Social Impact with Emma » LGBT community : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

A Question of Ego – or Love?

December 21st, 2015

Rev. Father Sean Major-Campbell is, in my view, an extraordinary “church man.” He certainly is in the modern Jamaican context, in a society fraught with divisions (real or imagined). The priest at the Anglican Christ Church in Vineyard Town, Kingston not only advocates for human rights, that is human rights for all, but demonstrates these core […]

The Ubuntu Essence of Humanity Awards: We Are All Connected

December 12th, 2015

The ringing sound of drums drew me towards the auditorium where a special event was about to begin. This was no ordinary award ceremony; we have plenty of those throughout the year. This celebration held a special energy, coming from a very sad place – a candle in the dark, perhaps. And it was a […]

Msgr. Albert, HIV/AIDS and the Need to Recommit

December 1st, 2015

At breakfast today in a Kingston hotel, a large group of Jamaicans stood for a minute’s silence in remembrance of Msgr. “Father” Albert, who had passed away quite suddenly just the evening before. His presence seemed to hover among us for a few minutes; he was a regular participant in World AIDS Day ceremonies. Last […]

Voices From the Inside: JFJ Explores the Humanity of Jamaicans Behind Bars

November 3rd, 2015

Jamaicans have been talking a lot about prisons, in recent weeks. Many have moved on now to talk about hospitals; but the many issues surrounding our prisons remain, even if we put aside the brouhaha surrounding British Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent visit. A few weeks ago, I attended a public forum organized by Jamaicans […]

Homeless LGBT Youth Are Not “No One”

June 25th, 2015

Member of Parliament for South East St. Andrew Julian Robinson acknowledged, long ago, that he could not ignore the peculiar predicament of the “homeless gays,” as they are called, in a particular (comfortable, middle-class) part of his constituency. “This issue is not going away for me,” says Robinson, and as political representative he is duty bound […]

Dissecting Development: What Does It Mean for Jamaica?

May 27th, 2015

I have had an interesting Labour Day weekend. A series of wide-ranging conversations has set me thinking, so forgive me if I do a little philosophizing this week. It all began with this question: “What does development mean to Jamaicans?” If we threw this word out to the average Jamaican, what would first come to mind? […]

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