04/05/2006
Lynch Mob Pursues "Alleged Homo" in Jamaica
Frightening news out of Jamaica. Students chased and attacked a man after he supposedly propositioned someoneon the campus of the University of the West Indies in Mona. Campus police had trouble controlling the angry mob:
"After the alleged homosexual, who the police said last night was in his early 20s, made the advance, the student made an alarm and the alleged homosexual ran. He was chased from the faculty to Taylor Hall where he was said to be beaten and insults hurled at him. The university's security intervened, but as the crowd began to grow they called in the police, who themselves had difficulties rescuing the young man and had to fire a shot in the air to ward off the students."
Posted 10:48 AM EST by Andy Towle in Crime | Permalink
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Why the surprise? This is Jamaica,we're talking about,after all.It's like being jewish living in Nazi germany.
Posted by: JudeMillsy | Apr 5, 2006 1:08:40 PM
Yeah it's pretty well known that all of the islands of central america are quite 17th century in their thinking...Anything outside of the tourist industry is pretty um grim?
Posted by: mac | Apr 5, 2006 1:16:26 PM
Come to Jamaica, and it'll be allright!
Posted by: Anynymous | Apr 5, 2006 1:27:47 PM
International news stories like this may convince the Jamaican government to rethink policies that date back to colonial times.
Posted by: John | Apr 5, 2006 1:39:41 PM
I visited Jamaica in 2003. This isn't surprising, their attitudes towards gays are extremely negative and harsh, homosexuality is almost 'unthinkable' there. I heard one guy say you can't "be gay and Jamaican."
Posted by: matt | Apr 5, 2006 2:13:28 PM
Since 1968 when I saw firsthand the first unfurling of the Jamaican flag, and the beginning of monarchical parliamentary democracy on the island, much has see-sawed there.
You will probably remember that there was a left-leaning government in the seventies that made tourism a threat to caucasian tourists, especially single women alone.
The Reagan administration was coincidentally the time that the Socialist government was replaced by a right-wing government that opened investment and re-created a nearly dead tourism industry.
The Caribbean nations, especially those populated by African-descended as opposed to Latin majority populations, are recognised for their intense homophobia and their violence against residents and tourists.
The only way to stop it, is of course, to totally boycott those islands that support these atrocities....and the Bahamas and Jamaica, two British Commonwealth nations, lead the list.
It is time that this issue is discussed at the Commonwealth meetings.
Posted by: Raymond | Apr 5, 2006 6:38:58 PM
I like Jamaica. Been there several times and really enjoyed it. But, except for other tourists, I never met anyone in Jamaica who was worth approaching, much less getting beat-up for.
Jamaicans... not an attractive people.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Apr 5, 2006 9:12:50 PM
I'm 23, I'm Jamaican, and I'm gay! I was born there but have lived in Florida practically my whole life! I can say that it was tough in that environment, because I came from a strongly religious family and I knew my family was against homosexuality; I've been around them during conversations and it was hard hearing some of the things that they said knowing that I was gay and couldn't say anything about it to them. Even now, they don't know.
It's also hard for me to hear people criticize Jamaica like some of these comments. Though I'm not justifying it, the fact of the matter is, this hatred of homosexuality is a cultural norm. I don't agree with everything about it, but I'm still proud of my heritage! On that same note, I don't agree with everything that's typically associated with the homosexual culture/lifestyle, but I'm still proud of who I am!
I'm not trying to change anybody's mind because everyone has their set ways, but recognize that not everyone is the same. Just like you wouldn't want someone judging you becuase you're gay and stereotyping you to what would be expected of gays, don't be so quick to judge a whole nation based on the ignorance of a few!
Posted by: Ramone | Apr 6, 2006 5:51:07 AM
If Jamaicans in Jamaica want to act like savages, nothing can be done about it.
But the British and Canadian governments should smack/force some sense into Jamaicans living here that that kind of shit wont fly elsewhere.
Kudos to the British government for speaking out against reggae singers like Beenie man.
Posted by: Hasan | Apr 6, 2006 6:06:08 AM
The same goes for Muslims- the background i was raised in, but now want NOTHING to do with.
Posted by: Hasan | Apr 6, 2006 7:53:51 AM
Ramone -
I have known and often visited your country since prior to independence. I remember when Mo' Bay was a small fishing village.
There is, to be sure, something that happened as Jamaican politics swung from center to left to right. The Churches were involved, and in Jamaica, especially the Anglican and Roman Catholic predominate. In fact, the Anglican was Anglo-Catholic.
More, the indigenous African-descended religious culture also took root in a popular rather than subcultural way.
Unfortunately, there was a type " convergence theology" that gave them permission to expound upon their verbal and physical homophobia as a manifestation of religious fervour of whatever flavour.
Posted by: Raymond | Apr 9, 2006 3:14:14 AM
please forward me any lynch m ob information
regarding gays and carnal abuse offenders living in jamaica covering periods 2006 - 2007. currently compiling a research report and need some assistance etc;.
many thanks!
courtney( in Uk)
Posted by: courtney | Jun 26, 2007 1:35:58 PM
please forward me any lynch m ob information
regarding gays and carnal abuse offenders living in jamaica covering periods 2006 - 2007. currently compiling a research report and need some assistance etc;.
many thanks!
courtney( in Uk)
Posted by: courtney | Jun 26, 2007 1:36:39 PM