Dwayne Jones was a young trans youth living in my hometown of Montego Bay, Jamaica. “Mo. Bay,” as locals affectionately call it, is known as the “friendly city.” This undisputed tourism capital of the English-speaking Caribbean is very popular with overseas visitors. But this tourist paradise hides a dark secret that is carefully hidden from … Continue reading
Jamaican activists are making plans for the third annual Montego Bay Pride, which is scheduled for Oct. 12-15, 2017. “Come be a part of LOVE & PRIDE in the Bay!” says Jamaican/Canadian activist Maurice Tomlinson. “This accessible event will offer ground transportation, meals, and entertainment,” he says. Events are planned to begin at 10 a.m. … Continue reading
Partnerships between Canadians and Jamaicans boost LGBTI rights, but Canadian banks do too little to help, says Andrew Beckerman, a board member of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network who attended Montego Bay Pride 2016. Continue reading
By Khavoy Brown On Saturday, International Human Rights Day, I was at Emancipation Park in Kingston with about 28 Montego Bay “Pridesters.” We went to listen to a pastor, Scott Stirm, deliver the keynote sermon at what was billed as a Human Rights Day Rally. This annual event is put on by the anti-gay … Continue reading
It’s high time for Anglican bishops, priests and lay people in Jamaica to pluck up enough courage and compassion to support the decriminalisation of gay Jamaicans, says the Rev. Colin Coward, founder of the Anglican LGBTI advocacy group Changing Attitude. After attending Montego Bay Pride in Jamaica last month, Coward reflected on the shared history … Continue reading
Montego Bay Pride 2016 was another amazing time of community building, entertainment, and education! There was indeed “Equality and Inclusion in the Bay,” thanks to our generous sponsors, including the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the Round Hill Hotel and Villas, WestJet, the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, InterPride and Total Advantage Travel & Tours Inc. One … Continue reading
Dancing and serious discussions. Playfulness, encouragement and LGBTI rights advocacy. Those were some of the highlights of the second annual Montego Bay Pride, organized by Jamaican LGBTI rights activist Maurice Tomlinson. Dozens of Jamaicans attended, along with international visitors who support full recognition of LGBTI Christians in the church. Continue reading
For me, Montego Bay Pride is a personal affair for many reasons. You see, I grew up in this town, which was known as “the friendly city.” Our place as Jamaica’s tourism capital exposed Montegonians to very progressive ideas and we demonstrated remarkable tolerance for diversity. However, “thanks” to increasing homophobic rhetoric spread by evangelical … Continue reading
Unqualified success: Montego Bay Pride, Jamaica, Oct. 25, 2015 We are deliriously happy to report that Montego Bay Pride 2015 was an unqualified success!! The best quote from someone who attended the intense one-day event was that it felt like a real Pride, as nearly 100 persons of all classes, sexualities and gender expressions (including … Continue reading
