As Montego Bay Pride has grown in ambition, in attendance, and in international support, it has remained violence-free while it buoys increasing numbers of LGBT+ Jamaicans. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Montego Bay
LGBT Jamaicans paint their way closer to local police
“LGBT community members in Jamaica refuse to be victims. We are actively engaged in our own liberation,” says activist Maurice Tomlinson. This includes building — or painting — a bridge to often-homophobic local police. Continue reading
Jamaica: Pride is a living legacy of the LGBTI movement
“Pride plays an integral role in our survival as a community,” says Roy Powell, one of the coordinators of Montego Bay Pride. “Within the movement of Pride we learn about our history and why it is important for us to be open about who we are and why we should never let anyone tell us … Continue reading
Jamaica-bound: Defying the odds with Pride
By G. Wright Muir I had no idea what to expect when my girlfriend and I flew in from Fort Lauderdale to Jamaica last year for Montego Bay Pride. Of course, it was an experience like no other. Glorious! This year I’m proud to return to Montego Bay Pride as one of the coordinators of … Continue reading
Montego Bay Pride: Break ‘the mental chains’ imposed on us
Why attend Pride in Montego Bay? “I pride to be free from the societal norms and mental chains that our culture has placed on us,” says Asheen Walford, a coordinator for Montego Bay Pride and an LGBT human rights advocate at Equality Youth Jamaica. Continue reading
Montego Bay Pride: ‘We won’t be in hiding any more’
Pride celebrations demonstrate the strength of LGBTQI Jamaicans and tell “our adversaries in this country … that … we have a face and won’t be in hiding any more. There’s a limit to us being oppressed,” says regional Pride organizer David Alexander Green. Continue reading
Jamaica celebrates twice: Pride, then more Pride
“Jamaica needs more Pride, more often,” says Khavor Demario Brown, co-organizer of Montego Bay Pride 2017. His comments came after the successful national PrideJA celebration of early August as he prepares for upcoming Montego Bay Pride activities in the country’s second capital city. Continue reading
A reason for Montego Bay Pride: Murder of trans youth
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
When a Pentecostal mom attends her gay son’s church
Emotions ran high when the mother of Jamaican-Canadian LGBTI rights activist Maurice Tomlinson took one Sunday off from her homophobic Pentecostal church to attend an Anglican church with her gay son. Continue reading
Here’s why LGBTQI refugees need Canada’s continued support
Canada has a crucial role to play in the effort to assure full recognition of the human rights of LGBTQI people, in particular for LGBTQI refugees, Jamaican-Canadian activist attorney Maurice Tomlinson told Canadian legislators this week. Continue reading
