What is the allure for a straight Black Jamaican woman to make a documentary of the struggles gay men and women in Jamaica? Aside from a purely altruistic perspective to do good, this is a documentary that opens the door to greater discussion of acceptance in a predominantly homophobic environment that has consistently resisted addressing the issue of homosexuality.


 

Taboo Yardies, as a documentary taking its name from the un-discussed and forbidden, and common reference to people from Jamaica, captures interviews from several Jamaicans representing different segments of the island’s society

Salena Blake

The documentary includes comments made by the Prime Minister Bruce Golding in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), with religious leaders, including Bishop Zachary Jones, M.Div., founder, Brooklyn, NY-based Unity Fellowship Church in Christ; Thomas Glave, assistant professor of English and Africana Studies, State University of New York, Binghamton; and award winning poet and spoken word artist Stacyann Chin. It focuses attention on the persecution of homosexuals in Jamaica in contravention of sections of the country’s Constitution, which provides rights to all its citizens. Some other people involved with the project are former NYC Councilor Una Clarke, Ken Reeves, mayor of Cambridge, MA, Kenny Chang, one of the first gay Jamaican artists, and many women from Flatbush, Brooklyn. Produced by MayNov Productions, a film, documentary and media company led by Selena Blake; the Taboo Yardies trailer begins with, "...the voices of those who don speak up and out...," contrasts sharply with one scene where four men are playing dominors in the yard and one says, "...anytime you're a faggot, yuh gon get beaten..."

Blake, who has had careers as an artist/model, actress and film maker, says there are many reasons why she undertook to make a documentary about the clash of homosexuality and homophobia in Jamaica. She points out that with many friends who have said, "You people, you Jamaicans are so homophobic," thought that as a Jamaican she has to tell and show the other side of Jamaica. "As a proud Jamaican woman I want to show that not all Jamaicans are homophobic and judgmental. I want people from the gay and straight communities to feel welcome," she says. Recounting a story of a friend who goes to Jamaica every year and "drops" [spends] between $20,000 and $30,000 with his "bois", and a lesbian friend who was advised not to visit the island, Blake says that what really bothers her is the hypocrisy and that Jamaica is missing out on close to $50 billion from the LGBT community. "From a heterosexual woman's perspective," she says, "some of the freakiest men I've come across are straight men who often want to do some of the strangest sexual things."

Yet, one of the greatest challenges she has encountered in producing Taboo Yardies is being able to have gay Jamaican men come out to speak about their experiences in any way. Many times she said, she has scheduled interviews with gay Jamaicans, spending money on cameras, lighting and film crews, only to have her subject not show. Many people who offer their services or make commitments to donate time or money, back out at the last minute without explanation; this unreliability she says is tied to their deep fear of violence. "Many of those who want to support us do not want to be seen of be perceived as gay," she says. Admitting that she knew this exercise wouldn't have been easy, Blake says she did not expect it to be as hard as it has become. She continues because she feels it's time that Jamaicans start talking about their sexuality. Working on this project for more than a year and having amassed hours of footage, Blake, who has been in productions including Changing Lane, Third Watch, and Sex in the City, says she wants people to talk about so much: to look in the mirror and see themselves as human beings, especially the double standard where one person would look at another, drag him out of his home and stab him 70 times because of a suspicion of being gay; or people to think of their actions, when a man is chopped in his head because he is perceived as gay.

As a single mother, who was born in Old Harbor in the St. Catherine Parish, she admits that she would be disappointed if her son tells her he's gay, but she would be more afraid for how society would perceive him and of the journey he would take which would likely be fraught with many difficulties. By the time the documentary is completed, it should cost close to $250,000. Blake, who also produced and released in December 2005 a documentary, Queensbridge - The Other Side, has been paying for everything, from her credit cards. One investor, she says, pulled out from the project because he recently lost as much as $150,000. To continue raising funds, she encourages people to visit the show's Website (www.tabooyardies.com) and to buy T-shirts, which cost $20. The message she wants to convey in the documentary is that at all times to respect another's life, regardless of color, ethnicity or sexual orientation. "A life is a life and that's precious," she says. Drawing on Jamaica's national motto, "Out of many, one people," Blake says that through the documentary, she wants to achieve dialog on all sides where its relevance is tied to the worldwide call for improved human rights. So far the project has received mixed responses from some who suggest she leave the issue alone to others saying it's about time that Jamaica comes into the 21st century. Local organizations including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center (LGBT) and the Brooklyn-based Audre Lorde Project have signaled their support by assisting with fund raisers, and the LGBT Ant-Violence Project is interested in working with Blake on a program of activities.