Gay agenda part of wider fight for justice

Javed Jaghai, Guest Columnist

Christian activists Shirley Richards and Wayne West insist we should reject human rights discourse because it has been hijacked by 'the gay lobby' to promote tolerance for an immoral 'lifestyle'.

Stemming from our collective disdain for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, we feel compelled to reject the idea that all Jamaicans have inalienable rights to life, to self-actualisation and self-expression, to privacy and to be protected from intimidation, harassment and violence.

Accepting this as true might require that we challenge our prejudices against non-heterosexual people. We choose, instead, to reject what has been called a neocolonial ploy to force the Jamaican Government to consider gay and lesbian citizens as equals.

It is unsurprising, then, that many Jamaicans say we have more pressing concerns than 'gay rights'. In fact, even the Government believes so. On November 22, The Gleaner reported that Sandrea Falconer, the de facto information minister, said the Government will focus on economic and crime-related bills at this time.

INTOLERANT CULTURE

While these are certainly important, the problems we face are not discrete entities that can be tackled independently. The perennially high murder rate in Jamaica is illustrative of a pervasive disregard for human dignity and life. The lack of appreciation of human rights results in a culture of intolerance and indifference, which makes various abuses permissible.

Desmond Tutu, a dependable voice of reason in the Christian community, reminds us, "We cannot claim that our societies are free and equal, as long as some among us are treated as inferior and denied their basic human rights." The notion that gays and lesbians are organised in a powerful, well-funded lobby is a myth created by Christian activists to mobilise their base against the mythical gay dictator seeking to subvert Christian theology and values.

Despite advances made in a few foreign countries, Jamaican gays and lesbians are poorly organised and do not have the social, political or economic capital to influence national social policy. There are but a few openly gay people who still reside in Jamaica, and except for a handful of vocal civil-society organisations, gays and lesbians are mostly silent and invisible.

'The gay lobby' then, is really a pre-emptive creation of the imagination of Christians. There is a palpable hysteria among this privileged religious group as their unfettered 'right' to fan the flames of homophobia and to discriminate against gays and lesbians is questioned.

Some Jamaicans admit that we can treat our gay and lesbian citizens better, but believe that, of the many marginalised groups clamouring for rights, the needs of 'sexual deviants' should be the lowest priority. But why should we ascribe lower value to some Jamaican lives? Do gay and lesbian Jamaicans hurt differently? Do their wounds heal more quickly?

The fact that there are Jamaicans who do not have adequate protections against harassment, discrimination in housing and employment, and violence, should be of immediate concern to all.

UNTOLD SUFFERING

History is replete with stories of the untold suffering of stigmatised and marginalised groups who were expected to wait for a majority of people to affirm their claim to full citizenship before they could be protected from hate and discrimination. Each of these narratives of victimisation is now regarded as a tragedy. No Jamaican should have to wait for justice, because every human life is equally valuable.

The question of rights for gays and lesbians is divisive, and advocates on both sides of the debate are increasingly vocal. But let us not be fooled by the vigorous discussions. Despite calls for more to be done to protect gays and lesbians and to affirm their right to life in Jamaica, the Government continues to pander to base intellect and popular opinion.

The People's National Party is afraid of losing political capital by challenging the bigotry of Christian leaders. Political leaders and Jamaicans in positions of influence must take a stand in the fight against homophobia or be held accountable for negligence.

We cannot continue to believe that only those who throw stones and chase gays and lesbians out of their communities are responsible for the hurt inflicted. Through our silence and apathy, we are all complicit in sustaining the culture that legitimises violence against non-heterosexual Jamaican citizens.

Javed Jaghai, an openly gay Jamaican, is a Lombard Public Service Fellow from Dartmouth College and a gay-rights activist. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and devaj@gmail.com.