Give Gays A Break (Gleaner Letter)

THE EDITOR, Sir:

It is almost eight months since Christopher 'Dudus' Coke was extradited. Some of us did not want him to go.

I, for one, wanted him to stay in Jamaica. I could walk into my community without fear of being called names or being beaten to death. I simply went to Dudus and told him that I am gay and just wanted to live in peace.

I wasn't there to cause trouble, and I am still alive.

A new adult club opened in Half-Way Tree and it is the only place where I can be me. I can dance with my partner, I can drink in peace. Recently, this club was visited by policemen and women, who do not wear any badge.

The vest had a silver tape obscuring their police number. They point their long guns at us and shone flashlights in our faces. They shouted bad things at us, and we felt threatened.

I only want to have a place where I can have a drink and dance. I am not on the street performing for any public and I am not making noise or disturbing the peace.

I feel my life is in danger from the police.

I am, etc.,

GAY AND AFRAID
Tivoli Gardens

ENDS

My Notes:

The letter while in good spirits of asking to be left alone an just wanting a peaceful existence it seems to be coming at a time when there is pressure from the police in certain circles of lgbt people in Kingston in particular and that of the homeless MSMs (men who have sex with men) who are facing a new round of harassment from new faces at the police stations in the Half Way Tree and New Kingston areas due to the transfers that have been taking place.

I Have some concerns about this letter and if it was actually written by the so called Tivoli Gardens Resident given the sensitivities involved in inner city life and the actual naming of a private gay club's location. The area of Tivoli Gardens was in news of course with the controversial extradition issue of the Area leader Christopher "Dudus" Coke who himself has been ridiculed and made out a a closeted bisexual himself worse yet with the wig he was wearing at the time of his capture in the company of strangely enough anti-gay pastor Reverend Al Miller.

see "A word to anti-gay Rev Al Miller"

The recent problems too with certain party promoters and the police as well with rouge elements in the force with inside certain knowledge taking sides to discredit and disrupt the operations of other party promoters and club owners is not going down with some persons including myself in the community. It is reported that officers arrived recently at the venue alluded to in the letter above and were hurling abusive language at some of the persons who were attending a function that was in progress at the time. Sad that we have these persons associating with us which may only lead to our own harm.

There has been however some intervention from sections of the police high command in dealing with the attendant issues, those discussions are ongoing.

Peace and tolerance

H