Same-sex dancing ... what's up with that? (Gleaner Article)

(sometimes I wonder if journalists and or newspapers don't have anything better to do)

Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore (GLEANER ARTICLE) penned the following:

Dancing has been a major part of the Jamaican culture. In times past, when you went to a party, men and women danced as couples. But nowadays, on the party scene, you find that more and more men prefer to dance in groups together, on one side of the room, while women gyrate with one another elsewhere on the same dance floor.

This pictured scene is becoming more popular at parties

This trend is rather puzzling to those who still hold traditional views about dancing. Some people cannot comprehend why men would prefer to dance by themselves while women would 'rub up' against each other as opposed to 'dropping legs' together the old-fashioned way.

Is this gay?

The growing practice has given rise to much discussion. It is believed that there is more to it than meets the eye. It leads some to question whether those engaging in the new habit are gay?

Melissa Williamssays as a society we are very hypocritical because if we see two men dancing in a sexual manner, we may even want to beat them up but, if two women do the same thing, it is more readily accepted.

"We should also beat the women who dance with each other. There are many lesbians out there but we can't be sure if these dancing partners are lesbians or just girls having fun. It is wrong and I have a serious problem with it," says Williams.

Billy Black, on the other hand, does not have a problem with women dancing with each other. He says if the girls dancing together in a sexually suggestive manner are good looking, it's OK.

"I blame the pink shirt, scarf-wearing men who dance with each other, leaving women to turn to dancing with their friends," says Black.

Though Black has no qualms about females gyrating with each other, he has major hiccups when it comes to men doing the same. "I believe they are all gay and it's just wrong," he adds.

Sandra Jamesconcurs. She says men dancing with men is a big no-no. "I don't condone it, nor do I agree with women dancing together, I strongly disapprove of it," says James.

She says that occasionally women dance with women very innocently but now they have taken it to another level. "When one girl bends over another and dances very close to her in a sexually suggestive manner, it is absolutely disgusting! I hate to see it. Plus, these days it seems as if they want to force their lifestyle on to others," she adds.

She further points out that if they are lesbians, she wants no part in it and believes they should stay in their own little private parties.

The question then is, do you see something wrong with men dancing with men and women dancing with women? Send your response to lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.

Names changed

ENDS

Sad that fear especially of the unknown is what drives some of the nonsense over the years, we need to grow up, gays are here get over it and two women dancing is not going to suddenly mean they are lesbians. It is a bit surprising to see this as women dancing together and their socialization patterns are not normally as rigid as men in terms of close contact, so the timing of this article and how is framed is a bit strange to me.

Peace & tolerance

H