A message of tolerance is being spread from living room to living room in Jamaica, arguably one of the world's epicenters of virulent homophobia, as we speak, err, type.
Thanks to the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays (JFLAG), via television and the Internet Jamaicans of all ages are hearing the message of "Unconditional Love." Follow the jump to check out the first ad from the vastly important campaign.
Unconditional Love tells a heart warming story of Christine Straw who declares her unending love for Matthew, her brother who is gay, while calling on Jamaicans to love their family members and friends who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). “As Jamaicans we have to stop this stupidity of alienating our [people] because of their homosexual orientation,” stated Straw. “They are our brothers and our sisters and we must love them, no matter what [..] because they need support and encouragement,” she said.
In detailing the impact of homophobia in Jamaica, Maurice Tomlinson, Legal Adviser at AIDS-Free World (AFW) said his organisation was proud to support this collaborative venture which calls on all Jamaicans to live up to their world renowned culture of One Love. He stressed that members of the LGBT community must also strive to understand the source of the lack of knowledge of persons who stigmatize and violate their rights and hurt them. “The empowerment of these individuals is crucial for the breaking down of walls which prevent persons from seeing the true value of the contribution LGBT Jamaicans make to the society” Tomlinson said.
According to Dane Lewis, Executive Director at Jamaica’s only gay rights lobby, Jamaica Forum of Lesbians All Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), “it is our hope that this inspiring public declaration of love will motivate other families and friends of LGBT to share their stories of acceptance and that those who are on a journey to acceptance will be moved to love LGBT persons in their lives unconditionally.”
Comments (4)
... written by Brian M,
August 01, 2011
I don't think much of it. As someone who has many Jamaican friends, it's not the lighter skinned Jamaicans who need the message.
+3
... written by Richard Smith,
August 01, 2011
It's a nice add but Jamaica has such a horrible record of equality and outward hostility towards anything gay that I will NEVER travel to or support anything Jamaican. I realize everything starts with baby step but until the government does something to crack down on the thugs and murders who prey on the LGBT community my money will be spent someplace else. There are way to many other beautiful islands in the Caribbean that are more accepting. I now worry for Matthew's safety as well as his sisters just for appearing in this ad.
+0
... written by Gay J'can ,
August 03, 2011
Unfortunately while the move is noble the personalities are far removed from the realities of homophobia and violence on the ground, chances are they are holders of US visas and can simply fly away leaving more darker skinned lower socio economic levelled same gender lovers who face the music daily. Such is our classist system here, the ad also seems to reinforce it very well and the notion if you’re brown stick around if you’re black stay back and suggests that families do not exist in the other sections of the country. More realistic figures should have been used or one hopes this is not the only ad for the campaign.
Sad indeed that this is the best JFLAG could come up with, what is also sad is that the comments section on the JFLAG site is closed to anyone for or against the work being done, then how can we have proper forumatic activity?
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+1
... written by Naja Ashei,
October 18, 2012
battymanism is wrong and unnatural to god sight he is not pleased and thats all i have to say
