Relations were getting tense not with the immediate neighbour but in fact from several houses down the cul-de-sac where he lives, the man only found out about the rumours being circulated about him from a woman who has a community shop when he went there to purchase some items and she opened up to him while asking him to be cool or at best careful given the things she was hearing; in other words the village lawyer of the area in a sense.
Thankfully the man took her advice hesitantly but was not sure if it was real what she was saying or just mischief making pursuant to a trap given how ‘country people’ can be sometimes. Living alone can be a challenge for a man speaking from personal experience in certain lower socio-economic classed communities back in the day but apparently just existence is still a problem so the whispers the man was subsequently able to ascertain was that he had ‘no woman’ a trait unfortunately that determines manhood is the multi-partnering with women as objects of display with the proverbial string of ‘yutes’ aka children as proof of virility.
Thankfully the man took her advice hesitantly but was not sure if it was real what she was saying or just mischief making pursuant to a trap given how ‘country people’ can be sometimes. Living alone can be a challenge for a man speaking from personal experience in certain lower socio-economic classed communities back in the day but apparently just existence is still a problem so the whispers the man was subsequently able to ascertain was that he had ‘no woman’ a trait unfortunately that determines manhood is the multi-partnering with women as objects of display with the proverbial string of ‘yutes’ aka children as proof of virility.
The man did not meet the pre-requisite as is and then he does not really socialise with the rest of the male populations nearby and by that I mean no marijuana smoking (rubbing hand middle), no attending of the local street dances or local events, he does not go to the local church to suggest living alone means he is Christian and so on so he became a standout as time progressed and seen to be ‘different’ from everyone else seeing how tight knit such areas can be.
In late November there was a verbal spat with one man in question who was open enough to challenge the man after he made a request for “a coin” which is the term used to ask for small change; it was to have purchased marijuana but the man’s answer claiming he had no money did not go down well with the beggar and in turn the beggar decided to launch a type of slow and sustained character assassination by way of snide remarks made whenever he sees him while referencing such terms as ‘fish’ (homophobic colloquial for gay man) and almost encouraging others to question his sexuality at one point. That information strangely came by way of the shop keeper (village lawyer) who when he visited her shop dished the latest she could glean from the streets to him; it seems according to the man was that she liked him not intimately but as a customer it seems seeing he visits the shop frequently. The impacted men became somewhat nervous according to his report and was already looking to relocate before the faithful morning of Sunday December 3, 2016.
The man came out of his home to throw away some items only to be heckled by other men who were hanging out by the end of the street by a light post. The same beggar character was literally pointing out the man to other men and by the look on their faces he knew it was not pleasant things being said. That same day but much later the man had gone to the community shop to do business only to be told by the friendly village lawyer the contents of the conversation of the men by the corner.
In late November there was a verbal spat with one man in question who was open enough to challenge the man after he made a request for “a coin” which is the term used to ask for small change; it was to have purchased marijuana but the man’s answer claiming he had no money did not go down well with the beggar and in turn the beggar decided to launch a type of slow and sustained character assassination by way of snide remarks made whenever he sees him while referencing such terms as ‘fish’ (homophobic colloquial for gay man) and almost encouraging others to question his sexuality at one point. That information strangely came by way of the shop keeper (village lawyer) who when he visited her shop dished the latest she could glean from the streets to him; it seems according to the man was that she liked him not intimately but as a customer it seems seeing he visits the shop frequently. The impacted men became somewhat nervous according to his report and was already looking to relocate before the faithful morning of Sunday December 3, 2016.
The man came out of his home to throw away some items only to be heckled by other men who were hanging out by the end of the street by a light post. The same beggar character was literally pointing out the man to other men and by the look on their faces he knew it was not pleasant things being said. That same day but much later the man had gone to the community shop to do business only to be told by the friendly village lawyer the contents of the conversation of the men by the corner.
They had apparently moved from the light post to the shop and were talking about the man. An implied threat of sorts was among the subject matter discussed as the group of men in the usual bravado acting attitude were hinting that they wanted no ‘battyman’ in their ‘place’ suggesting they have some ownership and license to decide who stays or goes or does as they think should happen.
The man increased his house rental seeking efforts just to avoid anymore challenges and thankfully it did not escalate to the physical as we know all too well the challenges that come with that. He was able to get a small place in Kingston for starters until otherwise successful afterwards. The man wanted to share his story in a bid to forewarn others as he had never experienced homophobia so earthy overall but more so in a rural area.
The man increased his house rental seeking efforts just to avoid anymore challenges and thankfully it did not escalate to the physical as we know all too well the challenges that come with that. He was able to get a small place in Kingston for starters until otherwise successful afterwards. The man wanted to share his story in a bid to forewarn others as he had never experienced homophobia so earthy overall but more so in a rural area.
Rural areas tend to be a little behind the times usually by default as life is a little slower than in urban spaces, the lack of exposure to certain things can lead to issues when they finally present themselves I surmise. Thanks to the man for sharing his experience with this blog and this one turned out OK as opposed to others. Despite the heightened visibility of LGBT persons be they Jamaican or overseas and the influence of social media one would have expected some better sensibilities but as more and more cases as this comes through it shows there is a lot of work to be done in at best changing hearts and minds.
More anon
Be vigilant be safe an old phrase I used to use ending my posts in the early years of blogging; it may be needed now.
Peace & tolerance
H
also see:
More anon
Be vigilant be safe an old phrase I used to use ending my posts in the early years of blogging; it may be needed now.
Peace & tolerance
H
also see:
St Thomas men relocate with police protection after they’re forced to move 2012
Hopeton Lee murdered in January 18 Lee was a witness to a murder and when the person was taken into custody, he backed out to say he was a Christian now,” Deputy Superintendent of Police ...
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