I don’t think it’s a secret that many citizens of Jamaica are extremely intolerable to homosexuals. The latest example comes to us with the recent killing of a transgendered 17 year old, Dwayne Jones. On the night of July 21st 2013, Jones was attending a party in St. James and was dressed as a woman. Jones was dancing with a male and a female attendee at the party told a group of partiers that he was actually a man. One of the men went up to Jones and groped him and discovered he was a male. Jones was chased from the party by an angry mob and was subsequently stabbed and chopped to death.
I know and have known so many gay / bisexual men and women who travel to Jamaica. Some even go yearly via cruise distentions or excursions. Many gay / bisexual persons of color, I’m sure would not step foot in a hypothetical restaurant that was owned by Pat Robinson and George Zimmerman but don’t bat and eye when considering traveling to Jamaica.
Would you spend your tourist dollars in Jamaica? If you are a person of the LGBT community and traveled to Jamaica, how do reconcile your decision?
No. I used to always want to go but my safety comes first. I hear the Bahamas is virtually the same place and a lot less antagonistic towards the gays.
sidenote: Was he transgendered or just a cross dresser or are those terms interchangeable?
To my understanding a “transgendered” is a person is a person who feels or desires to be the opposite sex. A cross dresser is a man who wears women’s clothing but has no desire to be a woman.
It’s just too much for me to wrap my mind around. But it was tragic what happened and seems to keep happening. Oddly, every Jamaican I’ve ever met has been a gay.
No the terms are not interchangeable. Anyone can be a cross dresser regardless of orientation, being trans on the other hand is a totally different story.
I have known that Jamaica has a strong dislike for the LGBT community, and with this new information I strongly doubt that I would be traveling their anytime soon. When I travel I like to be comfortable to let my “hair” down and not have to worry about someone wanting to harm me because they don’t like a certain part of who I am.
You can always ‘let your hair down’ in jamaica as long as you dont let it all fly in the middle of a busy town or urban city , just like in New York or Chicago.
I don’t think I could go there out of safety. I’m just getting to a place where I accept myself and my sexuality as a young black man. I think any of the caribbean islands can provide me with a great time without me looking over my back wondering if something is going to happen. I’ve partied in the Bahamas before and it was great! I do hear though it is not as bad in the resort areas, and who knows what goes on at Hedonism.
sad story indeed. What do you call a man who gropes another man’s private parts? You just don’t go around grabbing another man’s private if you are straight. what a crazy oxymoronic place to have to live. Jamaica has major issues. I agree with another commenter who stated, “Every Jamaican I met was a gay [sic].” I’ve met several gay Jamaicans who couldn’t wait to get off the “Island” to let their hair down.
I believe the most outwardly homophobic cultures have the highest percentage closeted down-low men. I, myself, know this to be true. Even the Nazis are reputed to have had an active homosexual element within its ranks. Imagine that, a group of actively practicing self-hating homosexuals. Every group and culture has a self-hating element within it – including Blacks, et al. Africans can’t wait to get to America to take them draws off. Imagine having years of pent-up homosexual frustrations. Many men rather die than be homosexual even today with the climate changing.
I already know that I will go to Jamaica in the future. Me and my future partner. Jamaica is a beautiful place and great for tourists. The whole PDA thing probably won’t happen but I know I must go there, Trinidad & Tobago (one gay friendly island in the Caribbean), Bahamas, Barbados, etc. I must see the beauty in person.
If you cannot accept me, you cannot accept my money either. I think the gay community should stop going to Jamaica until they start protecting the human rights of the LGBT community both foreign and domestic.
Why are people of color the last ones to become “civilized or enlightened?”
Must we always be the ignoramuses on any given continent? From Africa to South America, there are numerous examples of savage attacks against gay men and women. I have little patience for these people. I wish a muthfukah would try to call me a f@g or attempt to harm me or my friends. A MMA style beat down will be the aftermath.
As for the question: NO! I would not be encouraged to spend time nor money in countries or cities that are hostile and/or bigoted towards gay people.
If you really think we are always last to accept the gays I would encourage you to look up a little country called Russia.
AMEN BROTHER AMEN
@Hannibal
Notice I didn’t say “last to accept gays”.
I said, “last to become enlightened or civilized”. But I understand your retort; even though it was off base.
No, I feel anyone who would is just an idiot. Why are people supporting places that hate you. All these gay weddings in states were it’s not legal is retarded. All ppl are doing is giving said state or country more money and power to hate you
Guys calm down. I am a Jamaican living in jamaica and do not have a problem. Like ANYWHERE else that I have travelled and lived if you put your business in people’s face then sections of the ‘mob’ , or those that I call “RATS’ will harm you. Jamaica, like anywhere else is intolerable to outward display of feminism by a male. Ironically the outward feminine guys that are ‘known’ go about their lives unharmed and protected by most ‘dons’ . For what ever reason persons like the famous ‘Shebada’ can get away with their ‘realism’. When this young man takes a risk and goes to a ‘straight’ party and he knows the risk then sadly he is also to blame. His death is tragic. But we got to keep our sexuality to ourselves. Don’ be a hero. Leave that to the movies.
Calm Down?
So let me see if I understand you. The gay men I can see on any given weekend in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia (major metropolitan city) holding hands and kissing “who put their business” in people’s face and don’t get run down and chopped to death by an angry mob is abnormal? Because usually when you put your homosexuality in someone’s face, violence maybe placed upon you.
So are you saying as long as gay Jamaicans act straight and stay in the closet, everything should be good?
No..you don’t need to act anyway or stay in a closet and for those persons in Piedmont Park all power to them.Ask them to go do the same thing where the ‘mob’ or ‘rats’ reside. If a ‘gay man’ thinks that by passing some law that benefits them or a clause inherent in the constitution is going to make the world tolerable to their lifestyle then wake up and drink a strong cup of coffee. Jamaica like everywhere else in the world tolerates gay open lifestyle where the populace is more intelligent and educated ..to an extent that it is not flaunted in their face. Openness is the ideal. Just like the internet men and women connect openly…but who knows except the doer. But Jamaica ,like the rest of the world is no internet.
Outside of the Jamaican gay community, who has publically condemn the killing?
Sadly no government leaders, no church leader except a minister who put his spin on the homosexuality issue…and he was commenting on the Pope’s comments on the matter so really no one has said anything- THAT is the tragic and hypocritical part of the entire scenario. Its a political issue and no one has the guts or balls to speak on this matter…now if he were a diplomat then everyone would be ‘saddened and shocked’ by this outrage and the police would be all out to find the killer/s. But sadly he is not- just a mere poor jamaican “battyman”who has died….That to me is abhorrent and continues to show the hypocrisy of the country.They are all discussing it privately but never publicly or else face doom at the polls!
“Jamaica like everywhere else in the world tolerates gay open lifestyle where the populace is more intelligent and educated”
But yet they haven’t spoken out about a tragic murder?? Personally going back to your opening statement…No I don’t we need to “calm down”.
The murder is a reflection of the savage and “uncivilized” inhabitants of Jamaica. “An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.” Martin Luther King Jr.
This is why Black people don’t get any respect in the world – HYPOCRISY! And I do mean ALL Black people. A murder is a murder I don’t care who does it for whatever reason. You can’t condemn murder on one hand and then say, “let’s allow it/turn our head in this case.” That’s bs! It reeks of injustice. Jamaica is ****** up for sure.
KARMA come soon to Jamaica!
I won’t defend Jamaica, but I think this is just the medias way of once again making countries full of black people somehow look MORE homophobic than other places. It’s being overlooked oddly but RUSSIA has a pretty radical anti-gay bill that is not threatening to derail the olympics and gay men are being openly killed over there. But no one is talking about that.
I disagree with your statement; however understand the context here…Cypher Ave is more of an urban website which heavily features men of color. Therefore we will focus on more issues and topics that impact ethnic men.
Just because white people do it too doesn’t mean we ignore what happened at the hands of black people.
Oh my comment wasn’t aimed specifically at this site. I think the story should be reported on. My issue is that I think at times it turns into “look at black countries being super homophobic and uncivilized” without acknowledging that it happens in countries of all colors. It gets done here too. There’s this perception that black people are more homophobic than white folks and that’s just not the case.
show your love when you are shown love and if you are being hated upon then keep your money in you pocket. It worked in the year long strike of the public bus system for black people in the south to not have to be put at the back of the bus because your black and it will work when it comes to your vacation dollars
this conversation makes me think a lot.but I would still go to Jamaica. Jamaicans are my brothers and as a fellow black man, I wanna see its economy strive and prosper.
or maybe i shouldn’t come visit the states after seeing that a black man got murdered in the street for being black. and nothing was really done about it.
i also totally agree with jamaican brother ptseti.
I’m sure that something similar could happen in the states. if a transgender would walk in the streets of crown heights broollyn or overtown Miami and start revealing themselves…. i don’t think they’ll get away with this without a few scratches.
so once again like ptseti said, if i go to Jamaica and not go on some suicide mission. I’ll be just fine.
So the person is going on a “SUICIDE MISSION” for being themselves? For just walking down the street and being other than who you want them to be? So let me get this STRAIGHT – it’s o.k. to murder somebody because you don’t like them based on how they look and dress? walk and talk?
So orange pants vs. purple pants is justification and determination for whether the person should be murdered, or not? You don’t know how fucking stupid that shit sounds. Long hair vs. short hair, fat vs. skinny, light vs. dark, etc. is the arbitrary standard by which a person should be marked for MURDER?
We are not talking about America, we are talking about murdering innocent people in Jamaica for just being. You have been so indoctrinated into a corrupt system that you don’t know any better. Why visit a renown GAY website to advocate the murder of GAY people?
Furthermore, suicide is when the person kills themselves without any assistance and MURDER is MURDER. There is a difference. It’s ok to be proud of one’s heritage and culture, but to be stupid and ignorant is unforgivable; its a transgression of basic human decency.
There’s a total disconnect within you if you think: SUICIDE = MURDER
WTF is wrong with you Jamaicans? ILLOGICAL, IRRATIONAL, INCORRIGIBLE!!!
listen.
all I’m saying is that i don’t like the way people love to point fingers on Jamaica and other black populated countries when treatment for gays and other civil groups while their own countries need improvements in their own.
let’s compare two situations:
situation 1:
that boy went to a straight party dressed as girl .knowing it’s in a homophobic environment. and on top of that, he reveals himself after dancing with other dudes. which angers people and they kill him
situation 2:
a boy walks home being himself wearing a hoodie. he then gets murdered for pretty much being black!
clearly Trayvon Martin wasnot playing with fire. but it’s clear that this boy was. like i said. he was in a gay unfriendly environment. and he knew what he was doing. playing with fire. a
all I’m trying to say is that no country is perfect. so we shouldn’t boycott this country because they killed a gay man that was playing with fire. if that’s the case. maybe i should think twice before i go to the states. because now days they kill black men for being black. and my fam don’t even get justice.
@belnegmaron….well said brother. well said. @coshamo..you seem to let your emotions cloud the issue here. Would you walk into a straight party filled with testosterone in the US and with your “free speech” declare you are gay, proud a don’t give a damn what anyone says or thinks?
You probably could but I doubt if one of those ‘rats’ at the party would not try and harm you. Nothing is more wrong with Jamaicans unlike anywhere else in the world- Jamaica like the US , Uk , Canada and all over this planet are filled with people I call RATS that are, to borrow your words..ILLOGICAL, IRRATIONAL, INCORRIGIBLE!!!
His death is stupid, sad, unnecessary and should be investigated. Sadly it will not. Thats life here. If he were a diplomat the police would be all over it. That @coshamo is called ‘racism’..I am sure you’ve heard of that. Is about who you are, what wealth and importance you have, who are your parents, etc etc. Racism dehumanizes you because of who you are- not only because of the color of your skin.
I am not proud of the leaders of Jamaica in this incident but young Dwayne jones or ‘gully queen’ as he is also called took the ultimate risk. As I have said in a previous discussion..many persons here wear orange pants vs. purple pants, lashes and wigs, brown hair, red hair damn they even bleach their skins and shave their eyebrows. No one kills them for who they are. But throw it in a RATS’ face..well get ready for a fight. May the best ‘queen’ win!
You’re ignorance is beyond pathetic.
Everyone knows that no country is perfect but I’m sorry my friend to point out that when it comes to imperfection and violent behaviours black countries usually are on the top 10 and Jamaica being the worst in the Americas.
While discrimination against blacks still exist in places like America and Canada it will never be more unsafe for a gay person walking down a Jamaican street than a black person down an American or Canadian streets.
Black people are lucky to have rights in countries like ours and are constantly taken for granted , while the treyvon cause is unfortunate those are not common occurrences in America. Hypothetically speaking if you were to put 10 black Jamaicans walking down a random street down in Texas the chances of them getting actually KILLED are low but if it was the other way around you put 10 flamboyant gay men walking down a street in Jamaica most likely violence and death would happen, guaranteed. Jamaicans have an animalistic behaviour that needs to be changed.
If you are not a hetero Jamaicans won’t see you as a fellow black person. You would just be some random foreign battyman so I find your reasoning for visiting there nonsensical.
Im not too sure I would feel safe. I heard about the story and it just seems like going there would be too dangerous. But I find it hard to believe that there isn’t a gay population there thriving somewhere.
.
I am a very liberal and opinionated man that is smart enough to not even myself in a situation where I would have to hide or lie about who I am. Basically, I would not go to Jamaica.
I say f**k Jamaica. I would never give them a dime of my money. Why any gay person would want to visit there is beyond me. There are far more welcoming places to visit that aren’t stuck in the dark ages.
I knew about this for a few years, even though as a child I wanted to go to Jamaica because of its natural beauty and beaches but now as an adult and being gay. I would never go, openly talk about it’s disgusting hate, ignorance and views and I don’t tolerate anyone promoting anything for Jamaica . I’m surprised no international human rights activist have done anything to change this issue. To get killed for being gay ? Wow that’s like the lowest you can go, I thought that was only in Muslim countries but apparently Jamaicans do have a terrible reputation of causing trouble and violence wherever you go anyway, could be genetic.
I know someone from Jamaica and she told me that her uncle killed his own young son and a grown niece because they were gay and EVERYONE knows it, but don’t care because that’s a sin (like murder isn’t). My friend’s youngest sister is Bi and in a relationship with a woman at the present, but their family back in Jamaica don’t know. Her sister seldom visits there because she’s scared that they may find out and attack/kill her. So if the Jamaicans will kill their own family, they’ll have NO WORRIES MON killing dem a stranga. Be smart, be safe, and do not partake of that land.
Much like any other country, Jamaica is divided into various socio-economic strata. Violent hate crimes are usually perpetrated by members of the more marginalized, so-called “lower classes” or by those who are influenced by the “Dance Hall Culture.” It is therefore no coincidence that this unfortunate victim was raped of his life having visited a gathering of members of the aforementioned creed.
The operative term there is “violent hate crime” for homophobia, bigotry and general anti-homosexual sentiment pervade all strata: social, economic, religious and secular. The only difference between them is the manner in which each group approaches the issue; some with unfettered abhorrence, some with apathy, some with resigned indifference and others with scrupulous diplomacy and political correctness. Nevertheless, one thing remains true: these isolated incidents of violence against homosexuals in Jamaica are sometimes sensationalized and used to brand the whole country, creating a slightly misconstrued spin of the reality.
There have been countless accounts of hate crimes against homosexuals in the United States and it is common knowledge the acute backwardness of the red-necks, the unspeakable atrocities of the Ku Klux Klan and just the general culturally myopic citizens of the South. This however would not prevent me from visiting the United States; instead, if I were an openly effeminate gay man, I would probably just avoid places like inner city New York, Knoxville or Pulaski, Tennessee.
Diversity is the spice of life, but ironically, it is the very condiment that robs the concoction of its sipidity. In other words, I cannot very well expect the whole world to accept MY personal perspective or my philosophies. We all have to coexist so there MUST be some compromise.
Yes! In Jamaica, you will get your derrière handed to you for acting a bitch… but it depends on WHERE in Jamaica you are. When you visit Jamaica or most any other country as a “tourist,” the version of the culture to which you are exposed is a pristine, gift-wrapped, sanitized and glacé model; packaged for your pleasure.I don’t think any person who wishes to experience this country within the ambit of a tourist has any reason to be much concerned about the homophobia lest it be his desire to immerse himself into the stratum of the society where the ignorance and intolerance abounds.
Come and experience all the good there is in the island and leave the vile close-mindedness to the very ones you would wish to condemn.