Angry Mob of 2,000 Jamaicans Attack, Stone Three Gay Men

Dramatic pictures from Jamaica, where riot police were forced to fire tear gas into an angry homophobic mob of thousands who chased and stoned three young gay men. According to the Jamaica Observer, the three men—"who all had bleached-out faces, and dressed in tight jeans pants and skimpy shirts"—sought refuge inside a pharmacy and were holed up inside for more than an hour.

The approximately 2,000 people gathered outside the Kingston pharmacy hurled insults at the three men, with some calling for them to be killed.

The crowd grew larger as the minutes ticked by and the three men and staff inside the pharmacy were visibly terrified as the mob demanded that they be sent out so they could administer their brand of justice. "Send them out!" shouted one man.

The bloodthirsty crowd "included men, women, teenagers and small children." Once police arrived on the scene to escort the young men, "one of the alleged homosexuals was hit on the back of the head with a stone as he flashed a wry smile before attempting to hustle inside the police car."

Officers dispersed the crowd by firing tear gas cannisters. Reportedly, many within the homophobic mob faulted police for saving the boys. "Unu can come save them nasty boy yah? Them boy yah fi go down," one man demanded.

One woman expressed surprise and outrage at the "brazenness" of the young men's appearance and dress. "Jamaica has lost its way if men think they can openly flaunt being gay without any consequences. We don't want that kind of open gay life in this country."

Mob violence against alleged or perceived gays is not uncommon in Jamaica. Last April, students rioted at the University of the West Indies and attacked an alleged gay student. In December 2005, a Kingston mob chased an alleged man along the waterfront. Fearful of the crowd, he leapt into the water and drowned.

Cops save three alleged homosexuals from angry crowd (Jamaica Observer)

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Comments

[Karim]

This is nuts. I wish I could say that I am surprised, but growing up in a Jamaican household, I cannot say that I am.

[C. Baptiste-Williams]

even if i ever had the desire to visit this third world country again... i wouldnt because of nonsense like this.

[Bpx]

I wonder what would happen if 2000 fem gay men went to jamaica on vacation....

[j. brotherlove]

Bpx, there is plenty of "opportunity" for education in Jamaica. But I don't think we want to know the outcome of that scenario...

Jamaica's homophobia is seriously out of control. Yet another reason why the country has never been on my list of places to visit.

[lh]

Folks should be fighting for asylum in the US for these men and the many others in Jamaica and other countries. The precedent was set when the US recently granted asylum to a gay Mexican man who claimed that he would face persecution were he to return to his country.

[Andy in Seattle]

Some scary shit. Surprising? Unfortunately no, considering all that we've heard lately about the situation. How sad for those who lack the funds or political connections to escape--or who love their homeland and wish to stay and see things change.

Thanks again, Rod, for your great global coverage of stories like this, which mainstream straight and (mainly white edited) gay press sources all too often ignore.

[J]

One love my a _ _ If this is how they treat their own, imagine what would happen to a tourist. BOYCOTT JAMAICA!! Let's see how long they last without tourism.

[Walker]

As a young man of Jamaican Heritage I am appauled and very ashamed of a people with whom I am suppose to identify. 'Out Of Many One People' our infamous motto clearly does not include sexual diversity. Sadly this social oppressive & repressive genocidal thinking will 'never' be cured. Maybe until the malignant nature of Legalistic Chrisitan ideaology is reformed some light will be shall on the RIGHTS & FREEDOMS of all persons. This is a SAD Reflection on society paralysed SOCIALLY MORALLY and void of LOVE.

[Walker]

As a young man of Jamaican Heritage I am appauled and very ashamed of a people with whom I am suppose to identify. 'Out Of Many One People' our infamous motto clearly does not include sexual diversity. Sadly this social oppressive & repressive genocidal thinking will 'never' be cured. Maybe until the malignant nature of Legalistic Chrisitan ideaology is reformed some light will be shed on the RIGHTS & FREEDOMS of all persons. This is a SAD Reflection on society paralysed SOCIALLY MORALLY and void of LOVE.

[DFS]

Is Tim Hardaway Jamaican?

I think there have been articles written about the intellectual and artistic brain drain from jamaica because of the intense homophobia. anybody seen these?

[brinan gout]

Hey check this out

www.afterthephyre.org

[Darius]

So here is the problem. Being an Gay Black American who was not born in Jamaica no one in my family is Jamaican and never having visited before 2 years ago I find myself seriously conflicted.
I am in the US Peace Corps and have been living on the North Coast of Jamaica for 18 months now. I know how bad the issue of homosexuality in Jamaica actually is and I have even had students I teach that are only teenagers tell me how they would kill gay people. Keeping in mind that I am not out to any Jamaicans I know (other than people at Jamaica Aids Support that I associate with and gay Jamaicans that I have dated).

But my problem is that there are so many open minded Jamaicans that get upset and mad at this violence aswell and they care about doing the right thing but the masses are the one causing all of these problems.

So I think people should donate money to Jamaica AIDS Support because they are on the front line of this battle everyday and we should try to do work in developing nations like Jamaica to show them the humanity that we all have gay or straight. From my experience trying to punish Jamaica and it citizens with boycotts and other actions only strengthens them in their ignorant resolve. So I think we should all get out there an do something positive, because I know everyday I am possible putting my life on the line, but I know that if I change one persons mind them I am doing something good.

[Joseph]

Jamaica is just a violent society with crime rates that are always among the highest in the world.

[JJ]

It is not that Jamaicans are homophobic. Don't let them off the hook so easily. It is that Jamaicans are ignorant. As a society they are stagnant.
Ironic that Bob Marley preached "one love" -- but was he including gay love?

[taylor Siluwé]

Sadly, I agree, JJ.

If one pointed out to these ignorant fools how before euro-christian subjegation most of the caribbean indigenious peoples had no problems with homo-sex.

But then the europeans came with their guns and their bibles ... and, well, here we are.

So sad. Funny I didnt' see the usual Jamaican apologists taking up for their homeland. But I guess this story is too blatantly indefensible.

[Kurt Smith]

Okay. I've heard all about the problem.
What's the solution? Boycotting won't help, that'll make the issue worse. The fact that the island is poor and has very little in the way of education will only exacerbate the situation. Solutions?

[jared]

this is just a sick shame, and what the heck is "bleached" out faces? how does that mean you are gay? they love them some "brownies" but, use this as a way to identify gays? this third world, violent country needs to be exposed and boycotted, hit everyone of them with a slow down in tourism, then they will get a clue and stop this vile abuse of its citizens. the un should demand that something be done, and withold any aid to the country as i don't think that educating the populace is an option.

[Darius]

There is so much more to the problem that just ignorance and historical conditions! I am the first person to speak out about the negative aspects of Jamaica and I live here. The problem is that as it is at home at some level. Just because black Americans are very homophobic that does not mean you stop trying to elevate the problem. I work side by side with Jamaicans that are trying to stop the violence and negative things that affect Jamaica. Also bob Marley was very homophobic as well.
Gays in Jamaica need our help so instead of just being critical lets all get up and do something!

[Shabaka]

You know...Naturally after reading this post I was mad...I started thinking about how the whole World should punish Jamaica by not investing in its tourism and stuff. And then I realized...hey you know what?...punishing them isn't going to get rid of the problem...it'll only make it worse...So how about education...funding...and so on...

[taylor Siluwé]

Yes. Punish them. Heavily.

Tourism should dry up like a faucet turned off. I wish the world would turn its back on that country, but we as black lesbians and gays certainly should. On the list of vacation destinations to avoid, Jamaican is second only to Iran/Iraq.

Change has gotta come from the top down. Forget the little people locked in their ignorant back-water ways. We need the Jamaican authorities to ENFORCE change.

The law needs to be changed first. Two men kissing can be sent to prison. That's the first step, change that bullshit law. The law is what trickles down to homophobic hatred and death.

Then, once the law is changed, aggressively prosecute acts of violence against gays. Then and only then will the ignorant masses change, or a least, restrain themselves on threat of imprisonment.

And once that happens, we can safely travel there again, spend money, and help that beleaguered community pick themselves up and shine like they are meant to shine.

But until that day, I believe, we have to work from the outside in. Possibly donating money to Jamaican organizations working for change. Write about it, call the world's attention to it ('cause lord knows the media ignores it 'til some white person goes missing).

But by all means, avoid vacationing there until some change in the law is enforced.

[Jennifer]

Makes you wonder if they cops came out of concern for the young men, or out of concern for the rioting crowd.

[Cadence]

Boycotting them won't solve the problem. In fact, not only will the violence get worse, but without tourism, the island will turn to the drug trade and other illegal activity in order to make money.

I'm not saying that we should all book a flight to Jamaica, I won't be going there anytime soon, but we can't ignore the overall violence that is going on there.

[jared]

taylor, i seldom agree with you on anything, but, on the boycott, BOYCOTT. the country is already in ruins due to a corrupt government and other things, so, drive them into thinking about what's going on with their fellow citizens is WRONG and will not be tolerated by the government. i don't see any other way to get it across, the homophobia has to stop. or, someone can get it across to a population that seems to feel you can give someone a beat down for being gay.

or, does anyone here have any ideas of how to comabt this cycle of hate?

[rodney smith]

BOYCOTT JAMAICA!! Let's see how long they last without tourism.
FOR YEARS IVE BEEN GOING TO JAMAICA FOR HOLIDAYS BUT I STOP BECUASE OFF THE GAY HATE CRIME AND HOW THEY USE TO TREET ME. BUT MY MONEY WAS GOOD STILL FOR THEM, FOR THE PASS 4YRS IVE BEEN GOING TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND WHAT CAN I SAY IT IS SO GAY FRENDLY MORE DOWN TO EART AN IT EVEN HAVE GAY BARS AN CLUB RITE NOW i'm IN TRINIDAD FOR CARNIVAL AND I CAN SEE SAME SEX HOLDING HAnDS AND NO ONE SAY NOTHING
england london

[KC]

Probably the worst part of this extreme ignorance and hatred is that most of the perpetrators of this crime would call themselves Christians!! "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.." Sound familiar? Some things never change.