Jamaican LGBT Activist Opposes Jamaican Boycott

There's a large debate going on in LGBT activist circles about the call by three white gay male activists (Wayne Besen, Jim Burroway and Michael Petrelis) calling for a boycott of Jamaica due to the rampant, state-sanctioned homophobia on the Caribbean island nation.

However, local LGBT activists on the ground in Jamaica and expatriate Jamaican activists have released statements opposing the move by the Americans. Last night, after the Boycott Jamaica folks had a "rum dump" at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, former spokesperson for the Jamaican LGBT group (called J-FLAG) Gareth Henry released a statement:

END THE CALL TO BOYCOTT JAMAICA

I think it is disingenuous of Michael Petrelis and the group in San Francisco to use my release of last year to support your boycott issues of this year.

I was part of the Canada-based attempts at a boycott last year. We learned numerous lessons from that attempt, not least among which is the fact that the lives of LGBT persons in Jamaica are at risk. I have therefore changed my strategy and will do nothing without the inclusion of my colleagues in Jamaica. I implore you to do the same and do not support your present efforts.

The struggle to gain rights and freedoms for the LGBT community in Jamaica will never be won by groups acting independently, but through a coordinated effort of selfless persons, groups and organizations, both locally and internationally.

This call for a boycott of Jamaica is outrageous and counter productive. The attack on Red Stripe is appalling and unacceptable; of all the corporate organizations in Jamaica, they were the ones who were willing to stand out and denounce violence against any group of persons.

This self-seeking effort/campaign of the group in San Francisco needs to end now. JFLAG has stated they do not support the boycott and that needs to be respected. If the community that you claim that this boycott will benefit is not in support, what is your purpose of continuing?

It is only when we work together we will make the difference.

Gareth Henry
Former Co-Chair and Program Manager
Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays

Boycotts are difficult to pull off at the best of times, but generally the first rule of doing international LGBT activism is to "First do no harm" and it is always important to get the support of the local activists in the country in question. It looks like the "Boycott Jamaica" folks are either uninterested or deliberately dismissive of the opinions of actual Jamaican LGBT people on their proposed actions.

Hat/tip to Alex Blaze at Bilerico for the text of the Gareth Henry statement.