Jamaica - GlobalGayz

LGBT rights in Jamaica are dominated by the prohibition of sexual acts between men. Sexual acts between women are legal, by virtue of the absence of any reference to them in law. Sex between men is punishable with up to ten years jail. Social leaders in Jamaica accuse international groups of meddling in domestic affairs. They defend laws against homosexuality as upholding Christian values. Neither one of the two major political parties in Jamaica have expressed any official support for gay rights. Verbal and physical violence, ranging from beatings to brutal armed attacks to murder, are widespread. For many, there is no sanctuary from such abuse.

Men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women reported being driven from their homes and their towns by neighbors who threatened to kill them if they remained, forcing them to abandon their possessions and leaving many homeless. Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) is the only LGBT rights organization in Jamaica. The organization was created in 1998 and operates underground and anonymously. In June 2004 founding member and the public face of J-FLAG Brian Williamson was stabbed to death in his home. A recent poll showed that 96% of Jamaicans were opposed to any move that would seek to legalize homosexual relations.

Name: Jamaica

Population: 2805000

Capital: Kingston - Pop. 675000

Area: 11100 sq. km/ sq. miles

Language: English, Jamaican Patois

Religion: Protestant Christian

Status of Homosexuality: Illegal

Telephone Country Code: 187

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Jamaica is changing – and our Gay Agenda shows the way forward, 2019/Mar/29

Jamaican LGBTI group ask for donations after office is set on fire, 2019/Jan/23

17 pics of Montego Bay’s LGBTI march to remind you what Pride is all about, 2018/Oct/16

Is Jamaica Safe And Welcoming For LGBTQ Travelers?, 2017/Oct/23

Jamaican gay activist found murdered in his home, 2017/Sep/02

Little Stories Of Illegal Love And Survival In Jamaica, 2017/Jun/19

Growing up gay in the Caribbean, I was in constant survival mode, 2017/Feb/28

Problem with men who have sex with men?, 2016/Aug/21

Stop Calling Jamaica “the Most Homophobic Place on Earth”, 2016/May/02

The number of Jamaicans who ‘hate’ gays has risen over 20% in four years, 2016/Apr/11

Jamaican gay rights activist challenges law against sex between men, 2015/Dec/09

‘My selfish reasons for fighting Jamaican homophobia’, 2015/Nov/28

On Being Queer in the Caribbean, 2015/Oct/31

On Being Queer in the Caribbean, 2015/Oct/31

On Being Queer in the Caribbean, 2015/Oct/31

Comment: Jamaica’s first LGBT Pride shows how far the country has come, 2015/Aug/11

Jamaica to hold its first gay pride celebration in the island’s capital, 2015/Aug/04

Mayor of Jamaican capital to speak at Pride event, 2015/Jul/31

Progress in Jamaica toward ‘world as it should be’, 2015/Jun/04

Death threats won’t stop Jamaican LGBT advocate, 2015/Mar/23

7 battlefields: The fight for LGBTI rights in the Caribbean, 2015/Feb/06

Jamaican Parliament to review anti-gay Sexual Offences Act, 2014/Sep/16

Don’t Blame Yesterday’s Colonialism for Today’s Homophobia, 2014/Jul/05

Risking everything to advance LGBT rights in Jamaica, 2014/Jun/10

Why do so many Jamaicans hate gay people?, 2014/Jun/06

New Campaign Aims to Help Jamaican LGBT Community, 2014/Jun/05

Leading Jamaican Newspaper Endorses Marriage Equality, 2014/Jun/05

PJ Urges Tolerance – Former Prime Minister Calls For Understanding In Gay Debate, 2014/May/29

New Effort To Halt Spread Of HIV In The Caribbean, 2014/May/08

LGBT tolerance growing in Jamaica, push to repeal of anti-gay law, 2014/Jan/18

Gay-rights community fights to advance cause in Latin America and Caribbean, 2014/Jan/02

Why Some LGBT Youths In Jamaica Are Forced To Call A Sewer Home, 2013/Dec/18

Jamaican police seize, burn donations to LGBT youths, 2013/Dec/03

Panos to launch MSM publication today, 2013/Sep/30

Another homophobic attack in Jamaica, 2013/Sep/22

Comment: With all eyes on anti-gay Russia, there are three countries with a shocking need for coverage, 2013/Sep/03

Visibility is liberty, 2013/Aug/11

Jamaica TV must not ban gay adverts, Supreme Court hears, 2013/May/29

The Struggle for Gay Rights Vs. Jamaican TV: The Court Case Begins, 2013/May/28

Javed Jaghai, Gay Jamaican Man, Set To Challenge Country’s Anti-Sodomy Laws, 2013/Feb/13

Gay student challenges Jamaica’s anti-sodomy law, 2013/Feb/13

Jamaica – Top 10 LGBT Achievements in 2012, 2013/Jan/09

Human rights group worried at “alarming level of violence in Jamaica”, 2013/Jan/07

Jamaica hints a law banning gay discrimination may be passed, 2013/Jan/06

2013 David Kato Vision and Voice Award, 2012/Nov/29

Activist to sue Trinidad and Tobago entry ban on gays, 2012/Nov/27

Gay? No Way, 2012/Nov/04

Anti-gay hate forces closure of Jamaica gay homeless center, 2012/Oct/01

Caribbean: Gay Rights Slowly Coming Out of the Closet, 2012/Sep/19

Human Rights Watch urges Jamaica to scrap anti-buggery law, 2012/Jul/25

Gay Rights Slowly Coming Out of the Closet, 2012/Jun/08

“I tried not to be gay by getting married” — Tomlinson, 2012/May/29

Dealing with the gay rights issue, 2012/Jan/13

Jamaican gay activist marries ‘soulmate’, 2012/Jan/08

Hope for gays as PNP wins Jamaica election, 2011/Dec/30

Jamaica activist criticizes anti-gay rhetoric by gov’t candidates in leadup to tight elections, 2011/Dec/27

‘Visionary’ Jamaican rights activist announced as recipient of inaugural David Kato Award, 2011/Dec/15

J-FLAG Celebrates 13 Years of Promoting Tolerance for Gays, 2011/Dec/06

Video: How Homophobia Fuels HIV in Jamaica, 2011/Dec/01

Free representation for persons facing discrimination, 2011/Nov/23

Gay Jamaica News & Reports 2010-11, 2010/Mar/28

Gay Jamaica News & Reports 2009, 2010/Mar/27

Gay Jamaica News & Reports 2007-08, 2010/Mar/26

Gay Jamaica News & Reports 2005-06, 2010/Mar/20

Gay Jamaica News & Reports 2003-04, 2010/Mar/15

Gay Jamaica News & Reports 1999-2002, 2009/Jan/01

Photos News Stories

Jamaica – Kingston

Jamaica is formerly a Spanish possession known as Santiago, it later became the British West Indies Crown colony of Jamaica. It is the third most populous English-speaking country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada. Jamaica slowly gained independence from the United Kingdom and in 1958. Jamaica’s prosperity has dimished since the 1980s

Photos News Stories

Jamaica – Noel Coward’s House

Noel Coward, the multi-talented British playwright, actor, songwriter raconteur, first visited Jamaica in 1944 on a two week holiday. The and peace of mind he found in Jamaica caused him to refer to it as his "dream island" and he vowed to return one day. Four years later he rented fellow author Ian Fleming’s estate,

Photos News Stories

Jamaica – North Coast

Jamaica is formerly a Spanish possession known as Santiago, it later became the British West Indies Crown colony of Jamaica. It is the third most populous English-speaking country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada. Jamaica slowly gained independence from the United Kingdom and in 1958. Jamaica’s prosperity has dimished since the 1980s

Photos News Stories

Jamaica – Montego Bay

Jamaica is formerly a Spanish possession known as Santiago, it later became the British West Indies Crown colony of Jamaica. It is the third most populous English-speaking country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada. Jamaica slowly gained independence from the United Kingdom and in 1958. Jamaica’s prosperity has diminished since the 1980s