Why we celebrate PRIDE …

The following is a guest blog from the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays ( JFLAG ) an LGBT rights organisation in Jamaica.

2015 was a watershed moment with the first public LGBT pride celebrations in Jamaica. The theme then was “The Pride of a People: Breaking the Rules of Oppression…”  The week of activities was centered on the Jamaican LGBT community visibly challenging the narratives of a national fear-inducing homophobia. PRiDEJA 2015 signaled to the Jamaican LGBT community that while we understood that stigma and discrimination had deeply affected our lives, there was an opportunity for us to claim our identity, be proud of who we are and what we’ve overcome. It also signaled to the wider society that the Jamaican LGBT community was a part of the Jamaican society and would not be content with hiding in the shadows. The community would claim its place in Jamaica and coexist alongside everyone else peacefully and lovingly.

The LGBT community wanted Jamaicans to understand that we could be both visible and left in peace. For too long we have only heard stories of beatings, displacement and murder – all occurring with impunity. These stories in their singularity have done a disservice to both the LGBT community and Jamaica, as it perpetuates a culture of fear (demotivating LGBT persons) and mischaracterizes Jamaica in the international space. PRiDEJA 2015 was about shifting narratives and creating safe spaces for the community to breathe, relax and let go.

PRiDEJA 2016 builds on the success of the previous iteration by promising to be Bigger, Better and Bolder. The theme this year was “The Pride of a People: Celebrating a Community of Love” Having challenged the narratives and carved out a space, it was time for the community to be happy about itself, its diversity and the love that abounds within it. In order to capture this, the activities were created to cater to the different needs of members of the community.

PRiDEJA 2016 started off with the first ever Sports Day. This event built anticipation within the community as persons joined one of four teams in preparation for the big day. It generated interest and passion throughout the community in the week of activities. The Opening Ceremony formally kicked off celebrations with the symbolic cake cutting. The Open Mic Night gave members of the community the opportunity to show their diverse talents and the Love in Families Symposium inspired community members, their relatives and allies to continue to show love to each other. The Art Museum & Trade Show gave supportive businesses an opportunity to market themselves to the community, meanwhile art by LGBT persons or reflecting the community was on display.

Stacyann Chin moved the community and allies with a gripping and entertaining poetry reading sharing her experiences as a lesbian woman dealing with religion, abuse and pregnancy. There was also a JFlag Cares initiative to feed at least 5000 persons, a Black Tie Gala and a Family Picnic. The diverse nature of the events reflects the diversity of the community and their interests. In this way, Jamaica is a pioneer in a different approach to LGBT PRiDE that involves more than parades and parties, but captures a community in its realest form.

Support from the diplomatic corps, and especially the British High Commission in Kingston, has been instrumental in the success of PRiDEJA 2016 and we at JFlag hope that this support continues and grows in the years to come. PRiDE is important for the Jamaican LGBT community to mainstream their realities and we thank all our partners for making PRiDEJA 2016 Bigger, Better and Bolder.