Though I wish not to get entangled in this gay debate, I have read many news articles, letters and columns and editorials and noticed, much have been said. And as such, it induced controversies and criticisms. Within the context and framework of this debate, I have noticed that there are misconceptions and that is why some persons speak and reason the way they do.
The first misconception is that it seems we believe that
homosexuality is illegal in Jamaica. To my knowledge, I have yet to hear that
there is a law that states that homosexuality is a criminal offense. I have
never heard of a case in which, a person is locked up and charged for being
attracted to the same sex. I have noticed this misconception because
persons believe that the US might pressure Jamaica to ‘free up the B-man them.’
This type of reasoning vacuous, since anybody is free to love whomever
they want.
Because of misconception #1, the second misconception
follows easily, which is the belief that anal sex is synonymous homosexuality.
I have noticed this misconception based on two ideologies. The first is that
when a person disagrees with the buggery, it seems that they think they are disagreeing
with homosexuality. This is not the case. Disagreeing with the buggery law
means you disagree with anal sex, not homosexuality. It seems this ideology has
its root in that fact that it is gays who are more likely to engage in anal
sex, but studies have shown that heterosexuals engage in anal sex more than
homosexuals. Homosexuality is simply being attracted to the same sex and
buggery is simply anal sex, though they link in one way or another, they are
not the same – common sense!
The second ideology is that since Christians are pushing the
retention of the buggery law, people are offended, and the usual thing to do is
to say “God says not to judge” or “what about fornication and adultery?” Asking
these questions is senseless. When the church was protesting about the
retention of the buggery law, they were not protesting against homosexuality
but ‘anal sex’, but because of the misconception, this fact is constantly being
ignored. The church cannot protest against something that is already legal, though
not official.
This other misconception is embedded in, and extends from misconception #2. Because there is the belief that homosexuality is synonymous to anal sex, many have it to say that the buggery law is discriminatory. It is said that the buggery law prevents the LGBT community from accessing proper health care. This type of reasoning is absurd! Then there is this concept that we must get rid of ‘old laws’ that discriminates against a minority or vulnerable group of people. Because our reasoning is insular, we may never accept this fact, the law does not discriminate against homosexuals. Let us eliminate lesbians, since they aren’t likely to commit buggery. What of gays? The buggery law speaks about ‘any man’ not a homosexual man or a gay man. Both heterosexuals and homosexuals engage in the act. The only reason gay men feel discriminated against, is because they are the ones who are ‘more likely’ to commit the act. But that doesn’t mean they are the only ones doing it. The law affects buggers – both homo/heterosexuals not just gays!
Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com
