Security risks force cancellation of Montego Bay Pride
The organizers of Montego Bay Pride in Jamaica have canceled plans for what would have been their fifth annual celebration because local officials made it too risky. They also plan to sue.
Montego Bay Pride issued this press release:
Montego Bay Pride cancels due to security risk
Planning Committee of Montego Bay Pride cancels Pride and will pursue legal action for Mayor’s ban on Public Forum.
September 19, 2019 — We had hoped to hold this press conference inside the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, but the management told us that they did not receive permission for us to be inside the building for even an hour.
Montego Bay Pride was created to allow marginalized and abused members of Jamaica’s LGBT communities to feel like we have a place in our homeland. We wanted to showcase the realities, resilience and PRIDE of LGBT Jamaicans through our film festival; public forums on topical issues such as whether Jamaica is ready for same-sex marriage; our talent competition; stage show and social justice project where we paint a public building. Despite fear, daily persecution and violence, sometimes ending in death, which many of our community members experience, we are STILL PROUD Jamaicans who love our country and wish that our country would just love us back.
We are your sons, daughters, lawyers, doctors, cooks, engineers, hoteliers, brothers, sisters, politicians and yes, even your pastors. We are YOU!
We are taxpaying citizens who are not asking for anything more than just to be allowed to be.
However, today the planning committee of Montego Bay Pride has made the difficult and painful decision that because two of our democratically elected officials, mayor Homer Davis and councilor Charles Sinclair, don’t feel that we belong in Jamaica and have gone so far as to ban us from using a public space, THIS public space, we cannot safely hold this year’s Montego Bay Pride.
As a result of the statements by the mayor and councilor Sinclair that have been carried in the media, no other venue will rent to us at a reasonable rate. Venues have even cancelled on us. And the local police have advised that the hysteria whipped up against LGBT Jamaicans by the mayor and the councilor is so violent right now that the police can’t provide security for our Walk for Rights without extraordinary measures and expense.
No doubt the religious extremists in Montego Bay and Jamaica that support mayor Davis and councilor Sinclair are rejoicing at this news. They should, however, think about what they have indeed “accomplished” for Jamaica.
They have confirmed what many in the world have long said about our country: Jamaica is indeed dangerously violent and homophobic and LGBT tourists and their allies should think twice about supporting an economy that publicly discriminates against LGBT people in 2019.
We are very sorry that the over 3,000 local and international guests that we expected to participate in Montego Bay Pride will not be able to enjoy this year’s festival. These persons would have brought much-needed revenue to Montego Bay and supported the local tourism product. They also include some tour operators that cater to the global LGBT travel market, which is estimated at over US$2billion. These tour operators were specifically invited by the Jamaica Tourist Board to experience Jamaica as an LGBT friendly destination during Montego Bay Pride. Through this cancellation they will see a very different reality. So, despite what Tourism Minister Bartlett has said on the world stage, Jamaica is NOT a safe place for LGBT people. Not by a long shot. And the actions of our politicians, like mayor Davis and councilor Sinclair, contribute directly to that insecurity.
Montego Bay Pride will now be pursuing legal action for the breaches of our constitutional rights, including the rights to freedom of expression as well as assembly and association, that have been directly curtailed by mayor Davis and councilor Sinclair’s dangerous and reckless words and actions.
We are also hoping that the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Tourism realize what the leaders of Montego Bay, who are members of their own political party, have done to our country’s international reputation and our economy. Shame on the mayor and councilor Sinclair who have brought international shame on Montego Bay and Jamaica.
Related articles:
- 3,000-person Montego Bay Pride will showcase LGBT+ resilience (
- Montego Bay Pride is now 1,000 people strong (
- Thriving Montego Bay Pride boosts LGBT+ acceptance (
- LGBT Jamaicans paint their way closer to local police (October 2017, 76crimes.com)
- How was Montego Bay Pride a success? Let me count the ways (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)
I’m so upset about this we are human also we have the right to vote for ministers and now we don’t have the right to celebrate our PRIDE.
Jamaica has been struck from my and my families list of “go to” places. Shame on Jamaica! You can do better…..
Lol embrace the cost of arm!! ??
I totally agree with the mayors of Jamaica. This festival is not accepted here under the sight of God. God created all of us in His likeness and His image. As a result He didn’t created us to marry the same sex hence the reason for destroying Sodom….We should be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. How can we do this with a same sex marriage???Therefore if growing up and we see where we are attracted to the same sex in a sexual manner we should rebuke that demon spirit and send it back to the pit of hell. It was wrong in the beginning why should it be right now? I pray for all of you to change your begaviour and attitude that will create a shift in your thought process so that you can see your God given purpose. This act is dirtyyyyy and we won’t tolerate it here. The country can benefit from tourism using other mediums. Take another look at life because there is no *PRIDE* in your festive activities. I love you all as a people but not your activities. Have a safe and bless day as God continue to bless you all richly.
Please go and repent of your sins.
You are agents of the devil trying to lead people to hell with you and your master
It’s not written in the 10 christian commandments, WHO you should love and who not. But what is about: You should not desire another mans woman. AND You should not kill? What about this? Love is Love! We have to learn to accept, respect and love eachother!
I think the Homer Davis and Charles Sinclair has saved the lives of many plus tried not to.place the security forces under additinal pressure. If it was allowed there would be long reoercussions as people would have gathered to see these people and act later. It is the reality, so say thanks.