LGBT Jamaica vacation advice

Attitudes towards the LGBT community

Jamaica’s homophobia may have originated in Victorian values, but today these beliefs are perpetuated thanks to the island’s stereotypically macho culture. Male virility, physical strength and even aggression are held in high regard. These traits contribute to a culture of ‘hypermasculinity’, and they all stand in direct opposition to homosexuality and transgender identity.

Just as hypermasculinity permeates every aspect of Jamaican society, so too does this hatred of the LGBT community. In 2010, the University of the West Indies carried out a survey which showed that over 82 percent of Jamaicans believed male homosexuality was immoral. Gay men are referred to as ‘batty man’ or ‘batty boy’, highly pejorative terms. Many Jamaicans are devout Christians, which contributes to the country’s anti gay stance. Rastafarians – who only comprise around one percent of the population – are more ambiguous in their attitudes towards the LGBT community, although a number of prominent Rastafarian leaders have expressed homophobic views. But in Jamaica, there is another influence that has contributed to the widespread and aggressive homophobia.

A 2014 study by the University of the West Indies revealed that the most reliable predictors of homophobic prejudice were being male, and a preference for dancehall music. Jamaica’s most famous export, its music, is one of the worst promoters of homophobia, with dancehall and ragga tracks including lyrics which encourage attacking or killing gay men and women. Even reggae – famed for its ‘one love’ message – has been criticised for its homophobic themes. In 2004, the activist group Stop Murder Music was founded to campaign against Caribbean artists who use their music to promote homophobic violence and murder. While this may have had little impact on attitudes in Jamaica, concerts have been cancelled around the world, award nominations have been withdrawn and funding for events and promotion has been pulled.

It’s impossible to say just how seriously the aggressive lyrics have been taken by Jamaicans, but the fact remains that LGBT people are frequently victims of harassment, violent attacks and murder, as well as ‘corrective rape’ for lesbians. More often than not, assaults and threats remain unreported as LGBT victims fear being arrested themselves under the harsh anti gay laws, so the perpetrators know they are unlikely to be brought to justice. Many homophobic crimes are dismissed as such, with the police claiming they were botched burglaries, for example. Equally as concerning is the HIV rate amongst men who have sex with men, which was estimated in 2014 to be close to a third. Those who are sick avoid seeking treatment due to the discrimination they would face, creating a vicious circle where HIV spreads rapidly through the community.

Sexual activity between women is not a criminal offence, but high levels of violence, including sexual violence, against lesbians have been reported. And of course, the hypermasculine culture means that transgender individuals are routinely stigmatised as well.

Across society – as university students, prison inmates, hospital patients – LGBT people are targeted. Some LGBT people have ended up sleeping rough after being rejected by their families or losing jobs; others face discrimination when seeking housing or healthcare. High profile figures have been murdered, including Brian Williamson, a founding member of LGBT activist group J-FLAG (see below), his friend and AIDS campaigner Lenford ‘Steve’ Harvey, and Dexter Pottinger, known as the ‘face of Jamaica PRiDE, who was killed in September 2017. We understand, of course, that not all Jamaicans are homophobic, and many more will not condone acts of violence. But the attacks are widespread enough for this to have become a dangerous and frightening place to be gay, lesbian or transgender.