"Come Back To Jamaica..."

Who could forget these iconic ads from the 1980s that implored Americans to "Come back to Jamaica" and "Come back to the way things used to be..."

A bat wielding vigilante in the crowd threatening 5 accused gay men barricaded in a house.

Well, Jamaica is still living up to her declaration, the one about coming back to the way things used to be. Jamaica is well known throughout the world for its ingrained hatred and intolerance for her own GLBT citizens.  The island nation, once a British colony, still retains colonial era laws against "buggery" and her rampant "vigilante justice" for dealing with GLBTs is well known throughout the world. Just a few weeks ago, a young transgendered teen was beaten to death by a crowd of party-going neighbors who discovered that he was biologically male.

Despite a few brave souls who at great peril to their lives attempt to stand up to their repressive government and the religious inspired hatred of the populous, Jamaica remains one of the most homophobic societies in the world.  The anti-gay hatred found in Russia pales in comparison to that found in Jamaica (which is just off the shores of the United States, which herself still has a long way to go in terms of GLBT rights).

I've been to Jamaica.  I've walked the streets of Kingston and listened to the hatred that so freely spews from the mouths of the everyday citizens.  I think it's partly due to the great poverty and the ignorance of religious zealotry that causes her people to seek out the weakest and least understood amongst them to be the scapegoats of the society's self-loathing hatred.  When I went there, I finally understood what was wrong with the Jamaican man I'd fallen in love with and why he'd probably never be able to truly love me or anyone else for that matter. That society destroys the hearts of men with hate.  And for GLBT people who find themselves born into that hateful society, the very real fears that are a part of their everyday lives consumes their souls and steals away the largest part of their humanity, the ability to love.

This is the latest news report out of Jamaica, and in my opinion, only because the cameras were watching, did it end as peaceably as it did...

According to CVM TV NEWSWATCH on August 22, 2013 "men said to be homosexuals had to be rescued by a strong attachment of police. The men were marooned in a house after earning the fury of residents. The sleepy community of green gully Manchester was angrily awakens on Thursdays after the actions of an alleged homosexual man. Residence became riled up when the man allegedly made statements which made them gravely concerned. The residence would have none of it. As the story spread like wild fire throughout the community, the residents annoyance spilled over, the five (5) men and a vehicle belonging to them were barricaded. The five (5) men were rescued and escorted out of the community by police."

The oppression, hatred and very real danger that our Jamaican GLBT brothers and sisters face every single day is far worse than anything happening in Russia.  Yet where is the international outcry...? Where are the calls for sanctions and boycotts (although there have been a few)?  Where is the outrage from GLBT activist around the world?  And why haven't even I spoken out about the plight of Jamaican GLBT people more often?  The answer of course is that because these are GLBT people of color (and whether we want to admit it or not), they are seen as "lesser than" even by their brothers and sisters in the greater world who have already won their rights and freedom.  So even beyond the hatred that they endure simply because of the nature of their hearts, GLBT people of color everywhere in the world rarely find the sympathies of their brethren overseas or even those as in this case living at their backdoor (the U.S. and Canada).

As we celebrate our own progress towards achieving Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "dream" tomorrow, let us not forget that he also taught us that "injustice anywhere, is injustice everywhere" and that until all men can be free, no man is truly free...

"Fear Eats the Soul"