The time has come to Boycott Jamaica

By Ralph Emerson
Published 04/26/2008
GBMNews Editorials
Rating: Unrated

Ralph Emerson

The time has come to Boycott Jamaica

Jamaica displays to the world a friendly, happy-go-lucky face. Yet Jamaica disavows, and attempts to deflect world condemnation for, its barbaric polices and publicly-condoned egregious societal treatment of gay people. Jamaica's behavour is an embarassment to people of African decent.

GBMNews supports the growing campaign to boycott Jamaica.

The protest movement against Jamaica's policies is gaining steam. Condemnations have come from various World Human Rights organizations, the Metropolitan Community Church, and other religious groups in the United States. Great Britain has been in the forefront of the protest movement for years. The Canadian government has vowed to agrresively enforce its laws against hate speech in music, and is providing sanctuary for many gay Jamaicans.

A boycott is very unfortunate, but it is patently obvious that Jamaica refuses to address its own bigotry. Therefore, outside measures are required to save LGBT Jamaicans from injury and even death.

At this time, we advise our readers to avoid Jamaican products, music, concerts and above all avoid all travel to the island. We ask you to be proactive and tell others to do the same. Ask stores to stop carrying Jamaican products. Ask radio staions and clubs to stop playing Jamaican music. Ask travel agents to steer clients to friendly desitinations.

Please post this article to all Internet social networking groups in which you belong.

The Jamaican boycott will start slowly but soon more effective measures will come to pass. GBMNews will keep you abreast.

Change will come to Jamaica!

Spread The Word

If I put white paint on a black horse does it become a zebra? How soon we forget our own struggle.

12 Responses to "The time has come to Boycott Jamaica"

Nasheed Abdul-Wakil Rating: ratingfull

said this on 27 Apr 2008 12:42:20 AM CDT

After reading news coverage and seeing photos of horrific mob violence, it was a quick painless decision never to consider Jamaica a travel destination. I assumed that informed black gay men around the world had come to the same conclusion. So, at first, I didn't understand all the talk about whether or not to boycott Jamaica.

However, refusing to purchase Jamaican made products and asking stores not to carry Jamaican made products hadn't occurred to me. The financial impact of such a boycott by even the tiniest fraction of the world's population would pressure Jamaican merchants and manufacturers to become involved in this critical human rights campaign.

It might be personally difficult to know where to draw the line in such an economic boycott, though. My new favorite restaurant here in Brooklyn, New York is owned by a Jamaican-American woman. Her restaurant, Stir It Up, features Jamaican cuisine. Of the thousands of restaurants here in NYC, the most delicious food is at this restaurant.

There is no doubt, though, that I respect and applaud GBMNews's support of the boycott of Jamaica. I will do my part to spread the news.

(Reply to this comment)

Colin Rating: ratingfull

said this on 27 Apr 2008 11:57:39 AM CDT

It's not about punishment; it's about solidarity

Hmmm. Anyone ask the GLBT Jamaicans living there if they think it’s time to boycott their country? JFLAG, one of the leading groups there has said it does not support a boycott, and this has been covered in the gay press. Or do Americans think we get to do Iraq as gay folks too?

And aren't political boycotts supposed to be about personal sacrifice for a greater good? How many “boycotters” have ever spent any money in Jamaica? Most (African) American calls for a boycott of Jamaica I’ve read are about punishing a country for its homophobia with our racial or economic power, and are as much about anti-Jamaican bias as anything else.

Come on!! We're talking lightly about putting people with children out of work but unsure if we can skip a good meal? Some UK teachers recently decided to go visit Jamaica to support local struggles on homophobia. Imagine if White folks in the North had just decided to boycott the South during the Civil Rights movement.

I prefer to work on changing Jamaica with people who love Jamaica, not those who hate it.

(Reply to this comment)

Joseph Rating: ratingfull

said this on 28 Apr 2008 11:14:25 AM CDT

It is an excellent time in our lives that many people both in the Caribbean and the wider world value the calls for a boycott of Jamaica. We are in a time of radical change and radical assault by people, governments, and the religious right who continue to erode any fights to gain sexual citizenship. Whilst, a boycott will affect us all North or South, clearly from the comments of Bruce Golding this past week, makes it even clearer that his government is trying to divert from the issue of human rights and human dignity by talking about same-sex marriage.

Everyone around the world, please take sometime to consider what this all means around a boycott and then make a moral decision whether to support it or not. Change comes slowly and we can all send a clear message to the government of Jamaica that it too must change slowly towards human rights. Just recently the Minister of Foreign Affairs condemned the situation in Zimbabwe. It's only fair game for the international community to condemn the normalcy of violence in Jamaica. It is a member of the international community and also a state working towards "first world " status as Portia Miller-Simpson once said.

The movement has began!

(Reply to this comment)

Gareth Rating: ratingfull

said this on 28 Apr 2008 11:29:23 AM CDT

The time has come and is now!!!! over the past years the government have refused to address the violence against the LGBT community, what they have done instead is to use songs with homophobic content as part of there political campaigns....what meassage are they sending? the current government while in opposition said that there is no room for gays in his cabinet....what message is he sending? he recently again stated that under his leadership the country will not be going down the road of reapling the sodomy laws.....so when is it that LGBT people in Jamaica will have there rights protect and treated humane? In the last 3 years over 20 gays and lesbians have been murdered in jamaica, over 10 lesbians raped, in 2007 over 43 mob attacks some where persons are beated and almost chopped to death, one young man 22 years old was chased to his death after jumping into the habour and drowned, how many more people must die before we realize that this madness need to end? Colin, wake up...its not about who have spent money in Jamaica or not...its about concern well thinking human beings who see the rights of others violated and want to do something to stop it.....Have anyone asked the LGBT community in Jamaica if they support a boycott? the answer is yes, and it goes way beyond just asking.....I guess whan the mob start to gather at some of us doors and we suddelly get paralyzed by fear we will then realize the severity of the situation....those who feel it know it... and should be allowed to talk without attempts to be silenced by bureaucrats.....

Nasheed, do your part, its about saving lives....

Colin, what is it that you are doing to help? its time for action not just pure talk.

This is a great article and the call for a boycott is the last possible hope of helping gays and lesbians in Jamaica.

(Reply to this comment)

Linford Rating: ratingfull

said this on 28 Apr 2008 11:39:26 AM CDT

As a gay Jamaican i think the idea of havign international support to boycott Jamaica is important since Jamaica survives in a global market.

I am jamaican and I am also gay. Some of you are so often negative instea dof bringing about suggestions. Again we display our dirty laundry in public domain.

Maybe my Caribbean counterparts should focus their attention on their own country for now and let the Jamaicans both locally and abroad come to their own own conclusion about what is best for Jamaica at this time.

Rather my Carribean gay friends should support both the gay diaspora and the local groups and encourage continued dialogue than further driving negative thoughts.

Stop being so negative.

(Reply to this comment)

taylor Siluwe Rating: ratingfull

said this on 29 Apr 2008 5:09:26 PM CDT

I agree with a boycott of Jamaica. Attacking the wallet of the nation is sometimes a most effective form of protest.

I also agree another form of protesting its homophobia is to actually go there and help those in need. Many see this as crazy; but the bottomline is there is no single way to be most effective for all.

As for the analogy about what would have happened if white Americans had boycotted the south ... well, its a good point that can't be ignored.

(Reply to this comment)

Chris Rating: ratingfull

said this on 30 Apr 2008 10:01:37 AM CDT

As a (gay) American having lived in Jamaica for a considerable amout of time I agree that a boycott is a good idea on paper, however you can not legislate an attitude change. It's up to the people of Ja to change their own mind and I really don't see that happening. Unfortunately, the country is, by and large, mired deep in political corruption, a failing economy and a huge lack of education. The biggest of these issues, lack of good education, is the biggest hold-back to an attitude change. A liberal or even accepting attitude toward homosexuals will never occur unless the education system gets an overhaul and every Jamaican has an opportunity for a good education without costing an arm and a leg. The hostile attitude toward homosexuals is simply a symptom of a larger problem. I know because I've live it.

(Reply to this comment)

an unknown user Rating: ratingfull

said this on 08 May 2008 4:46:03 PM CDT

I'm all for it!

(Reply to this comment)

eiden Rating: ratingfull

said this on 10 Oct 2008 10:57:01 PM CDT

if you ask a jamaican to justify his views on gays first of all he'll say "it's nasty"when he'll quote leviticus at you ,man shall not lay with man.that same leviticus says,you may treat your slaves like this but not the people of israel your relatives, must never be treated this way (leviticus 25:44-46 nlt)

(Reply to this comment)

Sly Rating: ratingfull

said this on 08 Nov 2008 4:37:24 AM CDT

As a straight Jamaican, i enjoy the freedom to live my life in a society that does not inhibit or impose interference with my
choice of sexual expression. If i was gay, it would be an entirely different matter.

The seemingly hostile attitude towards homosexuals by Jamaicans stems from the general belief among Jamaicans that this
particular kind of behaviour is "unnatural', a kind of disease that if remained uncheck will spread and contaminate even the
straightest of men into sick sexual deviants.

The failure on the part of the the school, church, media, corporate society, successive governments and even JFLAG to change

this attitude suggest an even bigger problem that merely imposing sanctions will not immediately 'rectify'.. OR.. superficially
create the tolerance towards homosexuals that you desire, but, would further alienate the gay community in jamaica threefold.

Homophobia is a disease of the mind, not pockets. I can also summarily tell you that there are jamaicans who would willingly
undergo extremes in sufferation and exempt, than accept change as an option to their economic incentives. Remember this is the same nation
that gave the world Rastafari...a neo-social sect that accepted their socio economic deprivations as a landmark of their ethereal values.
You dont want to go this route, If change is what you truly seek!!

What has been lacking thus far, is to truly engage the minds of the Jamaican people, to dispel the fear that homosexuality is a disease, and to
destroy the notion that homosexuality is a death sentence of "effeminacy" for men, that homosexuality is the result of sexual feelings gone
out of control, and the lack of femininety in women.

I affirm that in all relationships their are dominant and submissive roles and how one chooses to express ones role is a matter
of choice...choice that needs to be respected. It invariably has nothing to do with being "born this way" or "feelings I cant control"
expressions which have been to the detriment of the gay community. Heck, it doesnt matter whether its hetero, bi,or homosexual relationships.

what truly escapesthe jamaican people is understanding the roles in homosexuality. They do not understand why some homosexuals males behave
masculine and some behave effeminate...heck again, its the feminine ones who seemingly attract the bigotry and unlawful beating episodes. Lesbians
seemingly attract less venom and more tolerance as most societies seem to accept the dual role that women play.

Whether real or percieved, these notions continues to engender fear. Fear of losing what is understood and valued to a way of life that is
little known or has remained highly concealed for many decades. It is to the benefit of Jamaican gay community to work at change rather than
isolation or exemption. Use the medium available through health facilities which so effectively changed the train of thought that Hiv aids was
caused and spread by homosexuals.Invest your efforts through "informercials" and a positive reform of the homosexual image.

To the international gay community i say,there a many successful businesses in jamaica in music, trade, tourism and politicians that are aligned and
controlled by individuals with "alternate" orientations.
"Dont cut the living baby in half to please the hurting mother of the dead child...be wise. Jamaica is a nation rich in culture, idealism,
sport and geographical fortitudes and is ripe for a change. I know it sounds cheesy but, if the American blacks can bring change to America politics
without adversely shutting it down, then my homosexual brothers and sisters ...if you really want change for Jamaica, YES YOU CAN!

(Reply to this comment)

MPetrelis Rating: ratingfull

said this on 24 Mar 2009 4:24:05 PM CDT

hello,

thanks for this important post.

i am part of a small coalition launching a boycott of myers rum and red stripe beer in the san francisco gay bars.

i would like to speak with you about your call for a jamaica boycott.

please contact me. my phone number in SF is 415-six-two-one-6267.

or send me an email. my addy is:
mpetrelis@aol.com.

hope to speak with you soon.

michael

(Reply to this comment)

think smart Rating: ratingfull

said this on 31 Mar 2009 2:16:55 PM CDT

This isnt a very well thought out idea.

How is a “boycott” of an entire nation going to help the gays in it?
Jamaicans, gay or not, are very proud of their country and heritage, and wouldnt appreciate that. And on top of that, when this news reaches Jamaica, do you think the people there are going to say “hey, lets suddenly be nice to gays since san franciscans dont buy my beer” or are is it going to incite more attacks against gays?

And for the most part, throughtout the carribeans many countries arent very gay friendly.

And Jamica’s anti gay attitude isnt even their fault. It stems from the anti-buggery laws left by the British.

Jamaica is a very beautiful but conflicted country and culture, and if you really want to help Jamaica’s gays, find a SMART way to do it. Because Bashing someone’s homecountry gets you NO WHERE.

(Reply to this comment)

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