VIOLENCE AGAINST GAY MEN
Violence against gay men has become a part of everyday society in Jamaica. Over the last several decades, with a growing intensity, hate has been promoted against homosexuals and justified by many community and national leader “not in my cabinet”.
This hatred is often expressed in music. Many dancehall entertainers have used the medium of music to incite attacks on persons believed to be homosexual. By releasing songs such as, -BUM bye bye inna batty bwoy head- Me nah mingle wid nuh man-From dem a par inna chi chi man car bring the fire mek we bun dem- among many others.
These dancehall calls to violence are answered by real violence on the streets. These attacks are known as “judgements” and are a part of life in Jamaica. Judgements can be verbal abuse, but in their stronger form “Batty bwoy fi dead” “Me woulda never put my dick inna another man bottom” how them bwoy deh so nasty FIRE and LIGTHENING f idem”. Judgements are also physical attacks on men designed to put the victim in the hospital or even to kill him.
These judgements are not limited to the streets of Jamaica. Jamaica exports its homophobic violence. One report describes a judgement on the streets of London where a group of human rights activist was protesting an awards ceremony that honored among other genres and artist, some of dancehall’s most homophobic songs and singers. These protestors, themselves UK citizens exercising their civil liberties, were attacked by supporters of theses homophobic DJs, to the point where British police told the protestors their safety could not be guaranteed.
THE REALITY
When violence is sanctioned against one element of the community it puts everyone at risk.
EVERYONE PAYS THE PRICE!
1. Because of actual violence or fear of violent attack, some people rumoured to be gay or bisexual (MSM=Men who have sex with men) are forced to flee their homes and communities
2. Violence against MSMS adds to the burden on the already overstretched health and security services.
3. The fear and threat of violence prevents and threat of violence prevents people from developing their full potential as productive members of society
4. Sanctioning violence against sexual minorities confirms Jamaica’s reputation as a violent society to travelers, to investors and to development agencies
5. Sanctioning violence against ANY GROUP sends the message to our children and to the wider society that violence is acceptable.
Multifaceted
I have witness this so many times, men being beaten because they are different.
ReplyDeleteMultifaceted
Group Multifaceted
Deleteand it does happen alot sadly at the hands of msms projections>>> we cause our own suffering... we need to help each other and stand up for who we are and what we do>> now matter how scary it seems as they are agencies and people out there for our cause>>>
group (Multifaceted
ReplyDeleteWell i strongly believe that society is very hypocritical in their system of values>> they preach equity and equality with one and for all and then with another hand they restrict this availability this civil right to MSM>>> and their reason>>> well quite flippant " they dnt like it"
Group Multifaceted
ReplyDeleteWell the the biggest hypocrisy is that birds who sing the same tune msm sometimes promote cause this injustice whether directly or indirectly>>> and that is the biggest problem<<< fellas if we cant work together we are going to fail individually
or when they call the bible card, that's always most hilarious. They let go of all the other values that the bible will stress then use it to justify hatred towards MSMs and judgement, when both hatred and judgement are not supported by said Bible
ReplyDeleteGroup Multifaceted
ReplyDeletethe bible card is their safety net and they dnt know that its not right to use the symbol of truth for good and evil>>> mankind can be soo sad at times,,,, SOO ashamed to be human hehehehe
Group Multifaceted
ReplyDeleteWell the violence thing, does not have to occur< as msm we need to unite and stop being soooo divisive. just like all world groups such as feminist and such> if they wanted change they had to stick together to effect it> we cannot get it individual at least something sustainable. we have to join forces and fight back<<< sounds weird huh?? fight is not necessarily physical but all faculties and resources must be used> that is if we really wana stop the violence though> because it may not happen to you but who is to tell in the future>> lets work together guys
Group Multifaceted
ReplyDeleteinjustice somewhere threatens injustice everywhere and violence is a gross part of injustice esp if its discriminatory and msm have been subjected to such breaches of our human rights time and time again>>>> we need to fight back