- Conference
- 2019 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 3 September 2018
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the continuing impact of colonial era sodomy laws in many countries around the world including Jamaica. Thirty six of the fifty three states that are members of the Commonwealth still criminalise same-sex acts between consenting adults. Black workers in the UK have a key interest in political and social issues in countries of their family origin.
There are a high number of homophobic and transphobic violent crimes in Jamaica. However there is a complexity to the lived experiences of LGBT individuals on the island. In recent years Jamaican LGBT activists have worked hard to resist oppression and promote LGBT rights in the media and political debate.
The government has gone on record to say:
1)It is committed to the equal and fair treatment of its citizens, and affirms that any individual whose rights are alleged to have been infringed has a right to seek redress;
2)There is no legal discrimination against persons on the grounds of their sexual orientation;
3)It is opposed to discrimination or violence against persons whatever their sexual orientation.
Jamaica’s laws do not criminalise the status of being LGBT – only certain sexual acts. Being gay is not illegal but some sex between two men is. Herein lies the confusion within this law. This needs to be addressed and resolved. The comments from the politicians outside of parliament are not sufficient. Pressure need to be brought to the debate to move this unfortunate situation forward.
Conference instructs the National Black Members Committee to seek to work with the UNISON’s International Department to engage with sister trade unions in Jamaica in supporting the current ongoing debate to repeal the buggery law.