A fellow blogger posted on the recent Silent Protest -Jamaica's Participation in IDAHO- After the march, what next? .. A Stand of Silence. And it is a really good question. Is this Silent protest a follow up to the Walk for Tolerance that occurred in April? Some within the community may say yes, but as the organiser for this IDAHO event was JFLAG (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays) the official answer may well be no. We can all remember the still recent Walk for Tolerance in Montego Bay - if you don't you can read it here- which almost completely blew up in the face of the organisers, as it was perceived by many onlookers and the media as a walk for gay rights.
The question then is; since the Walk for Tolerance was not a gay march nor a march for gay rights and since the Stand of Silence was for the advocacy of gay rights and freedoms as human rights, why is it that more LGBTI people were not aware of this event? How many of the allies actually knew? This could have been a much better supported even had more in the community knewt. It seems like it was a selective process. If they want to argue that they didn't want certain behaviour being showcased what happens to those of us who participate in so many other events, those who can conduct ourselves within the relevant circumstances? The discussions and the likes, and for persons like myself who are part of the church? It's like a slap in the face.
Just like how political parties show how united they are in face of so much crisis, why can't this community show that amount of unity and we -in my opinion- don't even face half the crisis being faced by political parties. It shows us up as fragmented, splintered and when that is the case the voice isn't strong. Isn't it better to have one loud voice coming over loudspeakers, than several small, weak voices coming over computer speakers and using a computer microphone?
Despite all of this though there must have been a reason God allowed what happened to have happened and though I am disappointed and ranting I can try to understand.
Below is a short video of the event.
Links to other articles I've written regarding this event:
Pictures from the Jamaica IDAHO Event
JFLAG Press Release
Jamaica's Participation in IDAHO
I do trust that this will be my last post on Jamaica IDAHO event but as it has not yet been picked up by the media, nor as I have been able to speak with participants in the event -my not having time- such a thought may be wishful.
lawd Miss Lady yuh a gwaan eeeh lol but very good points the fact that many people weren't aware of it shows the operating style of the powers that be as I said elsewhere the field slaves can't come to the massa house so there it is.
ReplyDeleteOnce you have differing views you are sidelined or ignored or deemed a mad person.
We have along way to go in terms of some level advocacy it not just by simply interacting with "ordinary battyman" but then again they aren't needed around given the closure of the homeless MSM/PLWHAs shelter under dubious circumstances and their own displacement by the very people who are to intervene.
Clearly HIV/Buggery Law at the policy/programming level are far more important issues that need attention than dealing with social support issues on the ground as is one of the mandates of JFLAG.
Don't get me wrong they are important at that level but also concurrently we must begin to deal with the ground level issues as well. Cherry picking after 13 years is not good enough we need better representation or change to the name to some private gay group then and not have it as a national organization by virtue of Jamaica in it's acronymn claiming to represent gays here.
I wonder if I am in a dream world sometimes but I am glad other members of the community are waking up and seeing it for themsleves.
Peace and tolerance
H
Come mek me and you start we own thing ya. I didn't know JFLAG was celebrating 13yrs I wasn't even very much aware of their existence.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, the buggery law does need to be addressed, however changing th law without any change in the social operation within the community isn't going to go a far way.
There are many in the community -my opinion- who don't feel very good about themselves, who don't have a place to sleep, who don't have jobs or food to eat. The housing programme shut down. How changing the law going help right there at the grass-root? The change of the law is more for the health aspects and it is important but behavioural change is also important and no amount of law changing will do that