Don’t gay-gang Bartlett
ACOUPLE weeks ago, I got quite irate reading another online article about homophobia in Jamaica, which was, in my humble opinion, less than constructive. I can’t quite fathom how it helps to improve the situation here (but I might be assuming that that was the intention).
The piece titled ‘Jamaica Insists Gay Tourists Welcome, Despite Horrific Anti-LGBT Violence’ was posted on NewNowNext subsequent to an article that quoted the minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett, saying, “LGBT travellers should feel relaxed travelling to Jamaica. It’s ‘tourism for all’ in our country, regardless of gender, religion, handicap, or sexual orientation.”
Dan Avery, the author, seemingly found this contentious. He felt compelled to assert that we are trying to cash in on the pink dollar and discredited whatever suggestion Bartlett had made. According to him, “Bartlett’s sunny statement contradicts a history of rampant homophobia in the former British colony, where consensual homosexual sex is still a crime and antiLGBT violence is endemic: Gay men have been beaten, shot, and stoned to death because of their orientation. Just this year, LGBT activist Dexter Pottinger, dubbed the ‘face of Pride’, was murdered in his home.”
It is a fact that LGBT people living in Jamaica face many problems because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. This is incontestable. Some have been physically harmed. Others psychologically. Some murdered. Many have had to flee. Between January 2011 and March 2017, J-FLAG received and documented 261 reports related to robbery and burglary, extortion, vandalism, employment discrimination, outing, blackmail, targeted and attempted home invasion, home destruction, arson, arrests pursuant to the buggery law and offending public decency, targeted attacks, violent robbery, sexual abuse, targeted murders, displacement, unlawful arrest, and verbal harassment.
Avery was troubled that Jamaica wants to “cash in” on the pink dollar too. I don’t think this should be a problem, regardless of our “history of homophobic violence and discrimination.” What is being done to redress this history should count for something. Additionally, despite the human-rights situation for LGBT and long before Bartlett’s statement, Jamaica has been welcoming LGBT tourists for quite a while. We have even had same-sex marriage ceremonies here – some reported; some not. Some LGBT tourists, like Jamaicans living here, have a bad time and others have a had wonderful time here.
BARTLETT’S COMMENTS REFRESHING
What Minister Ed Bartlett said about all tourists, including LGBT tourists, being welcome here is refreshing and should be seen as an opportunity to leverage his support to do more for LGBT people in the country rather than chastise him.
I get so nervous when people fail to realise Pride celebrations do not all need to resemble the ones in America. That there was no massive commercialised street parade should not discount the efforts and strides being made to stand up and defy homophobia and transphobia. Understand that we do not all subscribe to an Americanised version of being queer and celebrating queerness. We can forge paths of our own.
I think people writing on LGBT issues in Jamaica should learn to respect the agency of LGBT people and rights advocates. Always ask, how does what I say or write impact positively or negatively on the movement and LGBT people living there?
Always consider that it is not politically expedient for any politician or government official to make supportive statements relating to, or showing up, at LGBT-related events. It means this is leadership, which should be commended and leveraged for the greater good. Constantly chastising them when they make an attempt may turn them off and cause us to lose the support of existing or potential allies. It is, therefore, important to check your biases and ignorance about countries when writing about these issues.
Already, some of us have been discussing and trying to see how Bartlett’s comments can be leveraged to engender greater changes for LGBT people living here in Jamaica. Finally, consider the fact that LGBT people here do not concern themselves only with the buggery law. Appreciate that while important, buggery law repeal is not a panacea, and there is no blueprint for changing attitudes. Progress is possible, even with such a law on the books.
Bartlett’s willingness to speak internationally on this issue would be most welcome. The Government’s silence on this particular issue is deafening. Too often our leaders say the right thing abroad and say nary a word locally. Leadership on the part of the Government is required. There are some noteworthy efforts, but so much more needs to be done to LGBT Jamaicans can feel safe and a part of Jamaica.