(Kingston) – LGBT Jamaicans are vulnerable to both physical and sexual violence and many live in constant fear, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. They are taunted, threatened, fired from their jobs, thrown out of their homes, or worse: beaten, stoned, raped, or killed.
High levels of violent crime, public mistrust of the police force, low levels of crime reporting, low prosecution rates, and a perception that the criminal justice system is skewed against the poor are factors that affect all Jamaicans. But LGBT Jamaicans, especially those who are poor and unable to live in safer, more affluent areas, are particularly vulnerable.
Human Rights Watch conducted five weeks of field research in Jamaica in April and June 2013, interviewing 71 LGBT people, as well as government officials and other stakeholders. Of the 56 cases of violence documented, 19 victims had reported these crimes to the police. But police took formal statements in only 8 cases, and only 4 led to arrests or prosecutions. Those who did not file police reports, across the board, told Human Rights Watch that they were afraid of facing further discrimination at the hands of the police, or that they believed the police would take no action to assist them.
Devon O., a pseudonym used for his protection, told Human Rights Watch that in January 2013, police stood by and watched while a crowd of about 30 people – shouting insults regarding his sexual orientation and armed with knives, machetes and sticks – beat him for about 20 minutes. He said police finally removed him from the crowd and placed him in a police van but then handcuffed and beat him.
The report also documents cases of discrimination by government institutions, including health care facilities, and in the private sector. Families and neighbors often drive LGBT people from their homes and communities. Landlords refuse to rent to LGBT people; health providers stigmatize them when they seek services; and employers arbitrarily fire them. In some such cases, the “buggery” laws are evoked to justify discrimination.
Many LGBT Jamaicans are denied full citizenship rights and become effectively homeless. Some feel forced to flee the country. Among the most vulnerable are dozens of gay and transgender Jamaican children and young adults whose families have rejected them and who are living on the streets, where they face violence and harassment from the police and the public.
Bryan T., a homeless young gay man, said that New Kingston police promised to investigate an incident in which construction workers chased him in February 2013, but that he has seen no sign that police followed up. He said that he and a friend were told they could not use the police officer’s pen to sign the complaint: “He said, ‘You are a battyman. We don’t want battyman to use our pen.’”
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller should make good on her election promise that “No one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation,” Human Rights Watch said
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller should make good on her election promise that “No one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation,” Human Rights Watch said
She obviously does NOT believe this . When confronted with all of this she claimed Jamaica and it's officers all respect the rights of gays, no one should be discriminated against and in 2011 when she was running she claimed she'd consider decriminalizing homosexuality, which she still hasn't.
i think puerto rico is the ony ok place for LGBT in the caribbean, anyways glad i live in a western country where my rights are protected.
I don't know what you consider western. But I'm pretty sure the Caribbean islands are Western countries. If you don't then that means you don't consider a majority of the Western Hemisphere to be Western.
I don't know what you consider western. But I'm pretty sure the Caribbean islands are Western countries. If you don't then that means you don't consider a majority of the Western Hemisphere to be Western.
western doesn't necessarily mean western hemisphere
western doesn't necessarily mean western hemisphere
australia is considered a western country
Well obviously.
I was saying that if he didn't consider Jamaica or other Caribbean countries Western than a majority of similar countries in the Western Hemisphere are not Western either.
It just means taking of Western values. Jamaica is a Western country. It does has Western values instilled by the English.
I was saying that if he didn't consider Jamaica or other Caribbean countries Western than a majority of similar countries in the Western Hemisphere are not Western either.
It just means taking of Western values. Jamaica is a Western country. It does has Western values instilled by the English.
it's more than values or history
being an european colony doesn't make it western... like no one considers mexico western
being an european colony doesn't make it western... like no one considers mexico western
Mexico is a Western country. If that's the case you could argue the US isn't a Western country, however no one would deny that the US is a Western country.
Does it have Christian morals? A strong sense of European culture or influences such as language, folklore or even custums? Roman and Greek influences?
Yes since that applies all countries in the Western Hemisphere.
This is sad because Jamaica is amazing, I fell in love with it when I went on vacation there. I remember reading some horror stories online about how badly gays are treated in that part of the world as I was in the airport to leave The people there seem too joyful and happy for all that mess
Mexico is a Western country. If that's the case you could argue the US isn't a Western country, however no one would deny that the US is a Western country.
Does it have Christian morals? A strong sense of European culture or influences such as language, folklore or even custums? Roman and Greek influences?
Yes since that applies all countries in the Western Hemisphere.
mexico is not a western country under anyone's definition
if "christian morals" and european influences are the qualifiers for being a western country even the philippines and georgia are western countries, but they are not.
and if roman and greek influences is a necessary requirement, most of the western hemisphere (mostly anglo and spanish) does not qualify
. When confronted with all of this she claimed Jamaica and it's officers all respect the rights of gays, no one should be discriminated against and in 2011 when she was running she claimed she'd consider decriminalizing homosexuality, which she still hasn't.
