Jamaica Gleaner 23 January, 2012

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120123/flair/flair94.html

By The Soloist, Contributor

Whether we like it or not, this vexing issue of homosexuality in the Jamaican society is not going away any time soon. At least one more gay person is born every day on the rock. Yes I do believe God made them that way (except in cases where they were lured into the lifestyle for monetary gain). But most Jamaicans seem to love being in a state of denial. We see something fishy (pardon the pun), but we convince ourselves that it is not so.

I know what I am talking about; I am a born Jamaican who through my chosen profession has interacted with thousands of children for close to 20 years. I taught boys who were rather effeminate teens and in adulthood have 'come out', as much as they can, as flaming gay men. Some of them have moved as far away as South Africa, London and the United States so that they can lead much freer lifestyles. So I think the time has come to stop burying our heads in the sand and tackle this problem once and for all.

On the other hand, I think the gay community, both here and elsewhere, is rather bold to be demanding that the heterosexual majority accept them. If you happen to fall into any minority category that faces discrimination, that is not the way to gain acceptance. After all, you don't see heterosexuals going about demanding acceptance of their sexual preference. The gay community in Jamaica should come together under one umbrella and begin to, for example, boycott businesses, educational institutions and other entities run by heterosexuals.

Or find ways to silently infiltrate these organisations and institutions, therby gaining the necessary power to influence change. Seriously though, I think that, like charity, acceptance of gays needs to begin at home. Parents of gays ought not to banish and discriminate against their gay children. They deserve the same amount of love as their straight siblings. "How can a mother's tender care cease towards the child she bear?" (adapted from Isaiah 49:15). How can parents who know what the Jamaican sentiment towards gays is join in the hate and bashing of their offspring? Gay children/adults in our society should have at least one safe haven from the trials and tribulations they face in society ... their home and family.

Irrational and selective

Let's face it, if you give birth to a disabled child, don't you multiply your love for that child a hundredfold? Do you not look at the severity of the hand nature has dealt to your child and do all in your power to save him/her from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune? You might jump down my throat now for equating gay people to the disabled, but that is not my intent. I am merely trying to show how irrational and selective we can be in our dealings with all minority groups in our society. Think on these things.

Let's talk, people! If you are a parent grappling with how to deal with your gay child, share your dilemma with us here at: lifestyle@gleanerjm.com, so that we can continue the dialogue of acceptance of all Jamaicans, gay or straight.

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com