Yet, when it comes to equality for LGBTQIA+ citizens, the Caribbean as a whole made great strides in 2018. The absence of facts has not stopped online speculation. Jamaicans create problems then get mad about them. Me just love how the comments about the fire have implicated Buju, assumed arson, blamed JFLAG for starting it for attention and assumed a major aggressive response all in one sweep. I can bet JFlag head office was set on fire by a jealous gay man out of revenge, or maybe they're saying it Buju Banton. Tongue in cheek, Garvey Marcus posted on Facebook: Unspursingly, the recent homecoming of dancehall superstar Buju Banton, who served time in a United States prison on drug charges, made its way into the mix thanks to “Boom Bye Bye”, his decades-old song that advocated killing homosexuals, but such insinuations were quickly dismissed. Jamaicans have really showed their ass in response to the JFLAG Fire. The importance of safe spaces cannot be understated. This ugly side of the Jamaican blogosphere prompted Twitter user Annissa to suggest: This is why Christianity will continue to lose people. Oh how quickly we forget where we come from. I just saw a “former” lesbian turned married Christian post one of the most distasteful comments on the burning down of the JFLAG fire. How can you laugh at comments re JFLAG Fire and think that’s ok? That’s effed all the way up. Many called out what they saw as religious hypocrisy:Ĭhristians dense enuh… dense bad. beacon of black excellence ? January 2, 2019 If burning down JFLAG was a fish fry would setting fire to the houses of homophobes, rapist and misogynists be considered a dumpster fire then? Or is that form of arson not festive enough for you? Suggestions of the J-FLAG fire being an act of God were fairly commonplace, and prompted a pushback:
As a conservative and heavily Christian society, Jamaica has a history of colouring equal rights issues like gay marriage with a religious lens. There was a high incidence of speculation, conspiracy theories, and distasteful or intolerant commentary regarding the incident.
In the context of Jamaica's baggage around the issue of gay rights, many social media users reacted to the news by expressing their solidarity. The building that J-FLAG occupied was an older property, leaving some netizens to wonder whether outdated electrical wiring may have been a contributing factor. The police have assured us that they are treating the issue as a priority and will ensure the investigation is done thoroughly and timely manner.
Three days later, on January 3, 2019, the group posted a Facebook update which noted that while the authorities are “further along” in their investigations, they still have not been able to determine the cause of the blaze: It acknowledged the “damage and destruction to the building”, thanked first responders for their professionalism and expressed gratitude that there were no casualties. In a statement following the incident, J-FLAG was careful not to jump to conclusions regarding possible causes of the fire. The organisation, which began its work in 2012, defines itself as “the foremost human rights and social justice organisation which works for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Jamaica”. On the night of December 30, 2018, a fire “of yet unknown origin” leveled the Kingston offices of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, which goes by its acronym, J-FLAG. The harsh sentence elevated the local crime story to international prominence, and created quite a stir on social media.Rainbow flag photo b torbakhopper, CC BY-ND 2.0 Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said the hate crime charge stemmed from the fact that authorities believe Martinez burned the flag because of “what it represents as far as sexual orientation.” The harsh sentence is mostly due to the hate crime charge, which is a class D felony. He was sentenced on Wednesday to 16 years behind bars. Martinez admitted to burning the flag and was found guilty last month. He had also threatened to burn down the club. Martinez later burned the purloined flag, doused with lighter fluid, outside the Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club, which had actually been kicked him out earlier that day. He was arrested after police said he stole a pride banner hanging at the Ames United Church of Christ on June 11. Stealing a Pride banner from a church and burning it outside a local strip club has landed an Ames, Iowa resident in prison for sixteen years, on hate crime charges.Īdolfo Martinez, 30, has been found guilty of a hate crime, third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire for stealing.