Caribbean Homophobia
June 13, 2005 | 
News Reports
I’m back from vacation! Sorry I left the site quiet so long. Today I’d like to take a look at the rampant homophobia throughout many Caribbean islands. An Aruban woman is seeking refugee status in the Netherlands because her fully legal Dutch marriage is not being recognized on the island, which as a part of the Netherlands Antilles is supposed to acknowledge all authentic contracts. It has been said that a high-ranking Aruban official has financed anti-gay protests on the island, and the issue of homophobia is widely acknowledged throughout the region.
Jamaican musician Beenie Man has been criticized for his anti-gay lyrics (there is even a documentary about Jamaican homophobia), and the Caymans are considered among the most homophobic islands in the Caribbean. Homosexuality is not illegal in the Bahamas, but it is illegal for men in Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad. It is illegal for both men and women in Barbados.
Despite this, the Caribbean remains a popular vacation spot for gays and lesbians. The Hedonism resorts have always accepted same-sex couples, and Sandals recently changed its policy to allow them to vacation there. The beautiful blue water and white sand are irresistible - but you have to be careful where you go.
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