environment
i spent the first 15 years of my life in jamaica and was extremely homophobic.. over the years i have become tolerant due to growing up in australia, even though i can still feel a little disgusted at times, i try to fight the feeling because i have met some great people who are gay and also i believe that it is a very backward way of thinking i love my country and people.. it is up to the government to educate the people.

Andrew, London
Elephant Man wears some of the most camp outfits I've seen in a long time.

Raymi
As a Jamaican immigrant to the US I also feel embarrased when I hear songs that demonize and condone killing homosexuals. There are not enough homosexuals living openly in JA to warrent such hate. It seems anger is misdirected to some collective bogeyman. Homosexuals have a negligable impact on the island's society, so where is all this hate mongering coming from? A friend told me he thinks Jamaican men have a bisexual streak and this rally against homosexuality is self inflicted hatred.

KB
This issue goes deeper than just an aversion to homosexuality within Jamaican culture. In my opinion, its just one symptom of a (male dominated) society which celebrates masculinity in its most base form (physical strength), and denigrates anything or anybody that threatens this. Homosexuals are the antithesis of masculinity (in their eyes) & as such are villified for compromising the black male stereotype to which they aspire.

TISA
I am Jamaican female, currently in Florida, and i respect and love the fact that Jamaica upholds their standards of not accepting everything, just because, like the US does. The US has literally become a melting pot of sexualities, religions, beliefs, opinions, judgements, etc.

America really has no identity anymore, because she has failed to uphold any type of moral standards for anything. America is more concerned with "we dont want to offend anyone", more than setting a standard and saying this is what we build our foundation upon.

colin
jamaica can keep its traditions whilst giving its gay citizens, who are proud to be jamaican but also proud to be gay, a proper and safe place in society. every country in the world has in the past or the present been intolerant of gays, racial minorities, women, the disabled, etc but do we seriously think that all countries have got worse for becoming tolerant?

would we enjoy living in Britain if it let change pass it by, and stayed as predjudiced, class-ridden and oppressive as it was in Victorian times. I was born here but I'd leave if it was still like that.

Small Island
To be gay though natural it is not normal. Most people have difficulty accepting things which stray outside the norm. I was raised in the Caribbean and as long as I knew there were always gay people in society. Yes they were often taunted and ridiculed but it was seldom malicious. I think many Caribbean people became less tolerant when the western world started to portray homosexuality as a fashionable & trendy lifestyle. What they were in fact doing was promoting the extrovert side of homosexuality which most gay people actually shun away from.

With regard to music, most non-Jamaicans can hardly understand the lyrics anyway and simply enjoy the rhythm and raucous lifestyle associated with the music. If you're going to get the lyric police to interpret and censor music then at the end of the day music, free expression and creativity will be the victims.

from N Ireland
JA is very much like N Ireland where much of the population are either devoutly religous or caught up in a macho culture which glamorises crime. This has always been a recipe for closed minded bigotry. Gay people in N Ireland have suffered from similar attitudes but recently have become increasingly free to be open and more accepted.

JB
if being gay were really a choice, do you think anyone would choose to be gay in a country where they know they'll be executed for being that way?

chris
As for music, I think they hate the fact, that reggae is such a vibrant, pure, spiritual, rebellious music, that they cant be part of it, well tuff, thats life. As for reggae artists chattin only about gays, i dont think soo, they chat about life, standard, and the music inspires me to lead a conscious life...

Blaster
As a professional engineer, I've worked in jamaica for long periods. I have very good friends there but I saw that Jamaican culture seems to revolve around sex and promiscuity. Women, married or otherwise, made startling moves on me in bars and hotels and though I'm far from prudish I found it all bit much.

For a nation into sex and spouse-cheating, I'm very surprised at their intolerance at a human condition that's been around since the year dot. I developed an almost obsessive taste for reggae while I was there but all these fascist lyrics are spoiling the fun of it. Jah-Jah is supposed to be a kind and tolerant god for all of us...

Mega RegaMuffin
We have a situation where certain aspects of Jamaican culture, particularly music, are quite influential in black youth culture in Britain. Not all of it is progressive and its about time the spotlight was put on certain aspects of it. If there are bigoted and irrational views lets have them out in the open so everyone can see them for what they are. The worst thing would be for youth culture to uncritically romanticise Jamaican culture and deny there were certain problems.

Seb
As always: don't knock it 'til you've tried it ;)

Darren
That is so very, very sad. It made me cry.

J
In Jamaica they obviously don't and can't appreciate what black people went through with discrimination - small island - small minded people who have probably never been discriminated against!!!! And never lived in the outside world. These people just use religion as an excuse justify in their own heads that their behavior and actions towards another human being is acceptable.

Christian Cleric
To judge is to be judged. If you feel pious enough to judge others then God shall judge you, that is stated very clearly in the Bible. Not all Christian theologians are dogmatic and believe every word written in the Good Book.

Much of it was poorly transcribed, references specifically to Homosexuality are now widely believed to refer to prostitution and sexual promiscuity, rather than homosexuality.

Does 'Marie' [further down] also concur with the Bible when it states that women shall not wear trousers, or fetch water from a well on the Sabbath? Most individuals who look to the Bible for 'evidence' are quite ignorant of the wider picture. Prejudice against anyone because of race, creed, colour, religion or intimate peculiarity IS a sin and Jamaica is not alone in its prejudice.

Phil
Only a gay man knows what it's like to be a gay man. Anyone else with an ounce of intelligence and the ability to think for himself will try to understand. Hate comes from ignorance.

Vicki
Well done Marie! The Bible clearly and undisputably says that homosexuality is wrong and is an 'abomination'. I think it should be illegal in every country. To say it is not their fault is not an excuse. However, I do not condone the violence towards these people. If they choose to practice their homosexuality, they should be dealt with by the law, like any other crime.

Keedi
I was in JA this summer and found a lot of lesbian couples out there. Another And there is an increase in hedonism and gay marriages, causing an influx of people into the country for solely that reason. I think this has brought hostility to Jamaican people because of the government needing money by any means possible. This advertises JA for the wrong reasons and means that jamaicans identify homosexuality with the wrong things and don't fully understand the reasons gay people are what they are.

David
I cannot change my sexuality any more than my skin colour. As a teenager I knew that my homosexual desires were absoloutely right and a fundamental part of me. Heterosexual people don't decided to be straight. They just are attracted to the opposite sex, it is right for them as my sexuality and feelings are right for me.

s.c.
Respect to ppl on this forum like danielle...you dont have to personally 'like' the idea of homosexuality to believe that everyone deserves basic human rights. And of course some people here seem to have forgotten that being gay and Black/Jamican/into dancehall are not mutually exclusive! I know nuff ppl who are all of those things!

Arjay
Mr "Just my Opinion" [bottom of page] needs to come out and say honestly and openly whether he agrees with beating people, burning people, hating and abusing people, making their life awful.

He's trying to talk about whether it's acceptable to be a practising homosexual, but the issue here is whether it's ok to beat people, and even kill people, because you don't agree with them.

mario
christianity is based on tolerance not on abuse. there is nothing natural or non natural. the bible bans lots of things christians happily do. i am surprised that black people can be more abusive than any other people. the world has recognised their rights. then why they do that to other groups also fighting for their own rights? open up your eyes, people from Jamaica...

ikke
i don't like what gay people do but not badly enough to discriminate against them. But what outrage and other are doing is setting up the jamaicans even more against gays. they attack the main source of legal money for the poor and uneducated black jamaicans and so oppress them more. They should handle the poverty and education problem first and then homophobia should decrease soon. don't blame the uneducated, cause they don't know better than what the gouverment and the different churches in jamaica preach!!

Bb
All i can say is that I am so proud of the young man to whom the documentary is based. he clearly feels upset at his and the treatment of other homosexuals (as do I) and yet he does not seem to feel victimised and has a degree of understanding for the ignorance or rather opinion of many other jamaicans. I am proud that despite his hardships he maintains a pride of his country and hometown (beautiful parish of st. thomas) and has the desire to bring about change in JA as opposed to resigning to his situation.

Taylor
After listening to that, i couldnt help but feel sorry for him. What right has anyone got to tell another human being how they should or shouldnt live their life? Its disgusting the way people would rather live with hate and violence rather than accepting homosexuals. The scariest part is that these people who hate gays so much really do sleep at night. it doesnt lay on their conscience!!

Marie
Does everybody in the world have to agree that being gay is natural? When the bible states quite clearly that it is not! Just because there are gay school teachers, politicians, judges and priests, and it is now considered an offence to "discriminate' against employing them etc it does not mean that I should believe that what they get up to behind closed doors is right. Jamaican culture will not follow the rest of the western worlds brainwashing that that is why they proudly sing and celebrate being a nation that opposes homosexuality.

Alex
The fundamentalist Christian-based homophobia in jamaica is merely a relic from colonialism. Someone below claims no religion supports the human rights of lesbian and gay people. Well, yes they have, through the ages, many Native American cultures were perfectly accepting of homosexuality. As well as many african cultures had perfectly accepting attitudes towards homosexuals and transgendered people.

Before the europeans arrived that is, and imposed christianity and 18/19th century-style homophobia. Which we still see to this day. It is ironic that jamaica is exhibiting the sexual ethics of its 18/19th century Europe! Even though it achieved independence decades ago.

Lady D
I don't have anything against gay men, but when dem start 2 interfere in tings dat don't concern dem, mi fell vex. Last week I had to go to get a refund 4 di concert dat dey cancelled, it not their music, dey just attacking black reggae artists. Dem don't say nuttin about Eminem or other singers dat curse dem, no just di dancehall reggae acts. Instead of getting people on their side, dem making people hate dem. Dey should just leave di artists alone 2 get on wid dem riddims and tings. Rastaman sing about Chant Down Babylon but I’m no go do it. Same as Dancehall music - it's all made up.

britishdevil_2001
Jamaican artists try to use the bible as an excuse to verbally and physically abuse homosexual people. They always say God says it is a sin. Well if being homosexual is a sin then God will deal with them. Do they think that attacking people in the name of God is right?

cri$
heterophobia anyone? anyway, the more gay men the more women for mans to make babies with......and at the end of the day, man and a woman keep the species going yeah? So unless we all wanna fade away...y'all betta big up the good ole" guy and his gyal !

KISS
Gay people choose to do what they do. If they dont like the music they should not listen to it STANDARD

ms my opinion
mr 'just my opinion' [bottom] - yr right that equating gay rights and civil rights is pretty offensive - it's a totally different struggle. but you make out that gay people are somehow outside "jamaican" culture when really they are part of it and need to have a safe space to exist. it's also arguable that a lot of gay people don't choose their orientation - why would they in a country where it causes them so much pain?

big_DS.........
The argument opposing gay rights in Jamaica came over as ignorant as possible. Interviewees discussing living the gay experience were eloquent and articulate.

It was the first time I’ve heard a gay Jamaican discuss his/her lifestyle honestly and openly and I admit, I grudgingly felt some compassion. The voices opposed to gay rights in Jamaica used ignorant and irrational language: Battyman fi dead, burn dem up ray ray ray.....

Why were there no voices to speak about the fundamental values that the majority of Jamaican population believes in, in an informed manner? Not of violence, but of the fundamentalist background steeped in tradition and very much opposed to change.

No one could explain just why they feel gay rights to be unacceptable, especially without having to resort to threats of violence, even when implementing biblical scripture into discussion.

Nico
Gay people don't just wake up and decide to be gay. Just like black people in the 50s-60s they are being discriminated as a minority by an intolerant and hateful majority.

danielle
it's horrible that ppl aren't accepting homosexuality in jamaica. i'm not a gay activist and i don't believe it's right, but i do believe ALL ppl HAVE rights. everyone has the right to be respected and loved. i don't feel ppl should bottle such neg. energy about something that doesn't involve them.

the ppl who are committing these crimes say they are doin gods will, but that's exactly what the ku klux klan said and we don't allow it. also, anyone who reads the bible knows god said love your neighbor and thou shall not kill.

lover of humanity
Black people don't choose to be black and homosexuals don't choose to be homsexual....why would anyone choose to be ridiculed by everyone they know and love?

monique
As a 1st generation Jamaican immigrant living in the US it makes me feel so ashamed of some of the prevailing ideas of socially acceptable behavior in Jamaica. It is so archaic and backward. I think all homosexual people living in Jamaica should apply for political asylum in the United States. Power to the people.

anonymous
i believe that each individual has a right to be what they are!!! i feel that jamaican artists who talk about gay lyrics in their tracks are fighting their own feelings and feel suppressed to come out in the open.

Mr (Look at History)
What religion promotes the gay and lebian activity? NONE. Jamaica is a country that sticks by what they believe.

Reuben
he without sin cast the first stone. half the dancehall 'artists' - and i'm using this term loosely - who talk all the bun chi chi man rubbish have committed many a sin themselves, be it drugs, murder, sex outside of marriage etc.

roodi
You think you're tough? These gay Jamaicans are tougher than tough. I admire them with all my heart. And I have to say I have less and less respect for the Deejays who practice the cowardly gay bashing.

nathan
what?!....and do homosexuals wake up in the morning and decide they are going to be gay? i think its disgusting that they dont want this in their culture. the fact that they would rather have prejudice in their culture instead of homosexuality is yes, sad and disheartening.

DJ 1 Love
newsflash! you don't wake up in the morning and decide to be gay; no gay person I ever knew chose to be gay. Look at the broader picture guy, it's exactly the same as the civil rights movement, it's about NOT being able to be yourself, whether you're black, gay or whatever. I respect the musicians' choice to make their records but it aint cool to discriminate against the way people live their lives. Way I see it is, if it don't affect you it ain't your business. It's not my lifestyle either but give people the right to their own lives. Peace.

USA
To Mr "Just My Opinion": Discrimination is discrimination. It does not have a race, gender, sexual orientation etc. It is sad to know that you believe gay people decide to be gay. Yeah, we decided to be gay just as much as you decided to be straight. Think about it, would anyone choose to face hostility by choice? I am proud of those who can be true to themselves in this cruel world. You need to educate yourself. We did not choose this. Its who we are.

Reuben
this is sad, and disheartening.

Mr "Just my Opinion"
I think it is good that Jamaicans stand by what they believe. Homosexuals make a decision to practice a lifestyle that Jamaicans do not want influencing their culture. The media is helping to promote the idea that the gay rights struggles currently going on are the same as the equality struggles during the civil rights movement in the 50's-60's. Every single black person I have spoken to finds that notion disgusting, and I tend to agree. Black people don't wake up in the morning and decide they are going to be black.