Montego Bay Pride: 'We won't be in hiding any more'

Pride celebrations demonstrate the strength of  LGBTQI Jamaicans and tell “our adversaries in this country … that … we have a face and won’t be in hiding any more. There’s a limit to us being oppressed,” says regional Pride organizer David Alexander Green.

In the run-up to Montego Bay Pride on Oct. 12-15, regional Pride coordinators in Jamaica are focusing on what Pride means to them and to the struggle for recognition of the human rights of LGBTIQ Jamaicans. This is the first of a planned series of three articles.

Pride, and what it means to me

By David Alexander Green

Pride to me is a moment to stand in solidarity and celebrate being uniquely US as LGBT-Q individuals and letting it be known that we EXIST.

It is a movement given, to be liberated and firm, showing our adversaries in this country (Jamaica) that, just like everyone else, we have a face and won’t be in hiding any more. There’s a limit to us being oppressed!

I thank Montego Bay Pride, in particular Mr. Maurice Tomlinson, and his fellow donors for such an opportunity to celebrate life!

I’ve been there since it began in 2015-16. It was a success and I have no doubt that it will be another success this year.

Because of #Pride, I have gathered the strength and knowledge needed in order to become the authentic person I am today. Because of #Pride, I knew I wasn’t alone (despite feeling such), in feeling total rejection as though I’m an outcast/an alien in society’s eyes.

Because of #Pride, the lies they taught me that I am “a reprobate upon the land” wasn’t valid anymore, because I am loved despite what any of them want to say.

I learned to love myself even more. My self-esteem grew! It is because of this I am forever grateful.

I finally want to live and love life as I know it to be.

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I thank you all. This is what #MOBAYPRIDE means to me.

David Alexander Green is an LGBT human rights advocate and Kingston coordinator for Pride in Jamaica.

Registrations for Montego Bay Pride are currently being accepted online. More information is available at MoBayPride on Facebook.

Related articles:

• Jamaica celebrates twice: Pride, then more Pride (August 2017, 76crimes.com)
• Jamaica needs more Pride, more often (December 2016, 76crimes.com)
• How was Montego Bay Pride a success? Let me count the ways (October 2016, 76crimes.com)
• Jamaican success: Fun + advocacy at Montego Bay Pride  (October 2016, 76crimes.com)
• Deliriously happy after Jamaica’s first Montego Bay Pride (October 2015, 76crimes.com)
• Jamaica’s first Pride gets boost from government officials (August 2015, 76crimes.com)
• Why Jamaica Pride 2015 matters (Aug. 4, 2015, Jamaica Observer)
• Montego Bay Pride – here’s why (August 2015, 76crimes.com)
• Commentary: Why Jamaica Pride is important (August 2015, 76crimes.com)
• Star power of Ellen Page supports Jamaica Pride (August 2015, 76crimes.com)