Jamaica is (REALLY) homophobic

“I think Jamaica is far more tolerant than the public hype. There is a vibrant community in Jamaca and there isn’t the sort of backlash that some people say. I think we are much more tolerant and accepting… it’s just the hype from some who claim that Jamaica is very anti-homosexual, but the reality is far from that. There are homosexuals who live and work freely in Jamaica… all of those murders that I have investigated have been in relationships and are victims of gay attacks, domestic situations”

Oh really? By now many of us would have heard about the young man who was mobbed by students at the University of Technology, Jamaica (Utech) and beaten by two security guards employed to secure institution. The individual was said to have been caught in a compromising position with another male. The other fled leaving him to face the wrath that later met him. Students chanting “kill the battyboy” (batty boy is a derogatory term used to call homosexuals in Jamaica) were heard throughout the video.

Let me state clearly that this didn't happen because they were having sex. I refuse to believe that Jamaicans can be so self-righteous to have lashed out in such a way because they believe that having sex in a public place is wrong, if these were individuals from opposite sex, which happens so very often, they would not have met the same fate, to the contrary they would have been encouraged and the man would be praised. The boy was beaten because he is a homosexual (allegedly). Jamaica has a serious problem. We are (REALLY) homophobic.

Firstly let's address the delusional notion that Jamaica is not homophobic. The quotations above are from former assistant commissioner Les Green, who reported that Jamaica is far more tolerant than the homosexual community tend to perpetuate. This is the argument that has been used by politicians and religious leaders who are so consistent in ignoring the issues of these JAMAICANS, (yes, we seem to forget that homosexuals are JAMAICAN, they are your friends, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, politicians, pastors and CHILDREN). They continue to spread the belief that Jamaicans aren’t homophobic, turning a blind eye to gay murders, mobbing and abuse. Oh look, none of our politicians or religious leaders have spoken in condemnation of the students and security guards. What does this say? One person suggests that politician don’t want to put their political careers in jeopardy. Cowards! Keep quiet, silence in consent. In this case, silence is approval. Cowards shouldn’t be leaders. Where are our holy Christians? Homosexuals are an abomination in the bible so they should be beaten eh? Are the offenders justified? I’m sure the Bible speaks many of abominations such as violence but of course, we live in a very selectively Christian society, so who cares about gays. Persons in high positions who continue to keep silent about addressing the human rights of homosexuals are just as guilty of those who beat, mob, murder and bully gays.

 Get rid of the illusion, this doesn’t happen only at Utech. A similar incident happened on the campus of the University of the West Indies in 2006 (the man was protected by the security guard however). There is a lot of evidence of homophobia on UWI Mona campus. Take it from someone who is called “batty boy” on a daily basis and is greeted with death threats ever so often on the school campus. Tolerance does not only mean refraining from physical violence.

Speaking of abuse, I was humbled by the large cry in opposition to the mobbing. But then I realized, no, we are too blind. We don’t realize that we are the ones who breed this culture of barbarism. We hear it in the music daily “batty boy fi dead” and we come out and preach how much we will fight out the demons of homosexuality. If we praise the death of gays, what do you expect? There are persons who say that the boy was handled appropriately because he’s corrupting the Jamaican culture “dat nuh right”. Jamaicans teach that this is how people who do things that are seen as ‘out of the norm’, should be treated. We are nursing a generation of barbarians. Hear the hatred of the UNIVERSITY students in the video, listen to how it amused them that this boy was being slapped, punched and kicked. We have a serious problem.

And to those who say “him call it down pan himself”, those who say that he put himself in the position to be beaten are no better. This is the same line of reasoning that suggests that it’s the girl’s fault for being raped because she dressed too provocatively. Or a more personal example, it’s the boy’s fault for being bullied because he falls outside of the societal construct of masculinity. If we continue to excuse vulgar behavior by blaming the victim, how do we expect to get change?

Even the most intelligent and learned individuals aren't so smart. I saw a comment from PHD student at UWI who suggests getting rid of the buggery law and accepting homosexuals will lead to young boys being molested. On that line of thinking, aren't heterosexuals the ones molesting young girls? Perhaps we should ban heterosexuality. There is a big difference: homosexuality, heterosexuality and paedophilia.

It’s so intriguing though, that Jamaicans, especially straight Jamaican men, place so much emphasis on homosexuals. Why? Explain to me. The security guards have lost their jobs and have been jailed because of what? A boy supposedly shares a different sexual orientation from him.

What is Homosexual lifestyle? That is an illusion. Gays live the same lives and have the same concerns and issues as straight people. The only difference is that they are attracted to the same sex, similar to persons who share different political and religious backgrounds. But even there we meet a problem. We don't accept and appreciate diversity, and that is a big problem.  WITH INDIVIDUALITY, COMES DIFFERENCE. We all cant be the same.

Jamaica has a serious problem.