Why did you have to pick Jamaica to start off your series (‘One love?’, MCV #371, Thursday February 14)? Why not one of the other places around the world where being gay puts not only the individual at risk, but their entire family?
Jamaica is the greatest place on earth, regardless of how poor we are and how we mistreat homosexuals. We are a conservative country that still has laws on our books that are borderline ridiculous. For example, it is illegal to be gay in Jamaica and it is illegal to use obscene language. But we are a young society (we got independence from Britain in 1962) and eventually we will make improvements in many areas, including how we treat homosexuals.
There are significant improvements already, but we still have a long way to go. Change will not occur overnight and attacking us and our dancehall reggae artistes will not help.
This issue requires education and serious engaging dialogue. Of course, there are many Jamaicans who will never relax their homophobia, but hopefully one day will be able to get to a point where acts of violence will not be committed or perpetrated against homosexuals. Jamaica welcomes suggestions and assistance to get to that point.
We are a great country and a great people. Our intolerance of homosexuals does not change that. Change is already underway and eventually (hopefully) we will grow to be a more tolerant society. No society is perfect. See you in Jamaica.
Bonita, Jamaica via www.eevolution.com.au
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What a fantastic article (‘One love?’, MCV #371, Thursday February 14). I have worked in gay rights movements and have come across stories about Jamaica being extremely homophobic, echoed by much of what is said in this article. It’s a shame that such a beautiful place would have this ugly side for GLBT peoples.
I think it is important, before jumping to Jamaica’s defence, to remember that the article is not a criticism of general Jamaican culture, but rather one small facet that is undeniably scary for GLBT peoples.
As an Australian living in Latin America, I’d love to see some more articles about homophobia in the Americas. Keep writing! I’m looking forward to more articles on the issue.
Dane via www.eevolution.com.au
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Buju Banton (‘One love?’, MCV #371, Thursday February 14) continues to promote genocide against gay persons, most recently at a concert in Guyana in October 2007. Furthermore, he denied signing the [Reggae Compassionate Act] statement. He is a disgusting piece of garbage. Furthermore, his agent promised the press before the concert that Buju wouldn’t be playing any of his murder music. She is a liar too.
Virtually all the Jamaican artists that ‘signed’ the Reggae Compassionate Act have disavowed it.
Jamaica is a sick country with the highest murder rate in the world. And there is absolutely no response from the police to the avalanche of anti-gay violence. The ministers and the politicians are silent. I guess they support murdering gays too. And from the pronouncements of Rastafarians, I’d include them in this group too.
This isn’t about same-sex marriage, it’s about murder. Rampant murder. Tolerated by society, the police, and the government.
But there is something we can do in the US and Australia. Stop buying Jamaican products. Tell Diageo that we won’t buy any more Guinness or Red Stripe or Baileys if they continue to sponsor murder music concerts (as they did in December 2007 at the Sting concert in Portmore, Jamaica. Tell Puma that we won’t buy their products if they sponsor the Jamaica brand.
Jamaica isn’t changing, it’s getting worse there. But civilized people don’t have to feed such a disgusting culture.
Banton should be banned from entering western countries as he is an advocate of terrorism against LGBT persons. And I would put Vybz Kartel, Capelton, Lutan Fyah, Beenie Man, TOK, and Sizzla in the same group.
Tom, Houston via www.eevolution.com.au
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Amongst all of the ‘confusing’ laws (‘ACT sex worker laws ‘confusing’’,
MCV #371, Thursday February 14) it is clear that discrimination against
sex workers is enforced by legislation.
Ms Skelsey is accurate in pointing out that sex workers must provide
evidence of being regularly screened. However, this process does not
actually protect anyone. If anything, it is there to place the onus of
responsibility on the sex worker.
What fails to get a mention is that, despite this mandatory testing,
the sexual practices of sex workers are amongst the safest in the
community.
Sex workers consistently use condoms. We teach ourselves to identify
symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in our clients and
work around them. We know what to do and where to go should any
potential exposure occur, and we perform valuable safe sex education
work with each other and the community via our clients. We see these as
expectations of any sexually active individual: could the general
public live up to our standards?
Despite all of our best practice and the fact that the occurrence of
STI among sex workers are lower than that of the rest of the adult
population, we are constantly discriminated against; if not through
negative stereotypes in the community, then by legislation.
Why do we need extra criminal laws in Victoria to manage sex work when
there already are current health and industrial laws that do the same
thing? We are workers, skilled, hard working and professional. And yet
we are victimised by legislation that forgets that sex between
consenting adults is the responsibility of all the parties involved.
Sex workers do it better; it’s time we were treated that way.
Christian Vega, St Kilda
National Spokesperson for the Male Sex Industry
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A LETTER FROM THE MCV EDITOR |
Hello, dear reader. I hope you’re enjoying your copy of MCV, or if you’re reading it online, our new-look website.
This issue marks one year since I took over as the editor of the paper. In that time you’ll have noticed a few changes in MCV, not least of which is the appearance of several new writers and new regular features.
If you enjoy an article that you read in the paper, or conversely if you disagree wildly with the views expressed herein, please feel free to log on to our website at www.eevolution.com.au and share your thoughts with us, for better or for worse. Once you’ve logged on, and signed up as a member of the website (a quick, free and painless process, I assure you) you’ll be able to participate in dialogues with your fellow MCV readers about the issues of the day. Equally importantly, your thoughts, feedback, opinions and ideas will help guide future issues of the paper.
MCV is your community voice as much as it is Melbourne’s Community Voice. I very much look forward to hearing from you.
Richard Watts
Editor, MCV
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Opinion 
