J-Flag Speaker Tour
Members of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays (J-FLAG), Jamaica's leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights organization, have been speaking at public forums across the nation organized by OUTfront, Amnesty International's program on LGBT human rights. The speaker tour is part of the ongoing Amnesty campaign to end homophobic violence and promote LGBT human rights in Jamaica. Our guests include J-FLAG spokesperson, Karlene, and OUTfront organizers: Ariel, Christina and Jessie.
Featured Guest: J-FLAG/OUTfront staffFrom our featured guest: "We look forward to answering your questions today. "
Moderator's comment:
We are joined today by J-FLAG spokesperson Karlene, and OUTfront organizers Ariel, Christina and Jessie.
Thank you for joining today's chat!
You are encouraged to submit questions. To do so, click on the "Ask Question" button on the bottom of the page.
- Kevin, Moderator
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Question Submitted by jose:
Have you been able to get any celebrities like Susan Sarandon for example, who are activists?
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Yes, Susan Sarandon is a big supporter of Amnesty International and have done a lot of work particularly around women's rights.
ariel
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Question Submitted by Lily Sugianto:
In Indonesia, lesbianism is a taboo. The norm of the culture and the religion rejected us. That’s why the lesbians communities in Indonesia still hidden their sexual identities from the family, society and state. Because if they are openly, they will have the discrimination (include the violence) not only from their family but from the society & state. Would you tell me, is Amnesty International's had a program for LGBT community in Indonesia? Because its more important for us to know : we are not alone to againts the system in our country.
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Dear Lily,
Thank you for writing and sharing this with our online community. At this time, Amnesty International USA's OUTfront program does not have any active cases on LGBT individuals in Indonesia.
However, please never hesitate to contact us if you learn of human rights abuses in Indonesia that never hesitate to contact us when you have learned of human rights abuses perpetrated against LGBT individuals in Indonesia. You could submit the information to our Urgent Action network at uan@aiusa.org, or to the OUTfront office at outfront@aiusa.org, and they will then pass this information along to the London-based research staff.
And no, you are not alone in your struggle for LGBT human rights.
--Christina
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Question Submitted by BADHON:
dear sir how can i join your j-flag speaker tour. pls tell me details by e-mail
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Dear Badhon,
The J-Flag Speakers tour here in the US is actually over. However, if you are interested in getting involved with J-FLAG in Jamaica the website is www.jflag.org. You can always get involved with Amnesty's OUTfront program as well. For more information http://www.amnestyusa.org/outfront/getinvolved.do
--kim
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Question Submitted by Emily:
Thank you for your courage and strength to speak out about the ongoing human rights abuses in Jamaica and around the world. I think education is central to addressing issues of discrimination and to creating change. I’m sorry I missed your speaking tour, but I wonder how I can find out about other upcoming events with OUTFront. Also, how can I help to educate people in my community about the ongoing harassment and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Jamaica and other parts of the world? Thank you again for all you do.
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Dear Emily,
I am also sorry that you missed the JFLAG speakers tour! To find out about what is happening with OUTfront you can do a variety of things - the first would be to check in periodically with our calendar (http://www.amnestyusa.org/outfront/events.html), the second would be to get involved as an e-action member (http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/join/index.asp?flags1=31), the third would be to join OUTfront as a member (http://www.amnestyusa.org/outfront/join.html) and last (but definitely not least) is to join a local or student group in your area where you can take part in larger actions and group activity.
Members actions are what make Amnesty effective and there are many different ways in which you can become involved in OUTfront.
I hope that this gave you some small idea of how to go forward with your activism.
--kim
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Question Submitted by Erin:
What is your recommendation for encouaging artists like Sizzla and Capelton to change their homophobic lyrics, have any of these artists resonded in a way that signals a change?
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Well first I wanted to mention that AI is specifically not focusing on/targeting dance hall artists.
We are targeting the Prime Minister of Jamaica - PJ Patterson. We are asking him to do 3 things; first, speak out against homophobic violence second, repeal Jamaica's sodomy statues and third to adopt additional legal protectings to ensure that lgbt people are free from discrimination.
Now on the subject of dancehall artists there is an organization called Outrage that has had major success working with the music industry. You can find out more at http://www.outrage.org.uk/
--kim
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Question Submitted by Geoff:
Hi, what can people in overseas countries (like Australia) do to help people in Jamaica?
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Dear Geoff,
Currently, we're focusing on putting pressure on the Jamaican government to:
1)Take a proactive stance and condemn homophobic violence; and
2)Institute legal reforms to protect LGBT Jamaicans from discrimination, and to repeal the sodomy statute.
You can participate in our action by going to our website: www.amnestyusa.org/outfront.
To find out how you can help J-FLAG, visit their website: www.jflag.org.
best,
ariel
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Question Submitted by Hunter:
What is the next big step for JFLAG, and do you think that there is hope for the violence to end in the somewhat near future?
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Karlene, Gareth, I think either one of you would be the best person to answer this question. A
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Question Submitted by Lesley:
I have a gay son and wondered if Jamaica has always been homophobic? Why has this come to the forfront now and why do you think Jamaica is obviously so aggresievely homophobic?
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Lesley,
I don't think that anyone can say that any one country "has always been homophobic." It's also besides the point. Some people would even argue that homophobia in Jamaica is a Western import and would point to the Jamaican sodomy statute, a British colonial legacy, as proof.
Unfortunately, the reality is that homophobia and homophobic violence is not unique to Jamaica. It certainly is prevalent in the US.
I think that the issue of homophobic violence in Jamaica has gain prominence in part because of the controversy surrounding the violent homophobic lyrics by a few popular dancehall artists, and the gruesome death of Brian Williamson, a prominent gay activist in Jamaica and founding member of J-FLAG, which got a lot of international press.
ariel
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Question Submitted by pedro:
I am not sure what the situation is when it comes to homosexuality in Jamaica but I have an idea that its actually bad. My question is: what is happening in Jamaica againts homosexuals that the news is not covering and not telling people like me in the United States.
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Pedro,
You should go to our website and read our action and short report: www.amnestyusa.org/outfront. You should also go to the Human Rights Watch website and download their latest report on Jamaica: www.hrw.org.
best,
ariel
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Question Submitted by Judith Aldridge:
Dear Karlene, How long do you think it is going to take for a significant win on the human rights for transsexuals in the West Indies on the same level as my (I v. the UK ECtHR 2002) win for transsexuals in Britain. Best wishes, Judith Aldridge AKA Denise (I)ngram
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
I'll leave this question for Karlene. A
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Question Submitted by Richard:
Bless up! wassup Karlene and Gareth, this is Richard aka fflood from the Bay Area hollerin atcha. I am really glad to have caught you in SF, i felt like i was witnessing history in the making. Still givin thanks for your brave work. My question is if any focus was given to the traumas of slavery, plus our colonization by the Victorian British, plus religion and how it is manifested in Jamaica and informs patriarchy was discussed on your tour... i know we talked about it, but wondering if that was also discussed in other places. becuase i find that people often wonder how our culture became so homophobic, and think it is helpful information, lest we are pathologized completely. blessfflood, richard
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Dear Richard,
Karlene couldn't be on right now but if you don't mind I would love to answer your question.
Yes. We had many questions and discussions in both Detroit and Chicago about the origins of homophobia in Jamaica and the repercussions of slavery and colonization and the strict regulation of gender roles.
I completely agree that it is important to aknowledge these factors especially when working as part of an international human rights movement.
thanks!
-kim
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Question Submitted by Stephanie:
What can I do as a student activist to prevent homophobic violence in high schools?
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Dear Stephanie,
The first thing would be to raise awareness around the issues of homophobia and violence in your school. Work with a Teacher and start a Safe Zone program or participate in the Day of Silence.
Raising awareness around the issues helps to curb violence because perpetrators depend on silence to protect them from reprucussions. The more people aknowledge there is a problem and the more people who speak out the greater the chances are that the violencce will decccrease.
Again, for more information on how to get your Amnesty group involved in lgbt human rights check out http://www.amnestyusa.org/outfront/getinvolved.do
thanks
-kim
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Question Submitted by sabeena:
Thank you so much for all your courageous work. I am an officer in the Gay-Straight Alliance in my High School. What I'm concerned about is the students and kids in Jamaica. Do they have a voice? Are GLBTQ highschoolers safe? How are they able to make a difference in their community, safely? And is there any way that GLBT students and their allies in the US to show solidarity with our Jamaican friends?
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
That is a great question.
Sadly enough it is extremely dangerous for youth to be out let alone have a place to feel safe. Gareth and Karlene mentioned a few youths who found their way into JFLAG support groups after being kicked out of their homes and schools and forced to live on the street. Youth run into the same problems as adults: violence and hatred.
Jamaica is not a safe place for anyone to be "out" and lgbtq youth have no outlet or safe place other than JFLAG whose location has to be kept a secret due to threats of violence. They do operate a help-line but Jamaica is a large island and not all youth have access to a JFLAG support group.
The best way to show your support is to take action on these issues. Write a letter to the Prime minister, get petition signatures signed, hold a candlelight vigil or a protest at your local Jamaican consulate office. Make your voice heard.
-kim
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Question Submitted by jose:
Do you know of any foreigners/tourists(non-Jamaicans), that were targeted for being Gay or supected of being Gay? If so, what happened?
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
From everything that Gareth and Karlene talked about (and what I have read) I know of no instances of homophobic violence towards tourists (which is not to say that it doesn't happen).
Karlene talked about how in Jamaica there are essentially 2 separate worlds, the one Jamaicans live and the ones that the tourists see. I know that there are Gay cruises and travel that specifically stop in Jamaica and have heard of individual instances of discrimination but I have not heard of outright violence. Again the main reason being that a very large portion of the Jamaican economy is based on tourism and curtailing that would be extremely bad for Jamaica's economy.
However, as Gareth pointed out - a boycott of the tourist industry would most likely hurt the people who work in the tourist industry (rather than the specific perpetrators of violence) and that a large portion of the lgbt community in Jamaica works in the tourist industry.
-kim
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Question Submitted by Corey:
What groups can we join up with to do action.
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
Take action at http://www.amnestyusa.org/outfront/actions.do
Check out how you can get involved at http://www.amnestyusa.org/outfront/getinvolved.do
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Question Submitted by david:
Is there a plan to incourage the Jamaican public to accept the LGBT community as "normal"? When I left Jamaica, there seemed to be a "total" & complete acceptance of homophobia and homosexual-bashing as an informed and correct position/stance to hold.
J-FLAG/OUTfront staff answers:
That still seems to be the case.
Gareth and Karlene discussed the need to change the perceptions of how lgbt people are viewed. This will be a long and arduous process. The first steps are in getting the government to speak out against the violence, repeal the sodomy statues (which make homosexual relations illegal) and to put into place basic protections from discrimination for all lgbt people in Jamaica.
-kim
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