Dwayne Jones was a young trans youth living in my hometown of Montego Bay, Jamaica. “Mo. Bay,” as locals affectionately call it, is known as the “friendly city.” This undisputed tourism capital of the English-speaking Caribbean is very popular with overseas visitors. But this tourist paradise hides a dark secret that is carefully hidden from … Continue reading
Yesterday (May 26) Jamaica’s major newspaper, the Jamaica Gleaner, selected another anti-LGBTI piece written by a notorious evangelical Christian as its “Letter of the Day.” Today, the same newspaper reported on the gruesome results of this homophobic crusade. Marsha Thomas is a member of the oddly named “Love March Movement,” which campaigns against human rights … Continue reading
Did Jamaica ignore violence against LGBTI youth on IDAHOT-B? On Sunday, May 17, there was a public march in Kingston, Jamaica, to condemn an upsurge in violence against the nation’s children. That date was also the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT-B), and coincidentally this year, the focus was on LGBTI youth. Regrettably, … Continue reading
The Associated Press reports: A young Jamaican gay rights activist who brought an unprecedented legal challenge to the Caribbean island’s anti-sodomy law has withdrawn the claim after growing fearful about violent backlashes, advocacy groups and colleagues said Friday. Last year, Javed Jaghai made headlines after initiating a constitutional court challenge to Jamaica’s 1864 law that … Continue reading
A Jamaican activist reports: Matthew Shepard’s parents to speak in Jamaica Judy and Dennis Shepard, the parents of murdered American LGBT youngster Matthew Sheppard, are on a speaking tour of the Caribbean, courtesy of the U.S. government. On Friday, April 11, they will be sharing their story at the U.S. embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. Regrettably, … Continue reading
Activists and other concerned citizens in Jamaica are working to build support for a shelter for homeless LGBT youths who have sought refuge in the sewers after being driven out of their family homes and out of abandoned buildings. Their project is called “Dwayne’s House” in memory of 16-year-old Dwayne Jones, who was murdered in … Continue reading
The Jamaica Gleaner today published a remarkably downbeat little editorial about the murder of cross-dresser Dwayne Jones and the firebombing of the house where he used to live. Implicitly, it challenges the police to take action. Explicitly, it predicts that injustice will prevail: Nothing has, so far, come of the murder of Dwayne Jones, the … Continue reading
Many Jamaicans still ridiculously claim that our country is NOT homophobic. Here’s further independent proof that such persons are beyond delusional. From the Jamaica Gleaner: The Gleaner’s headline: House occupied by gays firebombed Better headlines: Last home of Dwayne Jones mobbed and firebombed. Cops refuse to protect his surviving friends. Four homosexual men, who captured … Continue reading
High-horse of urgency vs. callous indifference I met some remarkably resilient young Jamaican men on Sept. 10, 2013. We were together at the latest anti-homophobia stand [protest] in Kingston entitled “Even in Private.” These brave front-line warriors in the Jamaican LGBT liberation struggle were all kicked out of their homes because of their sexual orientation, … Continue reading
This commentary appeared previously in Dadland Shut Up. In the early morning on August 18, 2011, armed thugs barged into the small home that 16 year-old Oshane Gordon shared with his mother in the resort town of Montego Bay, Jamaica. As Oshane tried to flee through a window, the men chopped on his foot. When … Continue reading
