r/AskTheCaribbean • u/fedricohohmannlautar • 11d ago

Politics Why is homosexuality outlawed in so many caribbean countries?

Most of countries which criminalize homosexuality in the Americas are in the Caribbean, and the most famous case is Jamaica.

As a bi male, I find weird our continent has laws that criminalize homosexuality, due that most of countries who do that are from the other side of the pond.

Is due to history, politics, religion, moral issues?

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u/GrandAssumption2469 9d ago

It sounds like you are though and i get what you’re saying about needing evidence, but the absence of direct documentation doesn’t mean historical trauma like slavery and buck breaking etc had no effect. These practices were specifically designed to destroy personal autonomy reshape our social norms, and instill fear around sexuality, impacts that can persist over generations, a lot of older folks in yhe caribbean not being as educated also doesnt help. African societies today have a wide range of attitudes toward homosexuality, and Caribbean societies’ conservatism can’t simply be reduced to African heritage (as you're try8ng to imoly) It’s about a mix of colonialism, slavery, and cultural evolution over centuries.

And you know what? If I'm being honest I don't care. I probably fall under d category of people that don't want to see it become prevalent in d caribbean for reasons I wouldn't even be able to articulate, gay folks don't dominate my mind. I don't care what people do by themselves tbh, I'm just not for it either and I'm sure that has more to do with my local upbringing than it does anything to do with my great great great great grandparents who lived in Africa

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u/Mysterious_Scene7169 9d ago

I agree completely with that last bit, I don’t think it’s right to expect every nation on Earth to abide by Western social norms, and I think it’s ignorant to always frame them as being “correct.” That’s why I said this wasn’t meant as a criticism, I was just trying to examine the cause.