics and governmental demagogues.

[Benton]

"Finally, Jamaica is an island of self-righteous hypocrites­."

Wow!! generalize much?

"the island is quite comfortable with ganja and gratuitous sex for heterosexu­als."

Tell that to all the locals locked whose crops are burned and are in prison for ganja.