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In writing about the “Boycott Jamaica” protests and the “rum dump” tonight at Stonewall, I probably should have thought of this: Jamaican gays are afraid of what might happen to them if American protests are interpreted by anti-gay Jamaicans as somehow causing them harm. Via 365gay.com:

US rights group TruthWinsOut, founded by 365gay columnist Wayne Besen, has called for a boycott of the island and some of its most famous products, to protest several violent homophobic incidents and Jamaica’s refusal to repeal laws against sodomy.

. . . in Kingston, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays, said the boycott could backfire and result in more violence.

“Because of the possible repercussions of increased homophobic violence against our already besieged community, we feel that a tourist boycott is not the most appropriate response at this time,” J-FLAG said in a statement.

“In our battle to win hearts and minds, we do not wish to be perceived as taking food off the plate of those who are already impoverished. In fact, members of our own community could be disproportionately affected by a worsened economic situation brought about by a tourist ban.”

The question is: What to do?

UPDATED
J-FLAG today issued another stating condemning the boycott:

We thank our international allies for their continued interest in the state of LGBT affairs in Jamaica. Your support over the years has strengthened our voice and made it possible for us to make progress where we hardly thought it possible . . . .

. . . we find it unfortunate that a campaign has been launched calling for the boycott of two Jamaican products, one marketed by a company that unequivocally distanced itself from the hostility and violence typical of Jamaican music towards members of the LGBT community. In April 2008, Red Stripe took the brave and principled stance to cease sponsorship of music festivals that promoted hate and intolerance, including that against members of the LGBT community. The naming of Red Stripe, therefore, as a target of this boycott is extremely damaging to the cause of LGBT activists in Jamaica.

In the global arena in which we operate today, events in one place can and do have repercussions in another. Concomitantly, information about occurrences in different places across the globe is easily accessible everywhere. We believe that any overseas entity or organisation seeking to agitate for change in a context with which it has only passing familiarity should first do its homework to ensure that it does not do harm to its credibility and ultimately to the cause of the local community whose interest it seeks to defend.

And Wayne Besen, one of the organizers of the boycott, responded

Today, JFLAG came out against this boycott. We respect their reasons and understand that they are unable to stand up and be out. However, we believe that a boycott is what will be most effective in the long term.

Here is the real truth about the dire situation and why JFLAG is forced to oppose boycotts:

http://www.xtra.ca/public/Vancouver/Murder_music_and_boycotts-4750.aspx

Read the rest at Bilerico.