IS THAT A FAIR PRICE TO PAY?

(PHOTO CAPTIONS: Mob Violence against reported homosexuals in Jamaica.)


I've had this topic on my mind now for the past couple of weeks. Well ever since THE STAR, outed former Rising Stars contestant Kyino Cunningham. If you don't know the story, THE STAR ran a story about Cunningham and a dread locked male taking a shower together on some kind of video recording that was being circulated on the internet. Now, there was no sexual act that was shown, however, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that homeboy is either gay or bi-sexual - both lifestyles which are hated in Jamaica.

I tried finding a link to the story, but Go Jamaica, the people who designed and run THE STAR's website, have not made it the most user friendly, so if it's there I can't find it.

But anyway, after reading the story on Kyino, I must admit the voyeuristic side of me instantly went in to search mode. I had to find this video. And find it I did. The links were removed the following day and I have not been able to find any of them since. But after watching the two clips, I instantly started to feel dread for the young man.

You see Jamaica, is still an intensely homophobic society. Simply put "we nuh like dem people deh". So intense is the dislike that "a bun ah chi chi man" tune is a rite of passage for our entertainers. And who can blame them? If you play Buju Banton's "Boom Bye Bye" or T.O.K's "Chi Chi Man" you get instant forwards in every session, even the gay ones. Many Jamaicans openly ostracize homosexuals, nobody wants them for their friends and worse their family. And of course let's not neglect the acts of violence that are rained upon homosexuals, for doing what to them is natural. I mean so endemic is homophobia that Jamaica has laws against buggery. As in men who engage in that sex act can go to prison.

And it's all really sad when you stop to think about it. I mean really think about it. What is society, any part of it, doing in the bedrooms of consenting adults? Who gives anybody the right to criticise what anybody does in the privacy of their own homes, or hotel rooms or wherever? And in Jamaica, as well as many other parts of the world, we take it a step further, we actually allow law enforcement to get involved, wow!

Well it doesn't sit right with me. Not that homosexuality sits right with me either. But I decided long ago, that it's not my place to judge. I am not God, and I think He strictly said He's the only one that has that right. And yes, He has condemned the act, but somehow I think God is totally capable of exacting His own punishment on those who violate His laws.

So where did Jamaicans get it that we were God's helpers? I mean sexual "immorality" is nothing new to us right? Lots of us engage in sex out of wedlock; many of us are adulterers; some of us prefer the feel of nubile virgin underage flesh to that of the adult of the specie and there are even those of us who say we are heterosexual but enjoy performing some very homosexual like acts on members of the opposite sex - so who are we kidding? But I guess that's just the nature of Jamaican society, where the double standard reigns supreme.

I for one feel sad for Kyino, his family and his friends. Nobody knows what the future holds for this young man, who in all honesty was causing no harm to anybody, but who has now been labelled for life as a pariah by a self righteous, violence prone society. I pray nothing bad happens to him or his loved ones, but I fear that the only way he can ensure that is to probably choose to not make Jamaica his home. Now you tell me is that a fair price to pay for being true to one's self?

PS: I chose not upload Kyino's photo, I think he's had more than enough people looking at him.