Jamaican town celebrates "Gay Eradication Day"

[FreeState]

http://www.digitaljournal.mobi/article/281361?


Jamaican town celebrates "Gay Eradication Day"
Montego Bay, Jamaica

Today has been proclaimed 'Gay Eradication Day' by residents of the McGregor Gully community in East Kingston. Residents say that they will be taking action as a two-week notice given to all gays and lesbians to flee the community has now expired.

The Jamaica Star is reporting that two weeks ago, residents of McGregor Gully declared they were fed up with gay behavior, and ordered all gays to leave by today. Those who did not leave would "suffer the consequences"

Those residents who are willing to admit that they are taking part in the gay rousting say they are doing it to protect their families and in an effort to keep their community from falling into disrepute.

According to the residents, the main problem is a local hangout that is frequented by lesbians who "kiss, hug, and even touch each other." And the community's anger is directed mostly at those lesbians, though any gay men who reside in the area are also expected to leave.

The residents say they will not stop until their community is "gay free" and are not afraid of resorting to extreme measures, though they would not explicitly say what those measures might be.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Well, we all know how marauding homosexuals just ruin a neighborhood.

You would think that these folks would have more important things to worry about:

Traditionally, the country has a very high murder rate; higher than Guatemala, Venezuela, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States. It had the highest murder rate in the world in 2004 and 2005. Another major problem on the island is drug trafficking, with cocaine and marijuana being the most prominent drugs in Jamaica. Many turf wars occur in Kingston and other cities.

[Arkana]

16. The idea of a bunch of gay pirates has me giggling like a retarded schoolgirl.

[tavalon]

39. Ruin a neighborhood? Hell, they make a neighborhood!

[MadMaddie]

2. Boy they are going to be dissapointed when the rapes and other

crimes continue because the crimes are committed by the pious heterosexuals in the community. They will kill anyone they think is Gay...

[Starbucks Anarchist]

3. You'd think all the weed would make them chill out.

[Codeine]

17. A stoned asshole

is no less an asshole.

[imdjh]

24. +1

[Starbucks Anarchist]

28. I agree.

[NMMNG]

4. Sick, twisted, depraved, hateful fuckers.

:grr:

[RKP5637]

5. And that F'ed place, Jamaica, was supposed to have been a vacation destination.

Agree so much! "Sick, twisted, depraved, hateful fuckers." :grr:

[Cerridwen]

6. Interesting; in an ugly way.

The residents say they are mostly worried about the lesbian group as they are most prevalent and influential. The number of persons in this group is said to be steadily increasing.

from a link in the article you linked

I had a "witch burning flashback." Must be all this talk of Samhain.

[xchrom]

7. ...

:grr: think about gay people who live there and can't get away from that awful island.

[RKP5637]

10. Frightful! And sounds like mob mentality. Many are often dealt such unpleasantness just

simply because they exist and have done no harm and are so far superior in life to the hateful ones. I often have difficulty thinking humans have evolved too much. As one of my friends once said, there is a thin veil between civilization and barbarianism.

[MisterP]

8. there's an almost anomalously high level of homophobia in Jamaica n/t

[malaise]

11. That is true in terms of the noise level about

homosexuals, but the truth is that most crimes against gays in Jamaica are actually committed by fellow gays. For the record I've never heard of violence against lesbians in Jamaica. It is male homosexuality that drives singers,DJs, politicians and preachers bat shit crazy enough to make so much noise on the subject.

It is irrational behavior by insecure males, but it is politically expedient.

[FreeState]

13. "but the truth is that most crimes against gays in Jamaica are actually committed by fellow gays"

Yes blame the gays - The Christian right does it here in America too - and its just as homphobic.

The Most Homophobic Place on Earth? Time Magazine http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1182991,00.html

Jamaica: Battybwoys affi dead" <"Faggots have to die"> Amnesty International http://www2.amnesty.se/hbt.nsf/actjamaica?OpenPage


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Jamaica

Violence against homosexuals

According to Human Rights Watch (2004), Verbal and physical violence, ranging from beatings to brutal armed attacks to murder, are widespread. For many, there is no sanctuary from such abuse. Men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women reported being driven from their homes and their towns by neighbors who threatened to kill them if they remained, forcing them to abandon their possessions and leaving many homeless.

In addition, police actively support homophobic violence, fail to investigate complaints of abuse, and arrest and detain men based on their alleged homosexual conduct.<6>
In one gay-hate murder, several witnesses that police participated in the abuse that ultimately led to his mob killing, first beating the man with batons and then urging others to beat him because he was homosexual.<7>

Amnesty International agrees: "Gay men and lesbian women have been beaten, cut, burned, raped and shot on account of their sexuality";<8> and gays and lesbians constitute one of the "most marginalized and persecuted communities in Jamaica".<9> Amnesty gave an example of a recent incident reported in a national newspaper, where a father encouraged a mob to beat up his son, who he suspected was gay, while he looked on smiling. No charges were laid. While police do not compile statistics on attacks against homosexuals,<10>, J-FLAG, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, report that they know of 30 gay men who have been murdered in Jamaica between 1997 and 2004.<11>

The violence has prompted hundreds of LGBT Jamaicans to seek asylum in nations such as Great Britain, Canada and the United States,<12> and several have been successful.<13> In 2005, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on Jamaica to repeal their sodomy laws and to actively combat widespread homophobia.<14>
Recent reported incidents of violence include:

In February 2007, three men were accosted by a large mob in a shopping area in Kingston and accused of being homosexual. Riot police were called, and they eventually carried the men to safety. There are allegations, however, that the men were also abused by the police. <2> <3>.

In January 2006, Nokia Cowan, a young Jamaican man, plunged to his death off a pier in Kingston after reportedly being chased through the streets by a mob yelling homophobic epithets.<15>

In April 2006, students at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies rioted as police attempted to protect a man who had been chased across the campus because another student had claimed the man had propositioned him in a bathroom. The mob demanded that the man be turned over to them. It only dispersed when riot police were called in and one officer fired a shot in the air. If the claim of a sexual advance is substantiated, the chased man could face charges.<16>

[malaise]

41. In 35 years I can recall two incidents of gays attacked on

the said campus of the University of the West Indies.
Hubby and I certainly don't condone the homophobia, but when mediocre performers use anti-gay slurs to whip up a crowd at a stage show, we interpret that more as ignorance than hatred.

Take it from me thousands more Jamaicans have migrated for jobs and security after 30 years of the 'shock doctrine' than they have over attacks on gays.
I dare JFLAG to post who killed at least 80% of those 30 gay men including the one who was strangled in that disgusting killing at his Montego Bay home recently.

Where you are correct is that there are ignorant people on this island particularly in Fundie churches and politicians who promote the derision of gays. How different is that from Pat Robertson et al? And yes there are several islands in the Caribbean where religious stupidity trumps people's basic rights.

[FreeState]

14. No Woman No Cry: Lesbians in Jamaica

http://www.divamag.co.uk/diva/features.asp?AID=357

Most of the media coverage of Jamaica’s homophobia has focused on the violently anti-gay lyrics of the country’s dancehall and reggae music, and brought to the world’s attention the murder in 2004 of Jamaican gay rights campaigner Brian Williamson, founder of J-FLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals and Gays, the country’s first and only LGBT lobbying, advocacy and support group.

But little has been written specifically about the experiences of Jamaican lesbians. Although lesbianism isn’t a criminal offence under Jamaican law, lesbians are significantly affected by Jamaica’s climate of homophobic violence. Karlene is co-chair of J-FLAG, and uses only her first name because of fears for her safety. Against inconceivable odds, J-FLAG runs a women’s group. Says Karlene: ‘We have socials where we’ll lyme – hang out at someone’s house – and some of us host little events at our homes, but they must be in a safe area. Everything must be done in secret – we don’t want unexpected visitors’.

While in Britain we’ve been celebrating the right to join in Civil Partnership, lesbians in Jamaica struggle for the right to exist. Terry, a 22-year-old waitress, is fortunate to have a gay older brother and is out to her father, but she and her brother are regular targets for homophobes. This year alone she’s been trailed and taunted by homophobic men, who’ve threatened to beat her up at work and showered her with a torrent of verbal abuse.

‘I hope one day I’ll be able to walk down the street with my lover, hand in hand, without worrying that I might be killed,’ she tells DIVA.

In recent years, Jamaica has become notorious for its shocking gay rights record. In 2004, Human Rights Watch produced an alarming report called Hated to Death. It focused on homophobia within the country, detailing commonplace acts of extreme violence against gay men, and widespread incidents of lesbians and gay men being driven from their homes under threat of death.

The report also found that police in Jamaica routinely and actively support homophobic violence, and concluded that Jamaica is in violation of its obligations as a state party to regional and international human rights treaties.
It may seem odd, given the country’s heinous record on gay rights, that people like Beverly and Gina should risk having a fairly elaborate ‘wedding’ but, as Amnesty International spokesperson Sarah Green explains: ‘There’s no legal recognition for any act of union whatsoever, but in places where police are brutal and there’s serious vigilante violence, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all gay people are going to be forced into hiding.’

[Raster]

32. What the fuck are you smoking? No, most crimes against gays are committed by

bigoted, hateful, homophobic, straight-identifying pieces of shit.

[Withywindle]

36. Really? committed by fellow gays? Really!

It is male homosexuality that drives singers,DJs, politicians and preachers bat shit crazy enough to make so much noise on the subject.


Oh, so that makes it OK then, just because it's not about lesbians but those nasty men who dare to love and want other men?


Why exactly would those singers, DJs, politicians an preachers care so much about men loving other men? Isn't love a good thing?

It is irrational behavior by insecure males, but it is politically expedient.


It's not "politically expedient" for GLBT people who were born there and are stuck there and have to live with this shit. Why is it OK to have a day threatening to "eradicate" ANYONE? It's not OK, no matter what qualifiers you try to put on it. It's not, never has been, and never will be OK. And why do you think it's "politically expedient"? Because you admit there are lots and lots of people in Jamaica who are into gay-bashing?

hell, it's true here. There are parts of the US I would tell out of country friends to STAY THE HELL AWAY from, and others I'd tell them, "Yes, it's awesome there, go visit."

Jamaica's tiny though. What is there to appeal to tourists really but nice beaches and a mellow vibe? There are SO many other places they can go to get that same thing...without the hate.

[malaise]

9. WTF???

The Jamaican Star is the equivalent of the Globe or Enquirer. We haven't even heard about this on a newscast or seen it in the Gleaner, Observer or Radio Jamaica's website.
Where did you get the Montego Bay reference from in your OP? McGregor Gully is in Kingston 2 - hundreds of miles from Montego Bay.

That said, if the report is true (and I doubt that) you would think residents of McGregor Gully would be more worried about violence in their community. It is a volatile neighbourhood.

[Cerridwen]

12. Whew. Thank you.

That was an ugly story.

[FreeState]

15. Just found this

it may be a two year old story... according to this blog anyway. Old or new if its true its horrific.

http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2009/10/savage-slog-notices-2-year-old-jamaican.html

Up at the Seattle Stranger's Slog blog, activist and writer Dan Savage is calling attention to an April 26, 2007, story in the Jamaican Star about "Gay Eradication Day" in a part of Kingston.

From Dan's post today:
No quotes from the authorities about protecting the gay men and lesbians in town where the "eradication" is under way. Because, of course, the authorities in Jamaica don't protect gays and lesbians from mob violence. Background on boycotting Jamaica is here. And if Barack Obama is going to send an openly gay ambassador anywhere, he should send one to Jamaica.
I'm not clear as to why Dan is calling attention to the old story.

Readers will recall that in March of this year, I wrote about the 2007 Gay Eradication Day and the Star piece. Back in the spring, I was involved with the Boycott Jamaica project, and in doing research, I found a post on the Star article on Cheril N. Clarke's web site. Cheril blogged in May 2007 about the notorious day, and I don't think I would know about it if she hadn't blogged on it.

Here's the opening from the old Star article:
Today has been proclaimed 'Gay Eradication Day' by residents of the McGregor Gully community in East Kingston. Residents say that they will be taking action as a two-week notice given to all gays and lesbians to flee the community has now expired.

THE STAR learnt that about two weeks ago angry residents who declared that they were fed up with seeing the activities of several gay persons in their community, ordered that they leave by today or suffer the consequences. <...>
So Dan, like myself and other gays, only learned about Gay Eradication Day this year, and we have Cheril to thank for first getting the word out among USA gays about it, and there is every reason to keep reminding ourselves that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jamaicans face outrageous hostility and threats on a daily basis.

Regarding Dan's excellent idea of Obama appointing an openly gay man as our ambassador to Kingston, it's something I wish our professional advocacy groups in DC would push. And, let's stop at the top. Let's also advocate for openly gay Americans to serve in other capacities at our embassy in Jamaica.

[DailyGrind51]

18. You'd think they would have more to worry about?

Like their own rampant crime problems.

[Withywindle]

19. have you been following the Buju Banton issue?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buju_Banton

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jul/23/musicnews.gayrights

http://www.keithboykin.com/arch/2006/09/29/buju_banton_to


Beenie Man too:

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/10/23/beenie_man_defends_homophobic_lyrics


There was a time when Jamaican music was honestly associated with social justice. That was a long time ago. Bob Marley and Peter Tosh are long dead. And they're spinning in their graves at this kind of shit.


You want a beautiful tropical vacation in a country that isn't 5 centuries worth of retarded on basic human rights issues? Fuck Jamaica, it's too far gone. (at least as of now - they have a chance to redeem themselves but they're going to have to STOP this shit.) Go to Brazil instead! Sao Paulo hosts the largest Pride parade in the world (3 million last year!). President Lula is openly and proudly on the side of full equality: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Brazil

[malaise]

40. Interesting

Wasn't it said Buju who sat down with members of the gay community from California recently.

Singers and DJs sing about whatever they choose. While many Jamaicans don't support the homophobia, I can tell you our musicians have done way less harm on this island than the CIA, US preachers and politicians and all those illegal weapons including M16s which come from the US.

[HipChick]

20. Don't pick on Jamaica..

There's a prevailing anti-gay sentiment in the Caribbean...much of the islands are also quite into religion.

[Withywindle]

21. I'm not interested in "picking on" any country overrun with homophobia.

I AM interested in letting them stew on their own bullshit, wherever they are, and advising progressive people of all orientations to take their tourist money elsewhere.


I AM interested in sending out the message that any country that relies on tourism for its income, ought to realize that homophobia HURTS the most basic desire of all its citizens, which is to put food on the table.

There are plenty of countries just as warm, just as pretty, just as full of sultry silky beaches, with even better native music and nightlife (BRAZIL! GO THERE!) with a whole lot less hate.

[burrowowl]

22. Write the Jamaican and other Carribs tourism boards and

say you wouldn't go there because of their homophobism!

[imdjh]

26. Ummm, that's not a good defense.

[imdjh]

23. Jamaica has eleven exports, all of which Americans can live without.

[Sultana]

25. Dumbshits!

Rather than worrying about 'teh gays' they should focus on fixing their shitty lives.

[BreweryYardRat]

27. Anyone for Jamaican-Homophobe Eradication Day?

Identify the people responsible for these mob beatings/murders and kill them all.

Slowly.

***
And no, I'm not joking. Let me try to quote Sprague de Camp from memory -- he was discussing ethnic/religious hatred, but it certainly applies here. "The only way to deal with large groups of people motivated by hatred...

...is to kill them until the survivors realize that they were wrong."

[Withywindle]

34. Well, that wasn't quite what MLK used to such great advantage....

Emotionally, I agree with you. I SO want to organize gay-basher-bashing mobs.

In the long run, though, I advocate taking the long-term higher ground and starving these fuckers out and waiting for them to die because they are SO on the losing side of history.

In the meantime, I really do advocate repeatedly emailing the chambers of commerce and embassies of all these hate-ridden little countries and telling them the hate is the reason why the tourists aren't coming anymore.

In a battle between homophobic hoodlums and a whole nation full of people who feed their children mostly through hotels and restaurants and nightclubs...

yeah, I hope eventually the thugs who contribute NOTHING to their country but violent macho posturing will get nudged into setting down and shutting up by those who actually want to make a fucking living.

In the meantime, the most beautiful beaches and hottest nightlife in the world are in BRAZIL. There are states there were marriage equality is real, and there is active LGBT organizing going on in every state there. It's kind of like the US but dressed better, and also (in the Northeast especially) with even stronger Black cultural life.

[BrklynLiberal]

29. So much for THEIR tourism business....

[GoneOffShore]

30. Canceling our trip to Hedonism right now.

[underseasurveyor]

31. Wow... I did read the the title correctly

I thought to myself as I read it, 'that can't be.'

What a bunch of jerk-offs that need to fuck-off. No vacationing or spending money in Jamaica.

[madeline_con]

33. "... doing it to protect their families..."

:wtf:

[HipChick]

35. I've spent 25 years travelling and sailing around the Caribbean ..

I've seen many Cruise boats turned away from ports, I have gay friends that were killed...and none of these incidents occurred in Jamaica..so why single out Jamaica? a lot more goes on, on other islands...just never hits the media..

Boycotting Jamaica only hurts the gay population there..gays are not welcome to serve in public office...it does not help with the escalating problem of prostate cancer, Jamaica has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer - its treatable but men will not even go and get the exam because they are fearful of being labelled gay.

[Withywindle]

37. Oh, so they're afraid that having a doctor stick their finger up their butts will

get them labelled "gay."??!??

Honey, the levels of pathological irrational superstition going on there are SO FAR ABOVE AND BEYOND anything I can even begin to address. My compassion fatigue is kicking in right about now. Men who are that messed up in the head need education above and beyond what anyone on this board can do. Am I supposed to care about those people?

Sorry, I fail. Actual GLBT people come first.

[malaise]

42. Gays are not welcome to serve in public office?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - are you serious? WTF do you know about who holds public office in Jamaica? That is absolutely ridiculous.

[Jkid]

38. This just reeks of genocide

if not enforcing male supremacist culture.