Violence and Venom: Sex, Stigma and HIV/AIDS in Jamaica

Learn more: http://pulitzercenter.org/projects/caribbean/glass-closet-sex-stigma-and-hiva...

Jamaica may be one of the most violently homophobic societies in the world. This piece explores the dark side of Jamaica's culture of anti-gay violence and attitudes and explores the ideological beliefs that perpetuate it.

This report is part of Pulitzer Center-sponsored project "Glass Closet: Sex, Stigma and HIV/AIDS in Jamaica" (http://bit.ly/xgJdvT).

CREDITS:
Produced and Directed by Micah Fink
Correspondent: Lisa Biagiotti
Director of Photography: Gabrielle Weiss
Editor Gabrielle Weiss
Produced in association with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and Worldfocus
With support from the M-A-C AIDS Fund

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Pulitzer Center
• Jamaica
• HIV/AIDS
• HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean
• Global Health
• Homophobia
• Micah Fink
• Lisa Biagiotti
• Gabrielle Weiss
• Stigma
• Discrimination
• Violence
• Gays in Jamaica

[Aint1yardie]

Then what are you saying Mr. Minister... U are talking out of ur anus as you contradicts urself. basically saying that Gay people are brazen and violent is morally wrong. What about passa passa and dutty fridayz....the patrons of these parties are brazen and violent. the songs they play inciting violence againts gay people are atrocious and you should be charged for humanitarian crimes Mr. Smith...you are the people who stay behind closed doors and have 3sum then castigate 2 look good..cowards

[Kumtekmeon]

I often wonder why is it persons have to lie on gays in order to make gays look bad. Where is the evidence to show that 'most homosexuals deaths are a result of jealousy by other gays? This man is sick! I The record will show that fatal violence among heterosexuals is far greater than that among gays. But if it comes in the news that one such case occurs, persons like Ernie acts as if it's an everyday occurrence, when it is just one for the year. Jamaicans are so hate-filled, it's frightening!!!

[afrolatinadamien]

So much hate.....

[LKJBFG]

It is unbelievably sad to see how it is possible that there is still so much homophobia going in the 21st century for crying out loud!! I had expected more from people today. I am proud to live in the Netherlands where my human rights as a lesbian are being acknowledged and respected. I cannot even imagine how hard it must be to live your life in a country that is so full of hatred and ignorance. I hope that someday jamaican homosexuals will have the same rights as I do right now.

[TheStarbus]

Bruk up dem nasty bloodclawt!!! dutty johncrow battybwoy

[Kumtekmeon]

@AllTruth1, remember the word DIPLOMACY it is synonymous with HYPOCRISY! Many have lost respect for Golding since that outburst on the BBC interview AS SUCH Jamaica is further looked down on. If Jamaica was Sodom it would be a better place, because Sodom was a very rich and advanced place, their sin according to God was their self-indulgence, cruel nature in how they treat strangers - They were SELFISH people. So stop equating Sodomy to homosexuality - That's an error by man, NOT God!

[Kumtekmeon]

@AllTruth1 STOP the hypocrisy! Domestic violence in its worst form is more brutally prevalent amongst heterosexuals than homosexuals. IN FACT the number of cases involving gays are far less than the average of straight couples. BUT the culture of EXORBITANT LIES is practiced by straight people: Everything which is bad that happens with gays is EXAGGERATED in order to cement the idea that being gay is a wicked sin! So please look at things LOGICALLY before generalizing. Gays are more peaceful!

[AllTruth1]

@commongroundpolitics

P.S.: Ernest Smith is a lawyer and Member of Parliament who I've not heard of any reports of him calling for violence against Gays. He even stated that he wasn't advocating that Gays disappear from Jamaican society but he felt that they shouldn't be exhibitionist about their sexuality. Not everyone has to like Gays!

[AllTruth1]

@commongroundpolitics

Ernest Smith is definitely someone I intend to connect with because he and I have a similar stance.

[AllTruth1]

@Kumtekmeon

BTW, my mom gave the Trini Lesbo a vacate notice, citing her young and impressionable children.

[AllTruth1]

@Kumtekmeon

You are such a liar. Prime Minister Bruce Golding is regarded enough by officials from developed nations to have been the keynote speaker at the ILO conference last year and he did Jamaica proud. Look at the YouTube videos on his speech.

Agreed, Jamaicans need to love each other more but never accept sodomy.

[AllTruth1]

@Kumtekmeon

When I was a young girl, my mother rented a room in our house to a woman from Trinidad. The woman was nice looking, was previously married to an American man who she separated from. We then saw her with a butch from Guyana. One night, she ran into the house with her neck cut from where her lover tired to slash her throat. My mother who worked in the medical field had to administer first aid to her. Gays are extremely jealous and violent.