I am glad you brought this issue up as there has been a lot of uproar recently in the international media. Jamaica is a predominantly Christian country and we take religion and religious beliefs very seriously. Most Christians believe that homosexuality is a sin and it states so clearly in the bible.

As it relates to violence against gays this is blown way way way out of proportion in the international media. They make people to believe that there are gangs of people going around and killing gays-absolutely ridiculous. There are many open gays on the island and they have not been physically abused in any way. There are prominent gays in business, at the University etc. and they have not been attacked.

With regards to the entertainers they are not coercing persons to attack gays physically but rather to condemn their actions. You probably wont find men holding hands and walk down a Kingston street but if people knew or suspected that you are gay I can assure you that you will not be harmed.

Thank you for your response. It is a widely held view that jamaicans more than any other west indian community are more violent towards other communities such as gays. Which i ssuprising considering how many gay jamaicans i have met outside jamaica!!

Your response was good to hear although i still think i would rather spend my money in an island that is less dangerous. Maybe this will change if i hear more comments likeyours.

Hemikiwi,

The tourist who is gay is going to experience less problems than one who lives in Jamaica.

Jamaica as Alimarage says is predominantly a christian country and for that reason you could encounter a sitution if you are openly gay.

However, this would not be any different from what experience you may have already had in your own country and as in most cases within your family.

There are hotels in Jamaica amongst the Super Clubs that do not have an issue. Furthermore, there are Jamaican gays working in hotels and I have also seen Transexual tourist.

But at the same time over here in UK it seems that Jamaican gays are now fleeing the country form persecution.

In regards to violence it has happened but I have not heard of or read anything in regards to tourist.

I'm sure you have heard or read if you have not experienced it yourself of incidents in Sydney.

Jamaica is no different and there has been some incidents that are wrong, but it is highlighted there because of the music artists who speak against it.

Both westmoreland and almirage have given pretty honest answers. Gays are not accepted because many value Christian principles and the word of the bible but you do see homosexuals. I've never viewed any physical violence occuring to them. I have heard verbal abuse but have also heard it here as well.

again, let's be careful about the characterization of Christians and what the Bible says regarding homosexuality. the Bible does condemn homosexual acts, but also says that we should not condemn the sinner (i.e. the Bible doesn't condemn homosexuals, rather it condemns homosexual relations).

that is why you may hear about homosexuals who travel together, and who are obviously a couple, having issues. however, i will say that, when i went to grand lido negril on one occasion with my best friend (we are both male and neither of us is gay), they gave us a room with the beds connected to make one "king" bed, without even asking. of course, we asked them to separate the beds right away and they did with no problem. what i'm saying is that it seems to be ok at some superclubs resorts as noted above. i also have seen many obviously gay couples at grand lido and other superclubs properties (only at the adults only resorts, of course).

that brings me to my last point. you can imagine that many adults, while they themselves would be ok with having a gay couple at the resort where they are staying, would not be so comfortable with it if they have young kids with them. right or wrong, i'm sure it would have a negative impact on resort businesses that are not adults only.

" let's be careful about the characterization of Christians and what the Bible says regarding homosexuality."

I do NOT want ot open this can or worms at all, but most Jamaican churches are of the fundamentalist variety which is a bit more "fire and brimstone" than your average mainstream US Methodist or Episcopal or whatever church, more in line with the most conservative Southern Baptist-type church.

And though religion is a part of it, there's somewhat more to it.

But before we bash Jamaica for this, we (Americans) need to remember that we have our own Mathew Shepards, etc.

you are probably right, but that is part of the jamaican culture and needs to be "respected" right along with all the other things we may find strange or weird or wrong or backward in jamaica, but find ourselves "open-minded" enough to accept.

Tamas you are right. Personally I don't think homosexuality is any worse than being a thief or white collar criminal. To me sin is sin and must be condemned regardless of what it is. I have nothing against gays but I do not agree with their lifestyle. That is my personal belief as I was raised in a traditional Baptist church. If another man have a different opinion then to all is own.

What is the "gay lifestyle"? Is it my friends who have been together 13 years and just had a commitment ceremony? Is it my hairdresser and his partner who have been together for 25 years, living AND working together?

I'll tell you a secret: I went to my friends' gay wedding and I'm still married!

So what is this "gay lifestyle" you refer to?

Anyway....

I know that there are some gay-friendly hotels in Jamaica (like Club Ambiance), but overall, it's a very homophobic society, as another poster said, because the Christian churches tend toward the fundamentalist variety. For all that I love Jamaica, I can't really recommend it to my gay friends. Why go to a place where you can't be yourself? "Batty bwoy" is the term in Jamaica, and it's NOT a compliment.

What is the "gay lifestyle"? Is it my friends who have been together 13 years and just had a commitment ceremony? Is it my hairdresser and his partner who have been together for 25 years, living AND working together?

I'll tell you a secret: I went to my friends' gay wedding and I'm still married!

So what is this "gay lifestyle" you refer to?

Anyway....

I know that there are some gay-friendly hotels in Jamaica (like Club Ambiance), but overall, it's a very homophobic society, as another poster said, because the Christian churches tend toward the fundamentalist variety. For all that I love Jamaica, I can't really recommend it to my gay friends. Why go to a place where you can't be yourself? "Batty bwoy" is the term in Jamaica, and it's NOT a compliment.