Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender & Queer Jamaica: So Shaggy said 'Jamaicans aren't killing gays' & He is a Lesbian ...... really!

I was not going to waste my time on this one but sadly when local artists especially are desperate for a forward or attention orchestrated interviews are one such method to to use to revive their fledgling careers it does have an impact on the all important credibility of the crisis communication component of LGBT public advocacy.

Seems as if he felt emboldened as rumours spread that Buju Banton would be released and deported to Jamaica as new guidelines on parole were supposed to come into effect. It turns out to be just hot air as technically he is not due for release till November 2018.

Yes there is a major difference between gay on gay violence or non romantic same gender liaisons gone bad with disastrous consequences and forced evictions, attacks and homophobic attacks. Shaggy obviously was playing on the public perceptions over the years of killings being that of jealousy as their causation than hatred and fear (especially of the feminine).

also see:
Bounty Killer and his B****man comments at Shaggy’s fundraiser 2010

an example of disbelief and rejection of homophobia in 2012: Gay lobby claims not true, says Green ..... or Betty Ann Blaine on Big Gay Lie

Self described gay advocates have not helped either and have only served to erode the well needed credibility in crisis reporting where whether by mistake or deception some matters have been presented as homophobic when it fact they were not thus leading to the backlash advocacy repeatedly faces for example see my post on Gay Jamaica Watch: So Dean Moriah's murder was NOT a homophobic killing ....... ethical issues in advocacy arise yet again some rush to judgement no sooner as someone who is gay is killed without first verifying the issues surrounding the case. Not to mention the feelings of the oppressed becoming the oppressor: Gay Advocates aren't Bullies (Gleaner Letter) and Pro-Gay Bully Ignoring Grave Health Impact (Gleaner) and Perception of Jamaican LGBTQ lobby bullying continues

Dancehall artiste Shaggy says he is a lesbian. According to the artiste, who was addressing a question about homophobia in Jamaica during a recent interview with Sway on US-based radio station Shade 45, Jamaicans are not violent towards homosexuals.

The interviewer asked Shaggy if the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community was making any progress in Jamaica, and he replied: "Sweetheart, let me tell you something, you are talking to the number-one lesbian. Ain't nobody love more women than me, and I am Jamaican so I represent for all the lesbians right there. There has been a movement; I am leading the movement for lesbians," he told the interviewer.

Gay crime

The artiste also made an attempt to clear up misconceptions about Jamaica's approach to homosexuality.

"There are a lot of gays I see in Jamaica who are openly affectionate. You see, Jamaica has a stigma where people feel like we are the greatest gay bashers in the world; that is not the case.

I live in Kingston, and there are a lot of gay people in Jamaica, and nobody is walking around killing gays. If you look at the statistics, there has not been any killing of gays in Jamaica.

The only killings you hear is gay-on-gay crime, which is crime of passion. So don't listen to the propaganda and be misled ... have you been to Jamaica? You should visit," Shaggy said.

Sadly similar sentiments have been expressed by others such as Joan Williams of Power 106FM where 2 years ago she said to her broad listenership:

more disbelief about the veracity of homophobic attacks/killings versus gay on gay incidents

Shaggy was on Shade 45 promoting the single I Need Your Love, which already has over 21 million views on YouTube. The veteran, who was certified six times platinum in the US for his Hot Shot album, also advised other artistes to spend their money wisely.

Your chic

"What the f%$@ are you doing with a 13-bedroom house when you know half of the time you are touring? You are paying for the house, you have five maids and about six other caretakers who are eating your food, driving your car, swimming in your pool or even sleeping with your chic. You are not creating wealth, you are creating a liability," he said.

The artiste admitted that he wasted money in the past and owned over 15 cars at once. But, he highlighted that he learned from his mistakes.

Dancehall artiste Shabba Ranks faced a similar question from an interviewer in the '90s during the peak of his career.

However, his answer led to his own slow demise after he was branded as a homophobic artiste by the gay community and lost several endorsements and record sales plummeted sharply as he was signed to Epic Records then. Some radio stations also simply stopped playing his releases in protest of his comments.

The queen of dancehall Lady Saw had also hinted that persons are now afraid of gays as it were referring to the problematic homeless MSM/Transgender group in New Kingston.

LGBT advocates who are genuinely concerned about matters have their work cut out for them in overcoming the disbelief and presenting truths be they homophobic incidents properly verified or gay on gay relational matters gone bad with disastrous ends.

Some historical posts/podcasts on the subject:
Bounty Killer and his B****man comments at Shaggy’s fundraiser 2010