This post is dirtectly related to a poll question that appears on my other blog: Do you think effeminate men put themselves at risk by being "real" in public? at this date the results state a majority of 93% said yes, 0% for no and 6% were not sure.
Being real = outwardly effeminate in public
Five men were walking from the national stadium following the annual grand gala independence celebrations Thursday last, August 6. According to two of the men in the group who described the ordeal to me one of their colleagues was very "real" and was dancing suggestively and gyrating on the street as they proceeded to the Cross Roads area, a centre in Kingston for transportation and malls etc. As they approached the Swallowfield area a group of men who were sitting on a wall took notice of the youngsters who were talking amongst themselves and gallivanting. One of the men was overheard by one of my sources exclaiming that the youngsters were "battyboys" and several of them jumped from the wall and started to follow the group by walking. The walk however quickly became a brisk trek then increased to an outright run for one's life scenario as the men hurled stones and pulled ratchet knifes after the group vowing to kill them.
My two sources said that they tried to defend themselves by hurling some of the stones they could pick up while they ran, two of the men were quick enough to catch up with the youngsters, one was caught and kicked several times as he struggled with his attackers the other chasers stopped a few feet away and cheered him on, but as the youngster tried to run off he ran into a column which left him dazed for a few seconds his other friend came to his rescue he struggled with the two, he managed to fend them off and grabbed his dazed friend they both ran opposite to the other three members, by now the cheering group gave chase again but couldn't keep up with the others who also ran in separate directions.
The five men eventually reconvened in Cross Roads hours after, their original destination, where they collected their thoughts and laughed at the whole thing.
Sometimes we seem to forget that we are in Jamaica and I swear our heads go and come as how could one be so carefree on the streets knowing fully well what can happen in an instant? As the boys related the incident to me I warned them of the streets and the dangers involved, it may be funny after one has gotten away but it could have ended up in a casualty as that area is not a pleasant place. Homeless MSMs are constantly in danger even though they may understand the codes of the street but nowhere is safe these days.
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2 comments:
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You are so right sometimes members of the community seem to get mental lapses anf forget that this is Jamaica, where violence affects everyone, but more so if you are a gay man or a lesbian. Yes I know persons want to be themselves and free to do whatever they want but safety is common sense. We need to look out for our safety.
From your post, and the poll you took, you seem to be of the impression that "effeminate men" really do attract attention to themselves, and are somewhat blameworthy for attacks that may be made against them. While I understand your concern, I think many factors, besides the effeminacy of the men, led to their being attacked. If someone is effeminate, they are just that. I'm not sure how one can "tone down" their effeminacy, beyond making a conscious effort not to speak or gesticulate overtly. I don't believe effeminacy is a character trait one can just do away with when it is convenient. My experience is that effeminacy in some gay men is just a part of their gender identity, which they must carry with them always.
What this means then, is that the effeminate gay man is the most vulnerable in our community, because he is the most easily identifiable of us all. He becomes a target, and must pay the price for all "sexual deviants". Hard price to pay if you ask me. Further, the vulnerability of the effeminate man is surely heightened when in a larger group of same-gender loving men, because then it is no longer questionable whether he is gay or not, it is perceived as a fact.
These and other factors combine to put any gay man at risk in Jamaica. Surely, one's safety is of great importance, but you cannot crucify a man for daring to live every now and again. I sometimes forget how dangerous it is for anyone in Jamaica as well. And I too sometimes put myself at risk... but, sometimes I stop caring, because every instance of behaving to suit the expectations of narrow minded soldiers of Jamaican mores, rips a bit of my will to live away from me.
Be conscious, and be safe.
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