"Keep it to yuself mentality" on homosexuality

The notion that gay people in Jamaica should keep their homosexuality, tendencies and or urges to themselves is a strong one, hence the no PDA - public display of affection unwritten rule for expression and aesthetic presentations and behaviour.

Reggae singer Queen Ifrica(photo) popular yet subtle anti gay song "Keep it to yuself" echoes that message oh so loudly in which it says:

"Yu feel like a bad man (Keep it to yu self)Doan bring it to Jamaican (Keep it to yu self)We nuh want dat a jamrock (Keep it to yu self)Wi can't tek no more slackness (hear dis) .....

Yu can change di laws of manBut yu can't change di laws of god

So if dem nocking a big glass dem glad

Wan wi fi change a must mad dem mad

Somebody tell mi what is happening

A don't want no fish inna mi Ital dish

To see mi son become a father

Mi greatest wishDi situation kinda very ticklish

But everybody fed up from parish to parish(Yes) and to whom it may concern

A nuh dat deh way wi want di table fi turn

As a citizen wi got a lot of concern

Di truth is a nuh dat. Wi want wi chrilden dem, fi learn


Chorus


Verse 2:

Yu fi multiply an replenish di Earth

An dats why di woman labor inna child birth

Mi nuh want si mi brother Dress up inna no skirt

An mi sister nuh fi mek lift up her skirt

As a nation nuh matter what wi put god first

If yu pass eighteen issa blessing not a curse

Lighting an thunder Bown fi mek di cloud burse

A just di water from

Di Sugar Cane can quench nany thirst(Yes) and to whome it may concern

A nuh dat deh way wi want di table fi turn

As a citizen wi got a lot of concern

Di truth is a nuh dat. Wi want wi chrilden dem, fi learn"

Clearly the song outlines that heterosexism is to replenish the earth's population which enhances a popular sentiment expressed by the christian community and others, a challenge to the cross dressing of males is also evident. The "Fish" in the verse is a subtle term used here to refer to gay men who are mostly effeminate.

This call for repression of one's expression as a human being I feel is one of our main problems in how we interact with each other as gays and lesbians. The question of the "downlow" comes into play here then it's no wonder why so many persons choose this path than to confront and accept themselves for who they are instead of living a lie as I see it.

The other problems of situational homosexuality and behavioural bisexuality further compound the issues in our highly sexualized society with HIV/AIDS and the bridging populations.

Repression of self can lead to falsehoods and a shaky sense of security and self esteem issues I feel (I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist). Are therefore to just glibly hide ourselves forever?

Look out for Part 2

H