General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDear Obama: Here's Why Jamaica's LGBT Community Needs Your Help
A queer Jamaican living in the U.S. explains what's at stake for one of the world's most dangerous countries for LGBT people.
When people ask where Im from, I hesitate. Im from Jamaica, born there and raised in the way of immigrants in the Westin a cocoon of familiarity, communities that emulate home. Now, I live in the United States, and often feel like an unwanted othera legal immigrant who literally faces deportation in the next four months. The words home and origin have lost meaning to me. I am a 28-year-old pansexual Jamaican immigrant. So "home" cannot be the country that would turn a blind eye if I were murdered in broad daylight for loving whom I love, and it cannot be the country that may send me back there anyway. All of this is top of mind, mainly because President Obama is on the way to Jamaica. The main reason for his visit is, of course, business. But there are some key issues President Obama should deal withmainly, Jamaica's treatment of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
--snip---
Last year, I was forced out of the closet, my secret clutched tightly in my mothers balled, railing fists as she screamed, Its better you died than be this way. This is a part of coming out in Americaespecially for West Indians.
This is what it means to be Jamaican and queer: exiled and banished, scattered in former colonial countries that created the homophobic laws that threaten our lives back home"wherever that is. It means being an unwelcomed other in American and Jamaican spaces. I want to make a life in the U.S. because this is the only home I've ever really known. Every four years, as the presidential election season hits, I'm remindedby politicians' rhetoricthat I am not truly welcome in America. My immigration status is constantly in fluxyes, I'm a legal resident and get to work here. But every couple of years, the U.S. government determines how long I can stayand can decide, with little notice, that I should leave. The government hasn't decided what to do with immigrants who came to this country as children. It's complicated.
---snip---
Whenever another gory story of public torture or murder of an LGBT person surfaces from Jamaica, Im reminded why I cant go back. A feminine man has been publicly stoned to death. A transgender teen was murdered by a mob. Throngs of people regularly shout, Kill the batty boy, a reference to gay or bisexual men. Its hard to forget that between 2009 and 2012, a Jamaican LGBT group, J-FLAG, documented nearly 230 antigay attacks in a country that criminalizes sex between men. Last year, Human Rights Watch published a report that documented the extraordinary discrimination LGBT Jamaicans face, even from government institutions. More than half of those surveyed by Human Rights Watch said they had been victims of some form of discrimination because of their gender or sexual identity. Rarely did they report these crimes to authoritiespartly because of how gayness is viewed in Jamaican society. Yet, there is progress: Just a few years ago, Kingston, the capital, hosted Jamaicas first gay pride parade.
more...
JI7
Aerows
(39,961 posts)I hope that someone will intervene!
Cha
(297,446 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)malaise
(269,114 posts);
Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)Thanks for the kick and exposure.
zappaman
(20,606 posts)I would love to hear what he said!
Thanks!
Response to malaise (Reply #5)
Post removed
H2O Man
(73,577 posts)JURY RESULTS
You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu Apr 9, 2015, 10:09 PM, and the Jury voted 4-3 to HIDE IT.
Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: That person needs to move out of the brat mode.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Jamaica IS filled with homophobic bigots
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: What is wrong with you? Malaise doesn't deserve your rage. You don't think he knows it is President Obama? Many of us use the President's last name in our replies. I guess you yell and scream at all the reporters who do the same thing. I am stunned at your reply to Malaise's post. Easy hide for me. I am stunned by this alert. Thank you for alerting this well deserved hide.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The comment about Jamaica being nothing is rather out of line (although the observation about homophobia in Jamaica is not). Out of line, though, does not equal over-the-top, and the "that's President Obama to you" comment (while rather silly) doesn't remotely approach the level of a hide.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No more benefit of the doubt. Tired of the nastiness and personal attacks.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Believe me, I have seen this posters true colors and think he is a rotten person, but see nothing hide-worthy. Sorry, as I know he and his friends would hide a post just because of the poster, not the post.
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
zappaman
(20,606 posts)one_voice
(20,043 posts)comments? I'm a little confused...
Do you have a link?
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Malaise may clarify what the puke icon meant tomorrow.
Too bad this thread hasn't gotten more recs and attention.
malaise
(269,114 posts)He went on to say that the video had been taken down at Youtube.
I responded that it did not happen because it would have been major news here, all 'the experts' who know very little about this island attacked me. Not one of them could produce a link other than the source from where the video was taken down.
Did it happen ages ago - possibly because I know about so.
Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)joeybee12
(56,177 posts)And why politicians here don't speak out against it when they do about other countries is perplexing.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)He also spoke to our own issues. The students seemed positive in respect human rights by the applause.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)The usual address is " Dear Mr Obama" at least
How far respect for him has fallen, thanks right wing
Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)Response to Behind the Aegis (Reply #9)
Post removed
one_voice
(20,043 posts)zappaman
(20,606 posts)Has a homophobia problem.
And it's a big one.
Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)Wouldn't you agree?
Response to Behind the Aegis (Original post)
H2O Man This message was self-deleted by its author.
Initech
(100,093 posts)It's a long battle but it will be won. And it's not just America - the rights of LGBT citizens around the globe are at stake.
one_voice
(20,043 posts)I had no idea Jamaica had such a problem with homophobia.
I can't wrap my head around such things.
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)Do you really think that President Obama making a statement about the Gay community in Jamaica is going to make a difference?
Jamaica is one of the most intolerant country that abhors Gays, nothing that this President of the US can deter how Jamaicans are. They even killed a university professor!
Just today, I saw that your President is asking for no theraphies to convert gay people! That was bold of President Obama, but you do think anyone is going to listen to him!
For me, the world changed when President Obama was elected and it just goes to show how much some people hate him and whilst they hate him, more people love him.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Just sayin'
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)I am guessing the lesbian from Jamaica who wrote the piece also thinks so. Apparently, he felt it might make a difference, too.
I also saw he made comments about gay conversion therapy and I applauded him for it. It DOES make a difference. He is one of the most powerful men in the world and his opinion does matter.
Asking him to broach the subject of GLBT issues in foreign nations he is visiting is not equivalent to hating him.
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)what you are trying to say! I had already responded to you.
Goodbye
Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)Also, you responded to a DIFFERENT poster, not me.
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)Do not want to make adversaries on here! My apologies. I just want to converse with like minded people who are Democratic inclinded and who really care for people who are less fortunate.
Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)That is why the author wrote what she did, and why I reposted it from the LGBT group.
Response to Behind the Aegis (Reply #32)
akbacchus_BC This message was self-deleted by its author.
Response to Behind the Aegis (Reply #32)
akbacchus_BC This message was self-deleted by its author.
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)one people and I have no idea why discrimation is so rampant to race, gender. We are whom we are and we need to accept us. To be honest, I embrace everyone but you as I know, some people feel that they are superior and at times we take second place, but we have to stand up and say, no more, but that will take a long time! I am not even sure how we can achieve equality if our leaders do not support us. In your wildest dreams, do you think our PM Harper is for poor people, hell no!
Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)(I see you got caught in the DU glitch! LOL!)
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)I ache for him, nothing he does pleases anyone and am glad his term is coming to an end!
You know what, he did the best he could for Americans and he is still a fucking Kenyan (cliche).
Hope America thrives under hilary clinton!
Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)He has done some really good things, including speaking out against anti-GLBT discrimination, among many other things. Why do you seem to think this post about concerns for GLBT concerns is "hating on" the president? I really don't understand that conclusion.
BTW, the "DU glitch" was a reference to your "posting" the exact same thing three times. Sometimes, the system hangs, and if you are in the middle of posting something, it posts multiple times; which is why the posts all were listed as #33. That was the 'glitch.'
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)I do not want to argue with you! Am not American and I defer to your intelligence!
Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)Why are your posts so hostile and passive aggressive? The rights are of GLBT are important and deserve attention, including from the president, which he has shown in word and deed. Why do you keep on insisting on claiming things that I nor the author, (which I am not as I am neither Jamaican nor a lesbian) are claiming? Do you not feel the rights of GLBT people are worthy of discussion?
freshwest
(53,661 posts)malaise
(269,114 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,967 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)my home.
Peace