Gay-Unfriendly Jamaica
Boycott Jamaica
Gay bashing in Jamaica is so prevalent that in 2006 Time Magazine wrote an article about the island headlined, "The Most Homophobic Place On Earth?" The New York Times this week showed that the anti-gay climate has only worsened, with the island caught in a downward spiral of outright psychosis. It is time to hand an ultimatum to Jamaica's public officials: Stop allowing rampant abuse of gay people or your economy will be crippled.
The Times story is downright chilling. It details how last month five gay men were having a dinner party when a mob appeared at the front door - kicking it in and attacking the men. While screaming homophobic epithets, between 15-20 thugs beat the victims senseless with sticks and cut them with machetes. One man is still missing, but police found blood at the mouth of a deep hole near the yard.
This was not an isolated incident. The Times went on to report a shocking attack on a gay man's funeral last year, where hooligans trashed the church with rocks and bottles as the service was in session. Of course, this unholy barbarism occurred in the name of God. Interestingly, Jamaicans have turned their sex-fueled island into a heterosexual bathhouse and ganja den, but seem to get sanctimonious and discover the Bible when it comes to homosexuality.
Prior to these incidents, two of the island's notable gay advocates, Steve Harvey and Brian Williamson, were murdered. Time Magazine reported that a crowd celebrated over Williamson's disfigured body. Time also recounted an incident in 2004 where a teen was nearly killed when his father learned his son was gay and urged a mob to lynch the boy at his school. In the same year, it was reported that police heartily cheered on another mob as it stabbed and stoned a gay man to death in Montego Bay. In 2006, a Kingston man drowned after a horde screaming "batty boy" (a Jamaican slur for gay people) chased him off a high dock.
On American docks, six hundred miles west of this homophobic hellhole, tourists regularly line up to board massive luxury liners destined for Jamaica. The tropical island earned $2.1 billion from tourism in 2006, an increase of 24 percent over 2005. More than three million people visited Jamaica in 2006, with 1,025,000 arrivals from the United States.
Clearly, the answer to Jamaica's love affair with lynching is an aggressive campaign designed to put the clamp on tourism - particularly the cruise industry. The goal should be to strangle Jamaica's economy and force the island to change or suffer severe consequences. With tourism Jamaica's second largest source of revenue, such a campaign could have a powerful impact that achieves tangible results.
It appears that four major cruise lines are the main conduits in which people infuse Jamaica's economy with blood money. They are Carnival, Costa, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. The ports where the ships leave are Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and Galveston.
It is imperative that one of the GLBT international groups or a major U.S. gay rights group create a campaign to shame these corporations and the passengers that travel on their ships. With so few ports, it would be relatively simple to call for a boycott and picket, while handing hand out informational flyers to cruisers. A "Boycott Jamaica" advertising campaign would greatly strengthen these actions. Billboards would need to be strategically placed along I-95 between Miami and Fort Lauderdale with the bold headline: "JA-MURDER."
Undoubtedly, there are many passengers with gay friends and family members who are unaware of Jamaica's sickening and immoral violence against GLBT people. Once informed, many individuals would opt to vacation elsewhere. There is no doubt that with a concerted effort, Jamaica could be brought to its knees.
To lift such a boycott, Jamaica would have to abolish its "buggery" law. Public officials would have to undergo sensitivity training. The police would be required to set up daily undercover stings - where officers would dress in stereotypically gay clothing and arrest would-be attackers. Finally, Jamaica's public officials would have to openly welcome gay and lesbian travelers and offer enthusiastic support for homosexuals living within the country.
It is time we stopped vacationing from our responsibility and started holding Jamaica and its corporate enablers accountable. Until anti-gay atrocities are no longer the norm, Jamaica must be seen as an international pariah, rather than the faux paradise it presents itself to the world.
Note: Of course, there are other parts of the world, particularly Middle East countries, which treat gay people at least as poorly as Jamaica. There are also nations in Africa and Eastern Europe where homosexuals are marginalized and stigmatized. However, there is little leverage to facilitate change in these remote parts of the world. America is not going to jeopardize its oil supply over gay people. And, if most Americans are not going to pay attention to famines and genocide in Africa - they certainly are not going to concern themselves with the treatment of homosexuals. Anti-gay activity in countries like Poland or Russia is more the purview of the European Union. Jamaica is the one place where Americans can make a difference - thus we should.
Comments
It's the American way, if you don't approve of something turn the cold shoulder. I would like to remind people that there are literally THOUSANDS of Jamaican children who need better education, better standards of living, and lots of our help. But b/c you made a choice to be gay, you kick back in the easy chair, and offer nothing to anyone that does not benefit you.
Where is the love people. Look beyond your petty problems and look at the larger picture. The world needs our help.
The problem is this, you boycott Jamaica b/c of its laws on gays, if you travel to Jamaica your money goes mostly to locals, not their govt who controls their laws. So think of the ppl your hurting in your boycott. It's probably not the ones who control the laws.
2. How long have YOU particularly been gay, have you been gay for over 100 years, no, probably not. B/c the laws they have about being gay have been in place for over a 100 years, now all the sudden you want to boycott a country b/c of a CHOICE that you have made within the past decade or so?
3. If you stay at an all inclusive you will not hear anything about your sexuality if your spending money.
My fiancee and I are going for our honeymoon, can't wait, beautiful country, if you boycott its just more beach for me!
Justin
Chicago, IL
Anytime Jamaicans come
Decent humans get up an run
At gunshot me head back
Hear I tell him now crew
(Its like) Boom bye bye
In Jamaicans dem head
We don't promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
In Jamaicans dem head
Lets not promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
...
Why can none of these men and women commenting spell? I'm sorry, but it's really hard to take you seriously when you spell obey with an 'a'.
Are you all fucking idiots?
I'm so sick of being surrounded by moronic, homophobic assholes and gay men too stupid to defend adequately defend themselves.
I'm not going to Jamaica anytime soon because it's unsafe for me there. I'm glad you Jamaicans who have commented aren't upset by that...since the last thing I would ever want to do is upset you. Pfft.
Ever try going against Iran and Saudia Arabia re Gays and Lesbian..Because Jamaica is a small country you guys beleive to beat us into submission.. Tell something most or all of he gays kill are kill by fellow gays.
Whilst i do not support what the Jamaican are doing but people should stop and question if being gay is right. Being gay is against God's principles. It is a sin to be gay.No wonder there is so much suffering in the world today. We need to pray for the gays and lesbians so that God can convert them. Prayer is the only answer. There is power in the knees.Pray Pray.
Screw Jamaica, and screw anyone that would defend what is going on in that country. It's pathetic that anyone would dare compare the U.S. treatment of gays to Jamaica's. While the U.S. may have sodomy on the books in some states, and violence and homophobia is still abound, several states have allowed civil unions, gay marriage, non-discrimination policies, etc. There is no comparison.
When's the last time a gay person in the U.S. has been murdered in such a horrific fashion as the ones described in this story? I'm sure you can recall Matthew Shepherd's case if you're familiar at all with the gay rights movement, but look at how much media attention that one instance garnered. Why? Because the vast majority of America citizens HAVE cleaned up their country, or are at least attempting to. What progress is Jamaica making by comparison? They still defend the murderers in their country by using the tired Bible excuse. Again, pathetic, as well as uneducated.
Further, I fully support ostracizing this country for it's actions. Yeah, they're a poor country, and yeah it sucks for those who have nothing against gays stuck living there...maybe that's more incentive for them to protest the savagery and religious bigotry their fellow countrymen are spewing. Even the cops in some instances are allowing these atrocities to run rampant. They are proving themselves to be an uncivilized culture, and the only difference between them and other human rights enemies of the world is that they're too poor and ill equipped to spread their ideals worldwide. I say good, if they're an easy target, then they're an easy target. The fact that they're poor is no excuse to overlook their actions. Make them suffer for making others suffer. If putting the "shoe on the other foot" is the only way to teach these people understanding and compassion, fine. I don't care. I'll never go there, and I'm forwarding this article to anyone who'll read it.
the problem with this post is jamaica depends on large nations for 80-90 precent of its GDP so we in fact do have the power to throw stones.
Mike, being gay is against the law in jamaica. also the prime minister has gone on record with anti gay remarks.
I'm a gay man and I am happy to boycott this shithole of stupid religious extremists. They claim to be all peace and love in Rastafari but are really only small-minded country bumpkins who cannot control their savage natures. Smoke your weed. I will spend my money on other islands while you impoverished bigots rot. Go to hell.
Actually from the comments on this page I only can recommend all gay and lesbian travellers to exclude Jamaica from their list. Some comments are very shocking what Jamaicans think about gays, but this is nothing new in general for the whole planet. Even in other countries there are still many people who do not understand them.
I do believe that not all Jamaicans are the same and there must be people who do not have a problem with the gays and lesbians. But as always, the ones who scream louder are the ones who will be heard first even though they not might be right.
As I said, I will advice all my gay and lesbian friends not to travel to Jamaica because right now there is an unclear situation on how the gays and lesbians are treated in this country. This has nothing to do with this article, it is my personal opinion about it.
To all commenters here who are negative to gays and lesbians: if you think it´s against the bible or against god, why is it that there is a percentage of animals that also have homosexual behaviour?
I believe that god loves of all his creatures, regardless if they are gay, lesbian, black, white, small, tall, etc, else he would not have created them. We are all here for one reason and it´s because of him.
Listen these people advocating to ban jamaica is obviously illiterate! Homosexuality isnt illegal its Boogary (which is the act). Now people in Jamaica are not randomly attached on the streets because they are gay because there are many men on the roads who walk and act feminin and nobody does anything to them. check out why the ones that are confrunted are confrunted. Mostly because they rape some boy or try to. Read the whole news and not just a part. Because boogary is illegal the police has the right to arrest any persons caught in the act. Oh and i guess you can walk down the streets of Brooklyn at night and not get mugged .... right! People get shot in the US for wearing the wrong colour on a street. So there Mr. & Ms illiterate!
Oh and thats definately not derogatory (Matted Hair) and certainly not predujuce .... right? And ofcourse you can walk down the streets of brooklyn at night and not get jumped. All I am saying is that You all know that Jamaica is a beautiful country and violence is everywhere (They never had a Columbine incident). If you dont agree with their rules dont go .... but dont advocate for others to not go and speak badly about somewhere you know is beautiful.
Jamaica is a backward island of ignorant primatives who fornicate and thieve and then turn to that toilet paper known as the bible for justification of their hatreds.
Bad music--repititious rasta crap, bad food and ugly matted hair on hateful hypocrits. that's Jamaica.
I am American with parents from Jamaica. This focus on Jamaica is quite questionable. Why not focus on anti-gay laws and nations across the board. You say because Jamaica is small and poor you can target them? All you will do is hurt poor people and most likely not change any laws. a whole website dedicated to slandering little JA? oh by the way, Interesting "NOTE" , Jamaica is farrrrr from 'the most homophobic nation on earth' so please stop with the bull!
You and your little faggot friends are not welcome to Jamaica. You will contaminate our Island.....you wallow in so much shit you stink!!!!!
Mr. Wayne Besen and his cohorts are angry that most Jamaicans do not share their appetite for homosexuality. He must also be angry that many other countries worldwide despise his kind. If he’s caught in Saudi Arabia engaging in homosexual acts, he would likely be sentenced and chopped to pieces by an executioner. In Iran, he would be buried in the ground and stoned to death. Other countries have even more brutal ways of dealing with Mr. Besen and his friends. A lot of these countries have natural resources that curtail their reliance on the West, especially the United States, where Mr. Besen apparently lives. So, like the typical American bully, Mr. Besen targets Jamaica, the country he deems weak. I wonder if Mr. Wayne Besen’s targeting of Jamaica is also a reflection of his racial animus. Here is a “white man” who has no qualms about punishing over a million black people, and speaks so cavalierly about the damaging effect it would have on their lives, although the majority of these people has never attacked a human being, gay or straight, in their entire lives. I wonder if he would lead a similar campaign to boycott Israel that up to recently murdered over 1,400 Palestinians, severely injured another 10,000, and destroyed everything in sight with high powered weapons of mass destruction given to Israel by the world’s main culprit engaging in mass murders and grave violations of human rights on a daily basis.
No! Mr. Besen focuses on tiny Jamaica and hypes the deaths of a few individuals, none of whom was his friend, but who happened to be gay. He tries, dishonestly, to give the impression that Jamaicans are going on a rampage killing gays wherever they find them in Jamaica. Of course, one would have to be a fool to believe Mr. Besen’s sensationalism. While Mr. Besen condemns Jamaicans for isolated acts of crime against gays, he’s numb about the attacks, and even deaths, of gays in his home country. Further, he fails to mention that many States in the United States have laws that forbid the kinds of sexual activities that Mr. Besen wants to foist on everyone in Jamaica. Well, Mr. Besen, if you and your other gay buddies have failed to persuade most Americans to embrace your lifestyles, why do you believe that other people in the world will be more sympathetic? As one commentator opined, it might be best for you to change things in your yard before hypocritically lashing out at others and trying to shove your desires down their throats. You might enjoy things being “shoved” down your throat, but my Jamaican friends find it abhorrent.
Please feel free to commence your boycott campaign against Jamaica. Hopefully, more people of goodwill and common sense will outnumber the band of obnoxious gay activists, like yourself, who want to parade, with impunity, their offensive lifestyle everywhere they go
The problem is that Jamaicans rely on part of the bible to justify their hatred toward gays. They don't follow all of the Bible, for example, almost all of them eat sausage McMuffins, and the bible says eating pork is an abomination. The bible says "lying with a man" (meaning rape) is an abomination, but the Jamaicans twist this into meaning if you are gay it's an abomination. They spew their hate while gorging on sausage McMuffins. They rely on a Bible that's totally errant. See http://www.freethoughtdebater.com/tenbiblecontradictions.htm
Jamaica aint want no fags in their country. Keep that shit to yourself!
As many persons here have already said. Go right ahead and stay away. Our laws are here for a reason and it is because our constitution etc was derived from the British system and we are a self proclaimed Christian nation with more churches than you can imagine.
I am not exactly a Christian or Atheist however homosexuality is wrong anyway you look at it; from a Christian perspective and the Darwinian perspective. Human rights must be respected, i agree, but dont exaggerate the matter and put restrictions on a country for their sins especially when all your atrocities are finally catching up with you. Good luck changing the mind set of 3 million ppl tho. I'd LOVE to see it happen
Jamaica, is a Christian country in the British has taught them about the Bible and the teaching of God, so these people are following the rules and laws of God. So don't be a hater of God's people. Why don't you try to sya bad things about Muslim people and about their teachings about Gays? You people are afraid because you know what time it is with these people who take things more than personal whenever someone or any organization syas anything bad about Islam. Why don't you try and take them on? The we'll see the rersult of them burning Flags and asking for a Jihad against your group, but it's Jamaica, that doesn't have any Islamic fundamentalists who will look for you. Jamaican, people believe in multiply not subtracing. Since you people are so caught up in your world wehy the HELL you want straight people to have kids for you guys? Same sex cannot produce Kids. So you see like poles Repels and Unlike poles Attract, simple ABC....Have a nice day and asked Pastor Rick Warren in California nd the Pope to pray for you people.
Who cares about you and your nasty life style. Jamaica, is not missing you, stay wherever you are. Jamaican people don't give a FUCK about you. If you go there and try to display your nasty life style then you'll see which fucking God you are serving. Because it has to be the fucking devil you are serving. George Bush, our last and best president didn't fucking like you guys so FUCK OFF bitch..........Jamaicans, are christian people who believe in the word of God, and his son Jesus Christ, so to HELL with you. Why don't you bash the Pope or Italy? You think because Jamaica, is small they cannot stand up for themselves. Come there and see what God you are serving. Live your life to the fullest no one cares about what you want to do with your life but don't try and impose your will on others. Respect people's laws of their country. I have friends who are gays and they go to Jamaica, and have no problem. These people it's their culture. Mob killing is prevalent there. If they caught you raping someone they wil HACK you to death, or shoot you even if you're caught stealing or molesting kids. These people believe in quick justice outside of the courts. They don't believe in the system as it doesn't work for them , that's one of the main reasons why Jamaica, murder rate is so high. If you and someone has any problem the first thing they want to is to kill you. That's the culture and it hasn't change. Most of the times if you are a victim of a robbery, you're going to be a murder victim. These people dwell and gets joys of killing others. In Jamaica, they called it " Making Duppies", if you understand what I meant. If you're waiting to see the laws change there keep holding your breath, because any of the political party even mentioned such thing will be vote out period. In ending I wish you all the best and if you don't want to go there that's find. Go some where else where your life style is acceptable. Hey why don't you go to Pastor Rick Warrens. church in California, he might help you!!!!!!!!! Try God my friend. Gay people are human beings too, but I think something is literally wrong with them, they need intervention from the Most High God and his Son, Jesus Christ.
You cannot tell people what to do. It's their country if you don't like their laws don't go there. Why don't you fools talk about the 170 other nations that KILLED Gays, in there country for this practice?
i am a jamaian and not all jamaicans think gay should be beaten or killed. What i dislike most is that we jamaicans keep saying we are a christian nation,thats bullcrap. If we wer a christan nation we would not have a high crime rate and i decaying society,BTW if we were a christan society gays would not be beaten our killed but they would be treated with love and compation so please my fellow jamaicans stop the non sense. i beg of you people to geive the jamaican people a chance to evole from their ways. america was like jamaica a long time ago you changed and we will in due time too. people are beinging to change espicially the young people. DONT BOYCOTT JAMAICA.
I find it very disconcerting that eTurbo News could carry such a misleading article that has been dated February 29, 2008, and one that has been running around on the internet for the last year. The article puports that men were attacked "last week" and if you don't look at the date you are inclined to think this is a current situation.
These types of articles should show that are archived and are part of the history. It's is very sad and I am disappointed in a news feed that I have respected over the years.
Jamaica isn't even a relevant country. It's 3rd world, honestly who cares! It's irrelevent. ONly ppl who think it's relevant are the ppl who live on that crapheap of an island
I am an 18 year old living in Jamaica, s I will be the first to admit that homosexuals should not be killed or attacked. i agree with that.
But no one is asking you to come to the country. If you don't want to come, don't come.
Secondly, you cannot expect us to just accept the views and standards you wish to impose on us and not react. You have your standards, we have ours. Why can't be allowed to do what we are used to?
Thirdly, Jamaica is a very Christian country on a whole, even though most people are not Christians. According to the Bible, homosexuality is wrong. There are no ifs and buts about it. However, it doesn't say that they should be killed. In fact I have friends now (I'm studying in the UK) who are homosexuals and while I absolutely detest their practice, I realize that (1) it is their life and as long as they don't involve me, they can do whatever they want and (2) I am not in Jamaica and therefore wouldn't be able to do anything even if I wanted to.
Banning Jamaicans who want to travel is not the answer as Jamaicans (as people in general) will only kill/attack/etc. when in a mob (called the 'herd mentality'). Also, most of those who travel are not the ones who are committing these acts of violence. Are you telling me that I should be punished and that people should be denied the opportunity to travel and study abroad because of what their fellow countrymen are doing? We might as well say that no one from the US should come to Jamaica because there are some racists in the US. Is that fair?
Why is it that America will only take action when they have something to gain or nothing to lose? You said it yourself: "America is not going to jeopardize its oil supply over gay people." Why don't you apply the action right across the board rather than selecting the situations which you can win? I think that is a very cowardice approach.
Please think before you say things.
Ms Sykes.
P.S. Russia might see this as an oppotune time to create another ally. Don't think America would want that.
A Jamaica vacation is not in my future, thats for sure.. rather spend my money where I don't have to be afread of who I am... Jamaica get a clue ...gays spend big bucks on vacation, why would they want to support a country with their gay dollars and have to keep looking over their shoulders to see if they are safe. There are to many great places like Thailand , Mexico, that is friendly and welcome gays... f**k Jamaica.
It is unfortunate that Jamaica which is such a magnificently beautiful island is turning so ugly in regard to Gays and Lesbians.
I am proud of the Island of St. Croix, USVI where I live and do marketing for a resort which is not only welcoming to all but even have gay owned and operated resorts as well.
To the Gay/Lesbian Community: Please contact me at debidglhotels.com if you would like to visit our very beautiful and very welcoming island.
First of all, I believe that Jamaicans cannot have it both ways. If they want all this financial aid from abroad they also have to listen to people abroad. Why should gay people pay taxes to support a gay-bashing nation?
Second of all, it's a pain to always here people mentioning religion for their prejudices. Most religions have been pragmatic in the past if they saw there revenue streams fade away. One example would be the Mormon Church changing it's statutes in the 1960's just before the Voting Rights Act was introduced. Before that blacks were considered inferior. Thereafter things officially changed (because of the tax-exempt status etc.). Thus religion can change if there is pressure. God understands if things like money are concerned :-)
Most priests I know in Germany are gay. On the one hand they condemn homosexuality on the other hand they enjoy it themselves.
Jamaicans will probably still need some time. Evolution takes its time!
Marku
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