Structural Interventions to Address Homophobia in the Jamaican Context

1. Structural Interventions to Address Homophobia in the Jamaican Context Robert Carr & Ian McKnight XVII IAC Mexico City August 5, 2008

2. Homophobia in Jamaica Breakthrough, 2007

3. Communication for Social Change ….the strategic use of advocacy, communication and social mobilisation to systematically facilitate and accelerate change in the underlying drivers of HIV risk, vulnerability and impact.

4. Social Change Communication • Macro (National? Regional? Global?) • Meso (group/institutional) • Micro (individual: who? to do what?) • Simultaneously?

5. Social Change Communication • Interpersonal communication • Institutional communication • Mass media and other traditional IEC • Embedded in dynamic processes • Incorporating all these interlinking possibilities

6. Ecological models illustrate “levels” or “layers” of influence that affect individual opportunities and choices. Different stakeholders operate at these different “layers” and all must be reached using appropriate channels and activities in order to shift the barriers to universal access. Reached through political groups; lawmakers; religious leaders, etc. Reached through local gatekeppers, employers, educators, local government, kin goups,neighbours, etc. Reached by and through individuals and their networks Structural/ Societal (e.g. cultural values; residence patterns, policies and laws) Community and organisations (e.g. leadership, networks, gender norms, ; social capital) Relationships (e.g. parents, sexual partners, sex work clients, drug use partners) Individual

7. Communication for Social Change • to act as a catalyst for reflection and action at the individual, community and policy levels, and • to provide a platform for coordinated action by a necessary and sufficient coalition of stakeholders to achieve a common goal.

8. Taking the National Temperature Dear Editor, Wednesday, May 23, 2007 I refer to the article, "Inside a gay church" by Ingrid Brown on May 6. In worshipping homosexuality, one is not "worshipping God" as Wilson claims. There is nothing Christian about the evil of homosexuality. The Bible clearly and unequivocally condemns homosexual acts (Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19: 4-6; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Timothy 1:10, etc.). Homosexual acts are contrary to natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

9. A Focus on Social Exclusion The Problem – MSM • Violence and discrimination • Homophobic violence celebrated in popular music • Police refusal to protect; complicity or direct involvement in violence • Politicians, church leaders endorse social exclusion

10. A Focus on Social Exclusion • Some work on addressing S&D for PLHIV • Silence on SW and MSM • Est SW: 11% • Est MSM: 33%

11. A Strategy Multi-pronged campaign focussing on rights for all Jamaicans and on inclusion of MSM, PLHIV and SW as of the people, and so deserving of equal rights. • Media Launch • Website • Radio and TV PSAs • Key spokespersons (community, sector leaders) • Research

12. MSM…2004 • “Stop Murder Music” • Outrage! and J-FLAG • European Allies • North America • Hated to Death (2004) • Human Rights Watch and JAS • Local HR Coalition

13. MSM…2004 • Report launched with every local human rights organisation endorsing it – unprecedented • Media coverage framed the issue as white outsiders attacking the Jamaican nation 'DISGRACEFUL'- New report says Gov't, police condone abuse of gays, HIV persons

14. Reaction 2004/2005 • SMM Campaign had heightened Jamaican cultural nationalism • In this context, the report fuelled denials: if violence against MSM took place the middle class “would have known” • “Report methodology flawed, data skewed” • Hunt for internal traitors with a “gay agenda”

15. Public Campaign Continuous – 2004 - 2008 • Media work • Radio (a lot; strategically vital to localise issues) • TV (much less) • Print (a column; other access highly restricted) • Work with key allies for support • Intervention at HR public meeting • Public statement against violence in newspaper • Being quiet

16. Behind the Scenes Strategies Continuous – 2006 - 2008 • Church • National HIV Programme • Police • Media • Local Human Rights Allies • International Alliances

17. Breakthrough Jamaica

18. Breakthrough Jamaica Look what they have done with their songs Geof BrownThursday, April 05, 2007 Common Sense John MaxwellSunday, February 25, 2007 The wrath of a bishopWednesday, February 28, 2007 Gay rights and wrongsSunday March 25, 2007 Ian Boyne ACCUSED 'HOMO' BOYS ATTACKED By Arthur Green, STAR Writer St. Thomas Editorial The state and the rule of law Tuesday | February 20, 2007 Large number of gay cops get high marks for performanceBy T K Whyte Sunday, March 18, 2007 Exploding homosexual myths Ian Boyne February 18, 2007 Religion and gay rightsSunday | March 18, 2007 Ian Boyne Absurd that biggest issue is gaysThursday, March 01, 2007Dear Editor, AND MORE

19. Breakthrough Jamaica 'Leave 'gays' alone!' - Church, human rights groups, politicians call for end to beatings A joint forum of church, human rights lobbyists and politicians from both sides of the political divide, made a desperate plea yesterday for Jamaicans to end violence against homosexuals. Tuesday | April 17, 2007

20. Governance and Citizenship • Raises fundamental questions for us of citizenship, power and the social pact in Caribbean nationalism • “The people” • Nation ↔ State relationships • Parliamentary Democracy & Western Liberalism • Definitions of Development (social change/ transformation) • Tolerance & Individual Rights vs Nationalism & Religion

21. Breakthrough 2008 Tackling Governance

22. Tackling Governance • Substantially improved relationships with the police • Substantially improved relationships with local human rights organisations • Somewhat improved relationships with religious leaders • Substantially improved willingness to take a stand on the part of some sector leaders

23. Lessons Learned • Structural vulnerability is multi-layered and embedded • Need to • Identify key institutions and be aware of their internal and external politics • Understand how to create enabling internal and external environments for change

24. Lessons Learned • Social Change Communication campaigns can benefit from utilising: • Strategic, surprising coalitions including voices of those affected (open and behind the scenes) • Spokespersons from all classes and sectors (open and behind the scenes) • Entry points in key institutions and groups • Framing, priming, agenda setting as central part of mass media strategy • Linked strategies – need focal points

25. Lessons Learned • Challenging structural drivers requires strong alliances • Need work to sustain and manage • Nationalism/patriotism often constructs human rights/gender transformation as culturally alien to “our” ways and “our” people • MUST include local voices of authority localising progressive values • Likely to be an unfolding process

26. Lessons Learned • Structural change is a long haul process • Years, not months • Open ended, learning process • Centrality of indigenous social movements • consensus on core principles • understanding of role government will/will not play

27. Lessons Learned • Cost in human resources is great • Someone or ones have to be able to withstand/survive the political and economic pressure • Funding for structural work is too hard to find, uneven and intermittent

28. Taking to scale Supporting new Caribbean social movements • Community action • Regional and national alliances • Collective learning • Open ended process (learning and action) • Linking moreso than simply replicating

29. Thank You!